SCENEAsh, Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur - Transition Cell
FILM FORMAT35mm
YEAR1999
CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000002767
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, distributed by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and Shogakukan's Japanese release earlier that year. Built to capitalize on the franchise's explosive stateside popularity following the television series and trading card craze, the film paired the Mewtwo Strikes Back feature with the Pikachu's Vacation short, and its promotional trailer became a fixture of Saturday morning broadcasts and theatrical previews. As one of the defining pieces of 1990s crossover merchandising between Japan and American youth culture, the movie and its marketing material remain touchstones for a generation that grew up alongside the series.
This cell captures a transition moment, the kind of connective footage trailers use to move between scenes or beats, here bringing together Ash Ketchum with three of the franchise's most recognizable Pokémon, Pikachu, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Each figure carries its own collector pull, Ash as the franchise's central human protagonist, Pikachu as its mascot, Squirtle and Bulbasaur as beloved starter Pokémon from the original generation. A transition cell from a theatrical trailer holds particular interest for collectors tracing how early Pokémon marketing introduced this ensemble to Western audiences.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm positive release print of the Pokémon: The First Movie trailer (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames of picture.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with rounded-rectangle holes and no tears or torn edges seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs beside the picture as two parallel tracks. Dolby Digital blocks between the lower perforations are not visible, and no DTS line or SDDS tracks are visible.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted base along both edges with neutral clear base between; the dye image looks saturated with no obvious fade 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 repeat one near-identical shot consecutively, and the animated look is consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
A positive 35mm print with a variable-area optical track is consistent with a 1999 theatrical trailer print, though the capture alone cannot confirm the exact title.
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 000069768
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
