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Pokemon: The First Movie arrived in North American theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures as a co-production between Nintendo, Creatures, Game Freak, and OLM, Inc. Adapted from the beloved Nintendo franchise at the peak of its cultural dominance, the film marked a significant moment in the mainstreaming of anime for Western audiences and remains a touchstone of late-1990s popular entertainment.
This cell, confirmed as Charizard, captures the fire-type Pokemon mid-attack during the film's climactic clone battle sequence. The close-up composition isolates the open jaws and downward-directed beam or flame against a dark background, reflecting the sequence's intensity. Cells from this sequence are among the most sought after from the production.