Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and 4Kids built the Pokémon franchise into a cultural phenomenon through its television series and trading card game. The film adapted the saga's mythology around Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon wrestling with questions of identity and purpose, into a feature-length story that introduced cloned versions of familiar creatures as part of its central conflict. The movie's theatrical run and promotional campaign marked a high point for the franchise's crossover into mainstream American pop culture, and surviving trailer material from that release remains a touchpoint for collectors tracing the brand's early cinematic push.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer, built around Mewtwo's scheme to pit cloned Pokémon against their original counterparts, here represented by Blastoise and its cloned counterpart. Trailer cells like this one were struck for promotional use ahead of release, giving audiences an early glimpse of the film's premise and stakes. For collectors, this piece sits at the intersection of two draws: the artifact status of early Pokémon film ephemera, and the specific appeal of the clone storyline that distinguished this movie's plot from the television series. It stands as a physical remnant of the marketing campaign that introduced millions to the film's dramatic core.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations span each frame along the edge, and the strip holds four complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame, visible along both edges; rounded-rectangle holes look evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no tears or missing perforations seen.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations; Dolby Digital data blocks appear in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-tinted edges and a mostly clear base; the dye image looks neutral with saturated blues and oranges, no obvious fading or colour shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible across the four frames.
Picture
Positive image; the four frames run consecutively as one near-static shot, and the animated artwork is consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Optical tracks plus Dolby Digital blocks on 35mm fit a late-1990s release print or trailer, which suits a 1999 Pokémon trailer.
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
