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., released by Nintendo and 4Kids Entertainment at the height of Pokémon's crossover from Game Boy cartridge to global phenomenon. It brought Pikachu and the wider cast to the big screen for the first time domestically, pairing the Mewtwo origin story with a short Pikachu vacation feature, and its box office success proved that the franchise could sustain feature length storytelling beyond television and trading cards.
This cell holds Pikachu alone, the character whose likeness effectively became the face of the entire franchise upon release. A single figure frame like this is prized by collectors precisely because it isolates the mascot without competing characters or busy staging, offering a clean, direct piece of film history tied to the character's breakout cinematic debut. For newcomers building a Pokémon collection, an unaccompanied Pikachu cell from this release represents a foundational acquisition.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie.
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced; punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the bottom edge beside the picture area, appearing as two wavy white lines consistent with a stereo variable-area track; Dolby Digital data blocks are visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the bottom edge.
Edge print
Top edge reads, mirrored: '2383 372 372 039 0 30 K-ODAK 16 2000 K' — consistent with Kodak Vision print stock edge coding.
Base & colour
Base shows a distinct cyan-blue tint overall; the dye image renders in blue and grey tones consistent with a colour print stock viewed on a backlit panel.
Projection history
Several fine horizontal lines are visible across the lower portion of the strip, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks are visible.
Picture
Positive image; all three frames appear to be from the same continuous shot and the animated character visible is consistent with the Pokémon franchise film on record.
Era check
The Kodak 2383 print stock, stereo variable-area optical track, and Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks are all consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print of this title.
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
