Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 from Warner Bros. and Nintendo's Pikachu Project, riding the crest of Pokémania's first American wave. The film's plot, centered on Mewtwo's genetic origins and his clash with the original Mew, gave the franchise its first cinematic mythology, a rare instance of a toy and card phenomenon reaching for something closer to tragedy and philosophy. Its theatrical trailer, distributed to build anticipation ahead of release, distilled that clash into a single promotional beat, offering audiences a preview of the rivalry driving the story.
This cell captures that rivalry directly: Mewtwo Strikes, Mew Dodges, a trailer moment naming both action and reaction between the two Psychic-types whose bond and conflict anchor the film's emotional core. Mewtwo, the artificial clone born of ambition and grief, and Mew, the ancient original he was made to surpass, remain among the most sought-after Pokémon for collectors, their pairing rare in any format. As a trailer cell rather than a finished feature frame, it preserves an early promotional glimpse of that central confrontation, valued for marking the franchise's first theatrical push into wider culture.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie Trailer (1999).
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 throughout the strip.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along the lower edge beside the picture area, appearing as a dual-band variable-area format; Dolby Digital data blocks are also visible in the inter-perforation gaps on the lower edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
The base appears neutral to slightly warm; dye saturation looks full with no visible fading.
Projection history
Light vertical lines consistent with projection are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; the four frames span two consecutive shots, and the animated style is consistent with the Pokémon: The First Movie Trailer (1999) on record.
Era check
The combination of dual variable-area optical track and Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a mid-to-late 1990s theatrical release print, matching the 1999 record date.
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
