Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in November 1999 from Warner Bros. and Nintendo's licensing machine, riding the crest of Pokémania in the West. Adapted from the Japanese animated feature Mewtwo Strikes Back, it introduced American audiences to the franchise's first theatrical outing, pairing the television series' familiar cast with a darker, more philosophical storyline about cloning and identity. Its box office success cemented Pokémon as a lasting media franchise rather than a passing fad, and the film remains a touchstone for collectors of animation from this era, marking the moment the property moved decisively beyond the small screen.
This cell holds Jessie, James, and Meowth, the trio whose comic antagonism became inseparable from the show's identity. Fans and collectors prize their frames for the blend of slapstick and scheme that defined Team Rocket's presence across the series and its leap to film. A cell built around this group speaks to their supporting but essential role in the movie's structure, offering levity and continuity for longtime viewers. Whether drawn from a scene set piece or a promotional arrangement, such a cell represents the trio's enduring appeal as the franchise's most recognizable comic foils.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby SR/D 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 per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, appearing cleanly punched with no visible torn or deformed holes
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along one edge; Dolby Digital data blocks are visible in the perforation-gap area on the same edge, consistent with a SR/D release print
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; dye image shows strong saturated colour with no visible fading or red shift
Projection history
No splices, cue marks or prominent scratches are visible in this capture
Picture
Positive colour image; all four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, and the animated character style is consistent with the Pokémon franchise film on record
Era check
The combination of Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks alongside a variable-area optical track is consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print, when SR/D dual-format prints were standard
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
