Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. in the United States following its original Japanese release by Toho. It marked the franchise's leap from television phenomenon to theatrical event, riding the peak of Pokémania in North America. Backed by a massive marketing campaign, the trailer itself became a cultural artifact, teasing audiences with the mysterious, genetically engineered Mewtwo before the film's story was widely known. For a generation of young fans, this was the first cinematic glimpse of Pokémon beyond the small screen.
This 35mm cell preserves a single frame from that promotional reel, isolating Mewtwo as the sole figure on screen. As the film's central antagonist and one of the franchise's most enduring creations, Mewtwo carries outsized collector interest, representing the darker, more philosophical edge Pokémon dared to explore. A trailer cell like this one predates the feature itself, existing purely as advertisement, a fragment made to build anticipation rather than tell story. Owning it means holding a piece of the promotional apparatus that introduced Mewtwo to the world before audiences ever sat down to watch the film proper.
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 edges look clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible along one edge, with what appears to be a separate Dolby Digital data-block strip running in the inter-perforation gap beside it, consistent with a dual-format optical release print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base shows a slight cyan-blue tint typical of modern safety stock; the dye image reads with strong, saturated blues and purples showing no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks, or prominent scratches are visible in this capture; the surface appears consistent with a projected print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, and the animated character and energy-burst imagery is consistent with the Pokemon: The First Movie Trailer (1999) on record.
Era check
The Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks combined with the variable-area optical track and cyan-tinted safety base are all consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print production period.
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
