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 Pikachu Project 1999 as the follow up to the franchise's blockbuster theatrical debut, riding the crest of Pokémania at its peak in American theaters. Built around the legendary bird trio and the guardian Lugia, it expanded the mythology beyond Ash's starter roster into grander, more mythic territory, cementing the series as a theatrical event rather than a television spinoff. For collectors and fans this movie represents the moment Pokémon proved it could sustain feature length storytelling on the big screen.
This cell, called Charizard & Friends, pairs two of the franchise's most sought after figures. Charizard remains one of the most collected Pokémon of all time, prized across cards, merchandise, and film ephemera alike, while Lugia stands as this movie's central legendary, its presence tied directly to the story's mythic stakes. A cell naming both suggests a shared screen moment between Ash's powerhouse and the film's guardian figure, a pairing that speaks to the crossover appeal driving this title's lasting collector interest.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds two frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the bottom edge of the strip, appearing as a dual bilateral waveform pattern.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly cool; dye image shows saturated blues, golds and whites consistent with a colour release print.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks or cue marks are apparent at this size.
Picture
Positive colour image; both frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot and the animated character visible is consistent with Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Era check
A dual bilateral variable-area optical track on 35mm colour positive stock is consistent with a theatrical release print from the year 2000.
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
