Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in US theaters in November 1999 through Warner Bros., following the franchise's explosive television debut and merchandising rise. Produced by OLM and distributed in America by Nintendo's licensing partners, the film capitalized on peak Pokémon mania, introducing Mewtwo as a central figure in Pokémon lore for audiences beyond the games and show. Trailers for the release circulated widely in theaters and on home video, building anticipation for a franchise still new to Western moviegoing audiences and cementing its place in late-90s pop culture history.
This cell comes from the film's trailer reel, the promotional material built to stir early excitement before the feature's release. Mewtwo, the genetically engineered Pokémon central to the movie's plot, anchors this frame as the character most identified with the film's darker, more ambitious tone compared to the television series. Collectors value Mewtwo material for his scarcity in early promotional ephemera and his significance as the franchise's first major original cinematic character, a figure whose introduction helped define Pokémon's crossover into film.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges, which matches 35mm layout; the strip holds a single frame with its soundtrack area and perforation rows visible.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame on the top edge and the same pitch on the bottom edge, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shaped and cleanly punched with no tears seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track, two tracks in a stereo-style pair, runs beside the picture, with speckled Dolby Digital data blocks sitting between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
The base looks neutral to slightly cool, and the dye image shows no obvious fading or colour shift at this size.
Projection history
No scratches, cue marks or splices seen at this size.
Picture
Positive colour image on a single frame, so consecutive-shot continuity cannot be judged; the anime-style artwork is not inconsistent with the film on record.
Era check
The optical track combined with Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations is consistent with a late-1990s 35mm release trailer, which fits a 1999 Pokémon: The First Movie trailer.
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 in partnership with National Film Vault, 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.
CROWN SERIAL 000069751
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
