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/4Kids in the summer of 2000, riding the crest of Pokémania at its commercial peak. Following the surprise success of the first Pokémon film, this sequel pushed the franchise deeper into theatrical territory, pairing Ash's ongoing journey with a mythic, higher-stakes plot centered on legendary Pokémon. It stands as a marker of the era when the property crossed from television phenomenon into mainstream cinema, drawing families and longtime fans alike into a shared theatrical event.
This cell bears the name Lugia, the legendary Pokémon whose presence anchors the film's entire premise and title identity, making it one of the more sought-after subjects from this release for collectors building out legendary-Pokémon holdings. As a 35mm frame drawn from actual theatrical printing stock, it represents a physical fragment of the film's original exhibition history rather than a reproduction. Owning a piece tied specifically to Lugia connects directly to the character most responsible for the movie's mythology and marketing identity at the height of the franchise's cultural reach.
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.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the frame, appearing as a dual-track variable-area pattern, with what appears to be a Dolby Digital data-block strip in the inter-perforation zone on the lower edge area.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight cyan-blue tint consistent with modern safety stock; the dye image shows warm amber and violet tones with no obvious fading.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks seen at this size.
Picture
Positive color image; a single frame is visible, and the animated character content is consistent with the Pokémon: The Movie 2000 theatrical release.
Era check
The combination of dual variable-area optical track, apparent Dolby Digital data blocks, and cyan-tinted polyester safety base is consistent with a late-1990s to early-2000s 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
