National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in North American theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures following its original 1998 Japanese release by Toho. Produced by OLM, Inc. and 4Kids Entertainment, the film marked the first theatrical feature for the Pokémon franchise at the height of its cultural dominance. It remains a significant document of late-1990s animation and the global reach of Japanese media properties into Western markets.

This 35mm cell, titled Pikachu Crying, captures one of the film's most quietly affecting moments. Pikachu is shown in close-up against a dark background, tears visible on both cheeks, the frame stripped of distraction to focus entirely on the character's grief. Four consecutive frames preserve this sustained emotional beat, offering a rare and intimate look at the scene's hand-drawn expressiveness.