Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, released by Warner Bros. in partnership with Nintendo and Pikachu Project '98, riding the crest of Pokémania as the franchise crossed from television and trading cards into a full theatrical event. The trailer that preceded it became its own cultural artifact, circulating on broadcast television and in cinemas to introduce a generation of young viewers to Mewtwo's origin story. For collectors of ephemera from this period, trailer reels mark a specific promotional moment, distinct from the feature print itself, capturing how the studio chose to sell the film before audiences ever saw it.
This cell gathers Ash Ketchum alongside his core roster: Pikachu, Squirtel, Bulbasaur, Scyther, and Nidoqueen, assembled as a unit rather than isolated figures. That grouping reflects the trailer's purpose, presenting the trainer and his team as a cohesive force ahead of the larger battle to come. Pikachu remains the franchise's defining draw for collectors, but the inclusion of Scyther and Nidoqueen signals a broader roster moment, likely tied to the tournament or team-building beats the trailer used to build anticipation for the film's stakes.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print of the Pokémon: The First Movie trailer (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations span each frame along both edges, and the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle and cleanly punched, with the lower edge showing Dolby data blocks between them.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs beside the picture as two parallel waveforms, and Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear to slightly pale blue-tinted base with a neutral dye image; no red shift or fading seen.
Projection history
None seen at this size; the frames and track look clean, with no splices, cue marks or visible scratches.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames repeat one near-identical shot, consistent with the animated Pokémon film on record, with no conflicting titles.
Era check
Dual optical plus Dolby Digital soundtrack on a clean print is consistent with a late-1990s release print or trailer such as Pokémon: The First Movie.
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 000069775
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
