Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 as Warner Bros. and Nintendo's attempt to translate a television and trading-card phenomenon into a theatrical event, backed by a trailer campaign that ran heavily on network television and in theaters ahead of its own release. The promotional reel fed anticipation for a franchise at its commercial peak, when Pokémon merchandise, games, and animation were inescapable in American pop culture. Trailer cells from this period are scarce compared to film frames, since fewer reels existed and fewer survived intact, making them a distinct category for collectors interested in the marketing history of the brand rather than just the feature itself.
This cell centers on the Clone Charizard and Clone Blastoise, genetically engineered counterparts created by Mewtwo in the film's central plot, standing in contrast to their original counterparts. Their presence in a trailer cell points to the marketing emphasis on spectacle and battle, using two of the franchise's most recognizable and powerful creatures to draw audiences. For collectors, Charizard and Blastoise remain among the most sought-after Pokémon, and their appearance together on promotional film ties directly into the clone storyline that anchored the movie's premise and appeal.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout: four perforations per frame on both edges, and the strip holds three full frames side by side in the picture area.
Perforations
Four per frame along both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing perforations seen.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical soundtrack runs beside the picture, with Dolby Digital data blocks visible in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a neutral to slightly cool cast; the dye image shows saturated blues, oranges and magentas with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible across these three frames.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-static shot, and the animated look is plausible for the film on record.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks on a clean positive print is consistent with a 1999 35mm release trailer, as Dolby Digital was standard on prints then.
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 000069761
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
