Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived in American theaters in the summer of that year, riding the crest of the franchise's first great wave of popularity. Distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and 4Kids brought the property stateside, it followed the original 1998 film and helped cement Pokémon as a genuine theatrical event for young audiences, with promotional trailers circulating widely on 35mm to independent and chain theaters alike. The film's success reinforced the merchandising and media empire built around the anime, and trailer prints from this era are now scarce artifacts of that early theatrical push.
This piece comes from a promotional trailer reel rather than the feature itself, meaning its purpose was to entice, not narrate. Elekid and Bulbasaur are both early-generation Pokémon with strong followings, Elekid prized among Electric-type enthusiasts and Bulbasaur one of the original three starters and an enduring franchise icon. Their pairing in a single trailer cell suggests a moment meant to showcase creature variety and charm to draw audiences into theaters, a snapshot of the marketing machinery surrounding the film's release.
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 four frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean with no torn or missing perforations visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible along one edge, appearing as a dual bilateral variable-area pattern; Dolby Digital data blocks are visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the same edge, indicating a combined optical and Dolby Digital soundtrack.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer codes or key numbers.
Base & colour
The base shows a warm amber-yellow tint consistent with a dye-coupler colour print; the dye image appears saturated with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
No visible splices, cue marks, or heavy scratching are apparent; the surface appears consistent with a projected release print.
Picture
Positive colour image; the four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the animated characters visible are consistent with the Pokémon franchise as recorded.
Era check
The combination of a dual bilateral variable-area optical track with Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a 35mm 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
