Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo, riding the crest of a cultural wave that had already swept American television, toy aisles, and trading card tables. Adapted from the Japanese feature Mewtwo Strikes Back, it was the franchise's leap to the big screen, introducing a generation of young viewers to theatrical Pokémon storytelling. The teaser trailer that preceded it played a key role in building anticipation, assembling familiar faces from the animated series to signal scale and spectacle ahead of release.
This cell draws from that promotional reel, gathering Ash Ketchum alongside Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Scyther, Gyarados, and Nidoqueen. Ash anchors the roster as the franchise's recognizable trainer, while Pikachu remains its most sought-after mascot among collectors. The presence of Scyther, Gyarados, and Nidoqueen alongside the starter trio suggests a trailer built to showcase variety and power, a common strategy for early teaser cuts meant to excite audiences before a title's full story unfolds on screen.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three complete frames plus a partial frame at each end.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape, and cleanly punched with no tears or missing holes seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along the lower edge as multiple parallel waveform lines, and Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue-cyan tint at the edges; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no obvious fading or colour shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the frames or soundtrack area.
Picture
Positive image; the three full frames run consecutively as one near-static shot, and the animated cartoon look fits an animated feature trailer such as the film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a late-1990s release print: optical track plus Dolby Digital data blocks fits that period's 35mm prints, and the animation style fits the 1999 film.
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
