Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived from Warner Bros. and Nintendo in the wake of the franchise's explosive American debut, riding the momentum of the trading card craze and the original series' Saturday morning dominance. As the second theatrical feature, it expanded the mythology beyond the games and television episodes, cementing Pokémon as a cinematic property rather than a passing fad. For a generation of collectors, this film represents the peak of Pikachu mania, a moment when the character transcended merchandise and became a genuine box office draw.
This cell isolates Pikachu alone, the franchise's central mascot and the figure most responsible for its global recognition. Collectors pursue frames featuring Pikachu specifically because the character functions as shorthand for the entire property, appearing on posters, packaging, and promotional material more than any other figure in the Pokémon universe. A single-character cell like this one offers a clean, uncomplicated piece of film history, tied directly to the character's marketing dominance during the era when Pokémon first captured mainstream American attention.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds one frame fully and partial frames above and below.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even; perforation edges appear cleanly punched with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack track is visible running vertically beside the picture on one edge, with what appears to be a second modulated line consistent with a stereo variable-area pair; Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks are also visible between the perforations on the same edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly cool; dye image shows strong saturated blues and yellows with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
Light horizontal abrasion lines are visible across the frame area, consistent with a print that has passed through a projector gate.
Picture
Positive colour image; frames appear to run consecutively as a single continuous shot; the animated character and colour palette are consistent with the Pokémon animated feature on record.
Era check
The combination of variable-area optical track with Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a theatrical release print from the late 1990s to early 2000s, matching the 2000 release date 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
