Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived from Warner Bros. and 4Kids Entertainment as the second theatrical entry in the franchise, following the phenomenon of the first film into North American cinemas at the height of Pokémon's turn-of-the-millennium popularity. Built around the legendary bird trio and the guardian Lugia, the film pushed the series toward larger mythology and grander set pieces, cementing the franchise's box office reach beyond its television roots. For a generation of collectors, it represents the peak of the era before Pokémon media diversified, a snapshot of the property at its widest cultural saturation.
This cell centers on Lawrence's flying airship, the vessel belonging to the film's collector antagonist, whose pursuit of legendary Pokémon drives much of the story's conflict. Lugia's presence here ties directly to that pursuit, as the guardian is the very creature Lawrence seeks to capture. Frames touching on the airship carry weight for collectors interested in the film's mechanical design work and its departure from ordinary Pokémon battles into something closer to airborne adventure cinema, marking a key structural moment in the picture's plot.
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 three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no visible torn or deformed holes.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the bottom edge beside the perforations, appearing as a dual bilateral waveform pattern consistent with a stereo optical track; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the bottom edge.
Edge print
Top edge reads mirrored: '2383 372 039 0 30 K·00AK 16 2000 J' — mirrored text indicates emulsion-up orientation.
Base & colour
Base shows a light cyan-blue tint consistent with a colour print stock; dye image appears cool-toned with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible scratches, splice marks, or cue marks seen in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot and are consistent with an animated theatrical release print matching the film on record.
Era check
The combination of Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks, dual bilateral variable-area optical track, cyan-tinted base stock, and edge code format is consistent with a mid-to-late 1990s or year-2000 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
