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, distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and 4Kids brought the phenomenon west. Produced by OLM under Toho's original Japanese release banner, it capitalized on the height of Pokémania, pairing the anime's television success with a big screen origin story for Mewtwo. The film became a cultural touchstone for a generation, cementing Pokémon as a lasting franchise rather than a passing fad, and its theatrical run remains a benchmark for anime crossover success in the West.
This cell centers on Mewtwo, the genetically engineered Pokémon whose creation and rebellion form the emotional core of the film, making him one of the most sought after characters among collectors of this release. Alongside him appear his cloned companions, Gyarados, Scyther, Nidoqueen, Ninetales, and Arcanine, gathered as a group that speaks to the film's central conflict between original creatures and their engineered counterparts. A frame like this, drawn directly from release printing, preserves a foundational assembly of characters central to the movie's narrative and thematic weight.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds four frames.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame visible on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched holes appear cleanly cut with no torn edges visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area waveform; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, indicating a hybrid optical/Dolby Digital soundtrack.
The base shows a light blue-green tint consistent with Kodak color print stock; the dye image appears fully saturated with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are apparent in this capture.
Picture
Positive color image; all four frames appear to be from the same continuous shot, and the animated content is consistent with the film on record.
Era check
The Kodak edge code dated 1999, the blue-green base tint, and the hybrid variable-area plus Dolby Digital optical soundtrack are all consistent with a theatrical release print from 1999.
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
