Is Ditto a Failed Mew Clone?


This theory got some attention on the internet a few years back, but I haven't
found a definitive source on it.

Both Ditto and Mew are genderless pokemon, with similar color schemes for both
their normal and shiny sprites (images from
[Serebii.net](http://www.serebii.net)):

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3GNCl.png)

The ditto normal sprites are somewhat more purple than the Mew sprites, but
earlier generation Ditto sprites were a bit pinker, and the shiny sprites are
almost exactly the same color.

In addition, both Ditto and Mew weigh 8.8 lbs (4 kg). They both learn
Transform naturally at level 0. There are a bunch of places where Ditto can be
caught in the original generation I games, but in Yellow the only two places
are the Pokemon mansion (where Mewtwo was cloned from Mew) and Cerulean Cave
(where Mewtwo lives). Mewtwo is also called the only "successful" clone of
Mew, so there's reason to believe that there were failed attempts, which could
be Ditto.

Of course, everything above is just fan speculation, but it's gotten a fair
bit of attention and I'd imagine someone from the Pokemon Company has
commented on it. What's the official word on this theory?




According to an GameInformer
[interview](http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/11/23/pok-233-mon-39-s-burning-
questions.aspx) with the art director and the producer (Junichi Masuda) from
Gamefreak:

> _There is a rumor that in the original Pokémon games, versions Red and Blue,
> that the Pokémon Ditto was a failed attempt at cloning a Mew. I was
> wondering if you could speak to this, to whether or not it’s true._
>
> **Masuda:** That’s the first time I have ever hear that rumor actually.
>
> _Is that your only answer?_
>
> **Masuda:** In terms of how Pokémon are designed, they are each their own
> unique living being. The unique thing about Ditto is that it’s a Pokémon
> that can change forms, but each Pokémon we create with its own unique
> element, so we just make sure that they are all individual life forms of
> their own.

Though it seems that his response denies this theory (or rather skirts around
it), but since he was probably not directly involved in the development of the
game, it's still possible that Ditto was originally meant to be a failed Mew,
but scraped somewhere during in the development cycle.




According to an GameInformer
[interview](http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/11/23/pok-233-mon-39-s-burning-
questions.aspx) with the art director and the producer (Junichi Masuda) from
Gamefreak:

> _There is a rumor that in the original Pokémon games, versions Red and Blue,
> that the Pokémon Ditto was a failed attempt at cloning a Mew. I was
> wondering if you could speak to this, to whether or not it’s true._
>
> **Masuda:** That’s the first time I have ever hear that rumor actually.
>
> _Is that your only answer?_
>
> **Masuda:** In terms of how Pokémon are designed, they are each their own
> unique living being. The unique thing about Ditto is that it’s a Pokémon
> that can change forms, but each Pokémon we create with its own unique
> element, so we just make sure that they are all individual life forms of
> their own.

Though it seems that his response denies this theory (or rather skirts around
it), but since he was probably not directly involved in the development of the
game, it's still possible that Ditto was originally meant to be a failed Mew,
but scraped somewhere during in the development cycle.

