Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 as Warner Bros. and Nintendo's bid to prove that the television phenomenon could command the big screen. Built around Mewtwo's origin story and paired with the short Pikachu's Vacation, it became one of the highest grossing anime releases in American theaters and introduced a generation of young audiences to theatrical anime. The promotional trailer campaign leading up to release was extensive, cycling through footage meant to tease both the new legendary Pokémon and the familiar cast fans already loved from the series.
This cell comes from that trailer reel, preserving a moment built around Meowth, Team Rocket's talking cat and the group's resident schemer, shown here in the context of a Viking boat, a fittingly theatrical prop for a trio known for outlandish disguises and vehicles. Jessie and James round out Team Rocket's presence, while Ash, Misty, and Brock represent the heroic side of the cast, suggesting a trailer segment weaving between rivals. Trailer cells like this appeal to collectors chasing early promotional material, since they capture the marketing push that first announced the film to audiences rather than the finished feature itself.
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 bottom edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single bilateral track with a dense waveform pattern.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
Base appears with a slight warm-neutral tint; the dye image shows strong saturated blues and browns with no visible fading.
Projection history
Fine longitudinal lines consistent with projection are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; the four frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, consistent with an animated theatrical release print.
Era check
A single variable-area optical track without visible Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a 1999 theatrical release print, which would carry analogue optical audio as standard.
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
