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 a Warner Bros. release built from 4Kids Entertainment's adaptation of the Japanese anime, riding the crest of Pokémania at its American peak. Produced with backing from Nintendo and Game Freak's sudden cultural explosion, the film brought Pokémon from television and trading cards into theaters, pairing the feature with the short "Pikachu's Vacation." It stands as a marker of one of the largest merchandising phenomena of the decade, introducing mainstream audiences to the mythology of Mew and Mewtwo.
This cell centers on Mew, the rare and elusive Pokémon whose genetic material forms the basis for Mewtwo's creation, making it central to the film's plot and origin story. Mew is prized among collectors for its scarcity within the Pokémon universe itself, a legendary figure glimpsed rather than featured at length. A frame bearing this figure's name connects directly to the mythic thread running through the movie, tying merchandise, card game lore, and animated history into a single physical artifact from the source print.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of POKEMON: The First Movie (1999/1999).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one full frame and partial frames above and below.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even; perforation edges appear cleanly punched with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area; Dolby Digital data blocks between perforations are not clearly distinguishable at this size.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight warm-amber tint; dye image shows strong saturated colour with deep blacks, consistent with a colour print stock.
Projection history
Horizontal white and blue streaking lines are visible across the lower portion of the frame, consistent with evidence of projection wear or base abrasion.
Picture
Positive colour image; frames appear to run consecutively as a single shot; the animated style and character design are consistent with the Pokémon franchise film on record.
Era check
The variable-area optical track, colour positive print stock, and amber-tinted base are all consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print from the late 1990s, matching the 1999 US release of the film on record.
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
