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, produced by OLM and distributed by Warner Bros. as the franchise's cinematic debut following its explosive television and trading card success. It introduced Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon, to audiences beyond Japan and helped cement Pokémania as a defining pop culture moment of the late nineties. The film's blend of philosophical ambition and merchandising muscle made it a box office success and a touchstone for a generation raised on Saturday morning television and playground trading card battles alike.
This cell centers on Mewtwo alone, the film's central figure and its most enduring character for collectors. As a clone born of scientific hubris, Mewtwo carries the movie's thematic weight, embodying questions of identity and purpose that set the film apart from typical creature adventures. A 35mm cell isolating this character speaks to a singular, defining screen presence rather than an ensemble moment. For collectors, Mewtwo cells hold particular value as artifacts of the character's origin story on film, a physical fragment of the movie's most philosophically charged figure.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one frame within the captured image area
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge; spacing appears even; perforation corners are rounded and punches appear clean
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the picture area, appearing as two bilateral variable-area waveform lines consistent with a stereo optical track
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Base carries a cool blue-cyan tint; dye image reads as a positive with strong blue saturation consistent with an animated cel-sourced print
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are apparent in this capture
Picture
Positive image; a single consecutive frame is visible and the animated character depicted is consistent with Pokémon: The First Movie (1999/1999)
Era check
The bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack, rounded KS-type perforations, and safety base tint are all consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print era
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
