Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, released by Warner Bros. after Nintendo and the Pokémon Company's franchise had already conquered television, trading cards, and handheld games. Its trailer campaign was a cultural marker in its own right, heralding the arrival of Pokémon on the big screen and signaling to a generation of young fans that their favorite creatures and trainer had made the leap to feature film. The movie's box office success cemented Pokémon as a dominant force in American pop culture at the close of the decade.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer reel, gathering Ash Ketchum alongside Pikachu, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, the core grouping that defined the franchise's early identity. Ash as the central trainer and Pikachu as his signature companion remain the most sought-after figures among collectors, with Squirtle and Bulbasaur rounding out the recognizable starter lineup fans grew up with. A trailer cell like this one captures promotional footage rather than a scene from the finished film itself, making it a artifact of how the movie was marketed and anticipated before release.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations span each frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangular and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing holes seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs as two parallel waveform lines along one edge; the data area between the perforations on that edge shows a speckled pattern, possibly Dolby Digital blocks.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue-cyan tint at the edges; the dye image looks neutral and saturated, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices visible across the three frames.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames repeat essentially the same shot, and the animated Pokémon characters fit the film on record.
Era check
A two-track optical track with a possible Dolby Digital data area on a clear blue-tinted base is consistent with a late-1990s 35mm release print or 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 000069782
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
