Crown Grading

FILM NOTES

Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in North American theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures following its original 1998 Japanese release by Toho. Produced by OLM, Inc. and based on the global phenomenon from Nintendo and Game Freak, the film marked a cultural milestone for an entire generation of young audiences and stands as one of the highest-grossing traditionally animated features of its era.

This cell, titled Pikachu by the operator, captures the beloved Pokémon voiced by Ikue Ōtani mid-tumble against a vivid yellow-gold background, drawn from what appears to be a kinetic sequence set at Mewtwo's island location. The consecutive frames preserve the fluid motion of a single shot, offering a rare glimpse into the hand-drawn animation that defined the series at its theatrical peak.