Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
FILM NOTES
Released in 2006 by OLM under Toho distribution, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew arrived as the eighth entry in the franchise's theatrical run, a series that had by then become a fixture of anime exports to Western markets. It stands out for centering on Mew and Lucario rather than the usual roster of gym battles, giving the film a more mythic, quest-driven tone. For longtime followers of the franchise, this movie marks a midpoint in the series' evolution, still tied to the original Pikachu-led ensemble while reaching toward the legendary-creature mythology that would define later chapters.
This cell brings together Mew, Meowth and Pikachu, three characters whose pairing suggests one of the film's lighter interludes, a moment of company and interaction away from the central hunt for Lucario's staff. Mew's presence alone makes this a desirable piece, given how rarely the character shares screen space with Team Rocket's Meowth. Pairing the mythical with the familiar comic relief and the franchise mascot gives this frame a crossover appeal, a small pocket of ensemble chemistry within a story otherwise driven by legend and pursuit.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds two frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the bottom edge of the picture area, appearing as a cyan-tinted stripe with a fine white modulated line.
Edge print
"FUJICOLOR" is legible on the lower right of the strip; no key numbers or SAFETY FILM text are visible in this capture.
Base & colour
The base shows a warm cream-tan tint typical of processed colour print stock; the dye image reads as saturated and not visibly faded or red-shifted.
Projection history
No scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; both frames appear to be from the same continuous shot and the lush animated forest imagery is consistent with the animated feature on record.
Era check
Fujicolor print stock, a variable-area optical soundtrack stripe, and the saturated positive colour image are all consistent with a theatrical release print from the mid-2000s timeframe of the film on record.
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
