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's bet that a television phenomenon could fill American theaters, and it did, becoming one of the highest grossing anime releases of its time. Built around Mewtwo's origin and the battle at Cerise Island, the film cemented Pokémon as a cinematic property rather than a passing craze, introducing a generation of young viewers to their first subtitled or dubbed feature and setting the template for the franchise's theatrical run for decades afterward.
This cell pairs Charizard and Pikachu, the two characters most responsible for the franchise's early identity, one a fan favorite evolution prized for its power and design, the other the mascot recognized around the world. A frame joining them speaks to the film's central pull, the clash and camaraderie among Pokémon that drove the story's momentum. For collectors, a 35mm strip carrying both figures together is a direct link to the reel that introduced them to the big screen.
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.
Tap to enlarge
