Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived on the heels of the franchise's explosive American debut, distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak's property had already conquered handheld consoles and Saturday morning television. Following the surprise box office success of the first film, this sequel cemented Pokémon as a genuine theatrical draw rather than a passing fad. The Legend of the Unown, as it was known in Japan, expanded the mythology while keeping the franchise's core appeal intact, arriving in theaters at the height of Pokémania and reinforcing the brand's crossover from toy aisle to multiplex.
This cell isolates Pikachu, the character most responsible for the franchise's global recognition and the figure collectors return to again and again regardless of the specific film. As Ash's constant companion, Pikachu functions less as a supporting player and more as the emotional anchor of the series, making any strip that isolates the character valuable simply for that reason. A single-subject cell like this one, likely drawn from footage rather than promotional material, offers a clean, uncluttered piece of the animation history, a fragment of celluloid tied directly to the character's most visible cinematic period.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds four frames.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame visible on both the top and bottom edges; spacing appears even and the punched holes appear cleanly cut with no torn or deformed edges visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical soundtrack is visible below the picture area, appearing as two bilateral variable-area tracks running parallel to the perforations; a Dolby Digital pixel block pattern is also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the bottom edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read any key numbers or manufacturer text.
Base & colour
The base appears neutral to very slightly cool; the dye image shows strong saturated colour with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No splices, cue marks, or prominent scratches are visible in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; all four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot and the animated character visible is consistent with the Pokémon franchise as recorded.
Era check
The combination of a bilateral variable-area optical track with a Dolby Digital inter-perforation data block is consistent with a theatrical release print from the late 1990s to early 2000s, matching the 2000 release date on record.
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
