Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 courtesy of Warner Bros., riding the crest of the franchise's explosive American debut. Adapted and expanded from the Japanese original, it introduced Mewtwo to a generation of young audiences and became a genuine box office phenomenon, proving that the Pokémon property could sustain a feature-length theatrical run. For many collectors, this film marks the high water point of the franchise's original cultural wave, and promotional material from its release, including trailer reels distributed to theaters, carries the weight of that moment.
This cell preserves a trailer frame built around Venusaur, specifically identified as one of the cloned Pokémon central to the film's premise. The cloning plot, orchestrated by Mewtwo, gave familiar creatures an uncanny, high stakes presence, and Venusaur's inclusion among the clones reflects its status as one of the original starter evolutions, a design long favored by collectors. As a trailer cell, this piece belonged to the promotional push meant to draw audiences into theaters, offering an early glimpse of the film's central conflict before release.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
Four perforations per frame appear along both edges, which fits 35mm; the strip holds about three full frames plus a partial frame at the left edge.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched; the strip curves in the photo but the pitch looks regular.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations, 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 blue-cyan tint at the edges; the dye image shows saturated greens and blues with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
A fine dark line crosses the upper part of the picture in each frame, and the strip is curled; no splices or cue marks seen at this size.
Picture
Positive image; the frames show the same green-and-blue animated composition, apparently one continuous shot, and nothing in the picture contradicts the film on record.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital data blocks fits a late-1990s 35mm release print, so it is consistent with a 1999 trailer print.
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
