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 as the follow-up to the franchise's blockbuster theatrical debut, riding the height of Pokémania in American theaters. Built around the Legendary Birds and the balance of nature, it expanded the mythology beyond Mewtwo's shadow and cemented Pokémon's place as a recurring cinematic event rather than a one-off novelty. For collectors of early franchise film ephemera, this era represents the peak of theatrical merchandising tied directly to strip prints and promotional reels.
This cell bears the name Articuno, one of the three Legendary Birds central to the film's plot and among the most sought-after Pokémon in the original 151, prized for its rarity and elemental design. A cell carrying only this name suggests a singular focus on the creature itself, likely drawn from a moment meant to showcase its presence within the story. For collectors, isolated character cells like this hold value as tangible artifacts of a specific creature's screen appearance, distinct from dialogue-heavy or ensemble frames, offering a direct physical link to the Legendary Bird's role in the movie.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby SR·D 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 edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area pattern; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, consistent with a Dolby SR·D combined track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote characters reliably.
Base & colour
Base appears with a light blue-cyan tint consistent with a dyed safety base stock; the dye image reads with strong blue, red and neutral tones showing no obvious fading or colour shift.
Projection history
No visible splices, cue marks or heavy scratching are apparent; faint vertical lines in the picture area suggest the print has been projected.
Picture
Positive colour image; the four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot and the animated character design is consistent with the Pokémon franchise film on record.
Era check
The combined Dolby SR·D optical/digital soundtrack format, cyan-tinted polyester safety base, and colour dye image are all 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
