Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo, riding the crest of the franchise's explosive American debut. It brought Pokémon from television to the multiplex, pairing a theatrical feature with the now-famous Pikachu's Vacation short and a wave of merchandising that cemented the brand's hold on a generation. The trailer reels that preceded its release were a crucial part of the marketing rollout, building anticipation for a story centered on Mewtwo, the lab-born Pokémon whose existential struggle gave the film unexpected weight for a franchise built on childhood adventure.
This cell preserves a promotional moment built around Mewtwo, Gyarados, and Charizard, three of the era's most sought-after Pokémon by collectors, each tied to power and spectacle in the mythology. A face off among them signals the trailer's effort to showcase conflict and scale ahead of the film's release, teasing the clash between Mewtwo's cloned forces and the original Pokémon. As a trailer cell, it belongs to the promotional run meant to circulate in theaters, a physical artifact of the campaign that introduced Pokémon's first cinematic story to American audiences.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds four frames, shown here as consecutive images across the panel.
Perforations
Four per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle punches, cleanly cut with no torn or missing holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track of two bilateral tracks runs along the lower edge, and Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue tint at the edges; the dye image looks neutral with warm yellows, no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the strip.
Picture
Positive image; the four frames run consecutively as one shot and show animated artwork, which is consistent with the film on record.
Era check
Dolby Digital data blocks plus an optical track on a clear-base 35mm strip fit a late-1990s release print or trailer, in line with a 1999 title.
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
