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Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived in North American theaters in July 2000, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures following the unprecedented cultural momentum of the first film. Produced by OLM, Inc. for Nintendo and Game Freak, it expanded the mythology of the franchise by centering on the Legendary birds and the ocean guardian Lugia, drawing audiences who had grown up alongside the television series and trading card game.
This cell captures Ash and Pikachu riding on Lugia during one of the film's most visually ambitious sequences. The deep blue and purple palette, broken by sweeping white energy streaks, reflects the animators' effort to render Lugia's power on a cinematic scale — a moment that remains among the most recognizable in the Pokémon film series.