Warner Bros. released Pokémon: The First Movie in theaters in November 1999, following the franchise's explosive arrival in America via the Game Boy titles and the television series. The film brought Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon, to the big screen as a central figure of its marketing push, and trailers like this one were instrumental in building anticipation among a generation discovering the series for the first time. The movie's success cemented Pokémon as a dominant force in American pop culture at the turn of the millennium, and promotional material from this release remains highly sought after.
This cell, called Mewtwo Attacks!, captures a promotional strip from the theatrical trailer, assembling Mewtwo alongside Gyarados, Scyther, Nidoqueen, and Ninetales. Mewtwo's presence alone drives collector interest, as it stands as the film's signature antagonist and one of the most recognizable Pokémon ever created. The grouping of these particular creatures suggests the assembled forces under Mewtwo's command, a moment central to the film's conflict. Trailer cells like this one preserve the earliest marketing language used to introduce audiences to the stakes of the story before the film's release.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm positive release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds four complete frames in a row.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, with rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track, apparently two tracks, runs along the bottom edge between the picture and the perforations; Dolby Digital blocks, DTS timecode and SDDS are not visible in this capture.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
The base looks clear with a light blue tint along the edges; the dye image appears vivid and neutral, with no obvious fade or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the strip.
Picture
Positive colour image; the four frames run consecutively as one shot with a lightning bolt building across them, and the animation style fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
A clear-base positive print with a variable-area optical track and animated content is consistent with a 1999 35mm trailer print, though no Dolby, DTS or edge print is visible to narrow it.
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
