Released in 1999, Pokémon: The First Movie brought Warner Bros. and Nintendo's sprawling franchise to American theaters at the height of Pokémon's cultural takeover. Adapted from the Japanese feature Mewtwo Strikes Back, the film introduced a generation of young audiences to the saga's darker, more philosophical corners, pairing monster battles with questions of identity and creation. Its theatrical trailer played a key role in building anticipation, circulating in advance of release to stoke the frenzy already surrounding trading cards, the television series, and merchandise. The marketing push around this film remains a touchstone of late nineties pop culture.
This cell, drawn from that trailer, centers on Mewtwo, the series' genetically engineered psychic Pokémon and one of its most enduring antagonists turned tragic figures. Alongside Mewtwo are the Clone Pokemon, duplicates born from its experiments, a concept central to the film's plot and promotional identity. Trailer cells like this one hold appeal for collectors because they capture the film's early public face, the images chosen to introduce Mewtwo's mystery before the story proper unfolds. For fans of this character's arc, a piece tied to the promotional rollout carries particular resonance.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm, with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds about three and a half frames, with partial frames at each end.
Perforations
Four rounded-rectangle perforations per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no visible tears or missing holes.
Soundtrack
Two parallel variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture, with a speckled, grainy-looking band between the perforations on the sound-side edge; no SDDS or DTS line is seen.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
The base has a pale blue-teal edge tint, and the dye image looks vivid and neutral, with no visible fading or colour shift.
Projection history
No scratches, splices or cue marks seen; the oval reflection on one frame is a camera artefact and is ignored.
Picture
Positive colour image; the frames run consecutively as one shot of animated creatures, which fits an anime feature and is not inconsistent with the film on record.
Era check
A 35mm print with an analogue optical track and a speckled band between the perforations is consistent with a late-1990s theatrical release print, as the film on record would be.
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
