Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in theaters in November 1999, released by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and 4Kids brought the franchise's screen adaptation to American audiences at the height of Pokémania. Built around the story of Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon grappling with its own creation, the film was a cultural event, drawing in a generation raised on the games and television series and cementing Pokémon's place in mainstream American pop culture. It remains one of the highest grossing anime films released in the United States.
This 35mm cell preserves a frame of Charizard, one of the franchise's most recognizable and sought after Pokémon, prized by trainers and collectors alike since the earliest days of the series. As a fire and flying type tied to Ash's roster, Charizard carries outsized popularity, and any surviving film frame featuring the character holds appeal well beyond casual fandom. Isolated from dialogue or story context, this cell stands as a physical artifact of the character's theatrical appearance, a tangible link between the 1999 release and the countless collectors who have long sought Charizard in every format available.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm 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; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible along the bottom edge, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area pattern, with a separate narrow digital timecode or data line running adjacent to it.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
The clear base shows a slight blue-green tint consistent with modern safety stock; the dye image presents warm orange and red tones with no visible fading.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or significant scratches are visible; the print shows characteristics consistent with a projected release print.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as a single continuous shot and the animated character visible is consistent with the Pokémon franchise film on record.
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical track combined with an adjacent digital timecode line and the blue-green tinted safety base are consistent with a 1999–1999 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
