A somewhat recent addition to the Pokemon's massive roster, with almost a thousand creatures in the current National Pokedex, quickly became a fan favorite, mostly for its sad and somewhat creepy description. Since its reveal in Pokemon Sun and Moon, the Ghost/Fairy type Pokemon, Mimikyu, has inspired a whole host of fan art, plush dolls, and recently a spooky costume, just in time for Halloween.
Originally created by cosplayer Patchwork Cosplay, this Mimikyu cosplay has quickly begun making the rounds on Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit among Pokemon fans. Appearing first on the artist's Instagram, where the cosplayer has posted a number of shoots in the outfit, it was quickly picked up by the community for the way it twists the creepier ghost aspects of the Pokemon.
The cosplay takes Mimikyu's signature Pikachu disguise, replacing the cuter interpretation that most fans are used to from the game and the Pokemon anime with a creepy, patchwork design. Highlighted by the editing on Patchwork Cosplay's photo sets, the thick stitching and linen fabric, resembling a scarecrow, really dives in on spookier aspects of Mimikyu's design. Looking at the rest of the cosplayer's catalog, this particular Pokemon was a clear choice, especially with the scarier redesign, thanks in part to the way Patchwork Cosplay's work tends to focus on horror elements.
One of the more troubling aspects of this costume is the noose that hangs around the Mimikyu's neck, something that the original Pokemon does not have as a part of its design. It comes down to a lot of the little design choices from Patchwork Cosplay that makes this interpretation of the creature so much creepier than even the Pokedex entries have already made it. Nintendo and Game Freak clearly can't go quite as far as a cosplayer can when it comes to making what is supposed to be a family friendly character so scary, but that is one area where the community is allowed to excel.
With over two decades of Pokemon catering to younger audiences, while still managing to hold onto older players thanks to the organic evolution of the series, more mature aspects are often avoided by Game Freak. As a result, the worldwide fan base often comes in to fill in the blanks everywhere from creepy Mimikyu fan art to spooky fan theories about infamous ghosts and unexplored stories within the series. So, while there is a precedent set by Pokemon to make characters like Mimikyu scarier, cosplayers like Patchwork Cosplay are welcome among the community for bringing these concepts to life.