Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in the fall of 1999 from Warner Bros., riding the crest of Pokémania as it swept through American theaters. Adapted and expanded from the Japanese original, it introduced Mewtwo to Western audiences and became a cultural touchstone for a generation raised on the franchise's card games, cartoons, and merchandise. Its box office success proved that anime could command mainstream attention, cementing Pokémon's place in the pantheon of 1990s pop culture and setting the template for the many features that followed.
This cell holds Pikachu, the franchise's most recognizable ambassador and the character most sought after by collectors building a complete visual record of the film. As the mascot who anchors the entire Pokémon universe, Pikachu's presence alone makes this a foundational piece for any collection, standing apart from cells centered on supporting cast or plot-specific scenes. Owning a frame of Pikachu from this particular release ties directly to the character's peak cultural moment, when the little yellow creature was inseparable from the phenomenon itself.
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 four 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 lower edge beside the perforations, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area strip; a narrow blue-tinted digital timecode or data line is visible immediately above it, consistent with a DTS timecode track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight blue-green tint typical of safety acetate or polyester stock; the dye image reads as a positive with saturated blues and warm yellows, showing no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or prominent scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive image; all four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with the animated feature on record.
Era check
The dual bilateral variable-area optical track combined with what appears to be a DTS timecode stripe is consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print, as that combination was standard for major studio animated releases of 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
