Pokemon: The First Movie arrived in November 1999 as Warner Bros. and Nintendo's bid to translate a global phenomenon into a theatrical event, riding the crest of Pokemon's takeover of American playgrounds, television, and trading card aisles. The film, built around the origin of the genetically engineered Mewtwo, was preceded by a trailer campaign designed to introduce mainstream audiences to a mythology many young viewers already knew by heart. That trailer material, now scarce on 35mm, survives largely through isolated cells like this one, preserved fragments of a marketing push that helped define the franchise's cinematic ambitions.
This cell belongs to Mewtwo, the film's central figure and one of Pokemon's most enduring creations, a being defined by its origins as a clone bred for power rather than companionship. As a trailer cell, it comes from promotional rather than narrative footage, material assembled specifically to draw audiences into theaters rather than to advance the story itself. For collectors, Mewtwo cells carry particular weight, tied to the character's stature as the franchise's most formidable and philosophically weighted creation, and to the historical significance of the trailer that first announced the film's arrival.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital colour release print of Pokémon: The First Movie Trailer (1999).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one frame of picture with partial frames above and below.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even; perforation edges appear cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, consistent with a mono or stereo optical print; Dolby Digital pixel blocks appear present in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, suggesting a Dolby Digital SR print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers.
Base & colour
Base shows a strong blue-violet tint across the clear areas; the dye image reads as a colour positive with no obvious red shift or fading apparent.
Projection history
Several fine vertical scratch lines are visible running the length of the strip, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; the single main frame shows a luminous circular element against a dark background, consistent with promotional or title-sequence imagery expected of a 1999 theatrical trailer print.
Era check
The combination of Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks alongside a variable-area optical track, blue-tinted polyester base, and colour positive image is consistent with a mid-to-late 1990s theatrical release print 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
