Pokemon: The First Movie arrived in the fall of 1999, riding the crest of Pokemania as it swept through American theaters and living rooms alike. Distributed by Warner Bros. in the United States after Nintendo's franchise had already conquered handheld gaming, card collecting, and Saturday morning television, the film marked one of the earliest attempts to translate that success onto the big screen. Its marketing push, including trailers screened ahead of other family features, was instrumental in building anticipation for a story built around Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokemon whose introduction promised a darker, more philosophical edge than the franchise had shown before.
This cell isolates Mewtwo, the film's central antagonist turned tragic figure, whose creation myth and existential struggle set the tone for the entire feature. As a trailer frame, it represents the marketing apparatus rather than the narrative proper, a fragment designed to entice audiences with a glimpse of the film's signature creation. Collectors prize Mewtwo material specifically because the character anchors the movie's identity, distinguishing it from simpler episodic television content and giving this early promotional cell a particular weight within Pokemon memorabilia circles.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokemon: The First Movie Trailer (1999).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched corners are rounded and cleanly cut with no torn edges visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the lower edge beside the perforations, appearing as a dual-band variable-area pattern consistent with a stereo optical print.
Edge print
Text is present along the lower edge but reads in reverse, consistent with emulsion-up placement; the characters are not fully legible at this size.
Base & colour
The base shows a cool blue-tinted dye image with strong saturation and no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks are present on any of the three frames.
Picture
Positive image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the title text visible matches the film on record.
Era check
The dual variable-area optical soundtrack, cool-base polyester-type stock, and positive release print format 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
