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 courtesy of Warner Bros., riding the crest of a franchise that had rapidly become a cultural phenomenon through its video games, trading cards, and television series. The film's release was a major event for a generation of young fans, marking one of the first times this new wave of characters appeared on the big screen. It remains a touchstone of late-1990s pop culture and a significant entry in the history of anime distribution in the West, introducing Mewtwo and reaffirming Pikachu's place as the franchise's enduring mascot.
This cell isolates Pikachu, the character whose image is most synonymous with the entire Pokémon brand and the reason so many collectors seek out physical film artifacts from this era in the first place. As a piece of 35mm film, it represents a literal fragment of the theatrical presentation itself, a tactile connection to the movie as audiences first experienced it in cinemas. For collectors, a Pikachu cell from this specific release holds particular value, sitting at the intersection of anime history, movie memorabilia, and the character's own iconic status.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999/1999).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the 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 a dual bilateral variable-area (two-track) waveform; a thin line consistent with a Dolby Digital or DTS timecode stripe appears immediately above the optical track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base appears with a slight blue-grey tint consistent with a safety acetate or polyester release stock; the dye image reads as neutral with no visible red shift or fading.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are apparent in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with the animated feature listed on record.
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical track combined with what appears to be a digital timecode stripe is consistent with a 1999-1999 theatrical release print carrying Dolby SR and a digital format companion track, as was standard for that period.
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
