Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Digimon: The Movie arrived in American theaters in 2000 courtesy of Fox Kids and Saban, stitched together from three separate Japanese Digimon theatrical shorts and reworked for Western audiences with new dubbing and an added rap-rock soundtrack. It rode the wave of monster-collecting franchises that dominated the turn of the millennium, standing alongside Pokemon as evidence of anime's growing foothold in American multiplexes. For longtime fans, this release marks a specific cultural moment, when Digimon crossed from Saturday morning television into a full theatrical event.
This cell preserves the opening title card, the frame where the film first announces itself before any story begins. Such cells hold appeal for collectors precisely because they mark a threshold moment, the transition from anticipation to narrative, often reproduced in trailers and promotional materials tied to the release. A title card cell like this one functions as a keepsake of the film's identity itself rather than any single character or scene, making it a foundational piece for anyone building out a complete reel history of the picture.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of Digimon: The Movie (2000).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
Not visible in this capture; the area beside the picture frames is obscured by the curved presentation and lighting.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears with a cool, neutral-to-slightly-blue tint; the dye image reads as a rich, saturated positive with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive image; all three frames show the same title-card composition, consistent with a title sequence held on multiple frames, matching the Digimon: The Movie title logo on record.
Era check
A saturated colour positive on what appears to be a cool-base safety stock, carrying a digitally-composed title frame, is consistent with a year-2000 theatrical release print.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
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.
CROWN SERIAL 000063097
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
