Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999 through Warner Bros., riding the crest of Pokémania as the franchise expanded from television into a full theatrical event. The trailer campaign that preceded it was instrumental in building anticipation, splicing footage of the Mewtwo saga with familiar faces from the series to reassure fans this was still their Pokémon world, only bigger. These promotional reels circulated widely before home video preserved the film, making surviving trailer cells a scarce bridge between broadcast-era Pokémon and its cinematic debut.
This cell captures a transition moment built around the cloned Charizard and Blastoise, alongside Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Clone Pokémon were central to the film's premise, and their inclusion in trailer material signals how heavily Warner Bros. leaned on their novelty to sell the story. As a transition cell, it would have served to link sequences within the trailer itself, pairing the franchise's most recognizable creatures with new, unsettling counterparts. For collectors, the combination of core cast members with these clone figures makes it a notable artifact of the film's marketing era.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release-print trailer strip of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shaped and cleanly punched, with no tears seen.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical soundtrack runs beside the picture, with a dashed cue line above it and Dolby Digital data blocks in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-tinted base with a neutral to slightly cool dye image; the colours look saturated, with no fading or red shift seen.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, splices or cue marks are visible on the picture area.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames show one continuous shot, and the animated style is consistent with the film on record.
Era check
Optical tracks with Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations are consistent with a late-1990s 35mm release print such as a 1999 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 000069766
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
