Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo's creature-collecting franchise had already conquered Game Boy screens, trading cards, and Saturday morning television. The promotional trailer that preceded it was part of a marketing wave that introduced American audiences to Pokémon as a theatrical event rather than just a TV phenomenon, building anticipation around the franchise's most ambitious character to date: a genetically engineered Pokémon with psychic power far beyond the familiar roster of Pikachu and friends.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer centered on Mewtwo, the film's central figure and one of the most sought-after characters in Pokémon history among collectors. Mewtwo's introduction to a mainstream audience hinged on exactly this kind of close-up treatment, presenting the character as a singular, imposing presence meant to carry the weight of the film's themes around creation and identity. A trailer cell like this one functioned as an advance promise, excerpted from reels meant to circulate before the feature itself opened.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release-print trailer strip for Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout, four perforations per frame along both edges, with four frames visible on the strip.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, rounded-rectangle shape with no torn or missing holes seen.
Soundtrack
Two parallel variable-area optical tracks run between the picture and the lower perforations; the grey speckled blocks between those perforations look like Dolby Digital data.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-cyan base tint with a clean, saturated blue and teal dye image; no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
No scratches, cue marks or splices seen at this size; a few tiny dark specks on the base only.
Picture
Positive image; the four frames repeat nearly the same drawn figure and appear consecutive from one shot; the animated look is plausible for the film on record, but no title or text confirms it.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital data blocks fits a late-1990s 35mm release print, so it is consistent with a 1999 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
