Has a Poké Ball ever captured anything other than a Pokémon?

Question

It seems such a handy device: a small ball which you throw and somehow captures (or imprisons) a sentient being, almost always much larger than the ball, inside.

Has a Poké ball ever been used to (try to) capture anything other than a Pokémon?

Does it work? If not, why not?

This question from Anime & Manga SE might already have the answer to your question: Are there any other uses for a Pokéball besides capturing and storing Pokemon? — Scorch91, Nov 18 '16 at 14:43
@Scorch91 Sort of, although the answer over there isn't that great. — SQB, Nov 18 '16 at 17:01
@SQB That answer does mention that Ash has caught a rice-ball (or "doughnut" in the dub) with a pokeball, which is an instance of someone capturing something other than a pokemon in a pokeball. — Gorchestopher H, Nov 18 '16 at 18:06

Valorum · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-27T07:15:45.643

50

Ash tries to catch a Mankey in 'Primape goes bananas' but inadvertently snares a rice ball.

The Poké Ball appears to successfully digitise it, but then rejects it immediately afterwards.

Mewtwo's special balls in 'Mewtwo Strikes Back' are capable of capturing Poké Balls, complete with their cargo of Pokémon.

As can be seen in 'The Tower of Terror', you can't catch a human with a standard ball.

However, the Pokéstar Studios movie Timegate Traveler is about a future where Bug-type Pokémon now rule the world and keep humans in specially designed Human Balls.

edited Oct 27 '20 at 07:15

answered Nov 18 '16 at 20:02

Valorum

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The Bug-type pokemon are sick of being early-game fodder. – Parrotmaster Nov 28 '16 at 14:32
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@Parrotmaster well, missingno is a bug found quite late in the first few games... – Marvel Boy Oct 27 '20 at 13:28

Has a Poké Ball ever captured anything other than a Pokémon?

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