Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 as Warner Bros. and Nintendo brought the phenomenon to American theaters, pairing the anime feature Mewtwo Strikes Back with the short Pikachu's Vacation. It became a cultural landmark of the era, introducing millions of moviegoers to the franchise's characters beyond the television series and cementing Pokémon as a dominant force in late-90s pop culture, merchandising, and childhood memory.
This cell preserves a frame of Primeape, the fighting-type Pokémon known to fans of the original series for its volatile temperament and its long-running dynamic with Ash's team. Collectors seek Primeape material because it represents one of the era's more distinctive supporting Pokémon, valued for its scarcity relative to the more frequently reproduced starters. As a piece of 35MM film history, this cell is a physical artifact from the actual theatrical print, a tangible fragment of the movie as audiences first experienced it in cinemas.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
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