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 wake of the franchise's explosive American debut, riding the wave of Pokémania that swept theaters after the first film's success. Built around the Legendary Birds and the guardian Lugia, it expanded the mythology beyond Pikachu and the core cast, pulling young audiences deeper into the world of Legendary Pokémon lore. The film's box office performance and merchandising tie-ins made it a defining artifact of the era's peak cultural saturation.
This cell centers on Lugia alone, the Guardian of the Sea and one of the most sought-after Legendary Pokémon in the franchise's history. Isolating Lugia without surrounding cast reflects the character's singular narrative weight, a being positioned above the human and Pokémon conflicts driving the story. For collectors, a solo Lugia cell holds particular value since the character anchors the film's mythology and cover art, making it a natural centerpiece for anyone assembling a collection around this release or around Legendary Pokémon generally.
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 two frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both visible edges; spacing appears even and the punched holes appear cleanly cut with no torn edges visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running as a narrow band along one edge beside the picture area, consistent with an analog stereo 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 cool blue-violet tint; the dye image appears saturated with strong blue and white values, showing no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
Fine longitudinal lines consistent with projection wear are visible across both frames; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive color image; the two frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, and the animated style is consistent with the film on record.
Era check
The variable-area optical soundtrack, polyester safety base tint, and color dye saturation are all 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
