Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, riding the crest of the franchise's explosive crossover from Japanese card game and television phenomenon to full-scale Hollywood event. Distributed by Warner Bros. in the United States following Toho's original Japanese release earlier that year, the film capitalized on a merchandising and media wave rarely seen before, introducing Mewtwo and Mew to a generation already fluent in Pikachu. Its trailer campaign was essential to that rollout, building anticipation across television spots and theatrical previews months ahead of release.
This cell preserves a title card from that trailer, the frame where the film's name is announced to the audience before a single scene plays. Title cards from this era carry particular weight for collectors, as they mark the moment a studio formally stages its presentation, distinct from character or action footage. As the title card for Pokémon's theatrical debut, this piece anchors the promotional campaign itself, a documentary fragment of how the franchise introduced its first cinematic outing to American audiences on 35mm film.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print of the Pokémon: The First Movie trailer (1999).
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges, the 35mm layout; the strip holds four frames, the last one cut off at the right edge.
Perforations
Four per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with rounded-rectangle holes and no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical soundtrack runs between the picture and the lower perforations; the gaps between the lower perforations are filled with a speckled grey pattern, consistent with Dolby Digital data blocks.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-tinted clear base at the edges; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no fading or colour shift seen.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the strip.
Picture
Positive image; the frames run consecutively as one shot, and the Pokémon: The First Movie logo matches the film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a 1999 release print, since the optical track paired with Dolby Digital data blocks was the standard theatrical format for that year.
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
