Ditto (Pokémon)

Ditto (/ˈdɪtoʊ/ ^ⓘ), known in Japan as Metamon (Japanese: メタモン), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise. First introduced in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue, it was created by the design team as a tribute to the pop culture yellow smiley face ideogram, and its design finalized by Ken Sugimori. Since its initial appearance it has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon GO and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise related to the franchise. In addition, it appears in manga and anime adaptations of the Pokémon franchise, with its appearances in the latter being voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi in Japanese, and both Rachael Lillis and Michele Knotz in English. A Ditto also appears in the 2019 film Detective Pikachu masquerading as a human woman named "Ms. Norman" and portrayed by Suki Waterhouse. It also plays the role of the main character in Pokémon Pokopia.

An amorphous species classified as a Normal-type Pokémon, Ditto appears as a short pink or purple blob with beady eyes and a small mouth. Through the use of its "Transform" attack, it can mimic any object or creature temporarily, and if it transforms into another Pokémon will gain any attacks known by it. However, this mimicry is often imperfect, resulting in Ditto's eyes or entire face remaining the same on the transformed body. Though Ditto can not evolve into a stronger form in the franchise like other Pokémon, at one point in the development of sequel titles Pokémon Gold and Silver an evolution called Animon (アニモン) was considered through the use of the "Metal Coat" item on a Ditto.

While initially seen as particularly weak in the original Red and Blue, the addition of the "Daycare" mechanic in later Pokémon titles and Ditto's ability to breed with almost every Pokémon significantly boosted its popularity, making them vital for the game's competitive scene. While the simplicity of its design has been criticized, others wished to see its abilities used to greater potential within the franchise. Ditto's unique nature also led to a rumor in the fandom that it was a failed clone of another Pokémon, Mew. While disproven by Game Freak's developers, it has been noted as an example of players wanting more depth from the franchise, and impacted the development of Detective Pikachu.