Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in the United States in November 1999 through Warner Bros., riding the crest of Pokémania at its commercial peak. Built around Mewtwo's origin story and paired with the short Pikachu's Vacation, it served as the franchise's theatrical proving ground, translating a handheld game and television phenomenon into a box office event for a generation of young collectors. The trailer campaign that preceded it played a significant role in building anticipation, circulating through theaters months ahead of release and giving audiences their first extended look at the film's tone and stakes.
This cell comes from that trailer material, marking an appearance by Gyarados, one of the franchise's most recognizable and formidable Pokémon, long prized by collectors for its scale and its standing among early creature designs. Its inclusion in the promotional reel underscores the trailer's role in showcasing the breadth of Pokémon on display, offering audiences a glimpse of the world's power and variety before the feature itself unspooled. As a trailer fragment, it preserves a moment of pure anticipation, separate from the finished film's continuity.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokemon: The First Movie Trailer (1999)
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one frame in the image area
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the picture area, appearing as two bilateral variable-area lines consistent with a stereo optical print
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight blue-teal tint; dye image shows strong saturated blues and purples with no visible fading or red shift
Projection history
No scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are visible in this capture
Picture
Positive color image; a single frame is visible and the image content is consistent with an animated theatrical release matching the film on record
Era check
The bilateral variable-area optical soundtrack, saturated dye image, and blue-tinted safety base are all consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print
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
