Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999 through Warner Bros., following Nintendo's television phenomenon into a full theatrical event that introduced Mewtwo and cemented Pokémania at its commercial peak. Produced by 4Kids Entertainment and OLM, it paired the Mewtwo Strikes Back feature with the Pikachu's Vacation short, giving young audiences a double dose of the franchise's most recognizable creatures. The film's box office success proved that a television-born property could command theatrical ticket sales, marking a defining moment in late-1990s children's entertainment and merchandising history.
This 35mm cell preserves a single frame of Pikachu, the franchise's mascot and its most enduring commercial symbol. Collectors seek Pikachu material precisely because the character functions as shorthand for the entire Pokémon phenomenon, transcending any one scene or storyline. A frame drawn from this release situates the character within the property's cinematic debut, an artifact tied to the moment Pokémon proved its reach beyond the small screen. For collectors, owning Pikachu from this specific release connects directly to the franchise's theatrical origin point.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie.
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one frame in this capture
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges visible; spacing appears even and the punched holes appear cleanly cut with no torn edges visible
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the frame, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area pattern; Dolby Digital data blocks are not clearly distinguishable at this size, and no DTS timecode line or SDDS outer-edge tracks are visible
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
The base appears with a slight blue-teal tint consistent with a safety base stock; the dye image reads as a warm positive with no obvious red shift or fading
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are seen in this capture
Picture
Positive image; a single frame is shown and the image is consistent with an animated theatrical release print matching the film on record
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical track and safety base tint are consistent with a 1999-1999 theatrical release print, as digital optical formats such as Dolby Digital were standard on major studio releases of that period
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, 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.
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
