Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in late 1999 courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo, riding the crest of the franchise's first great wave of American popularity. As the theatrical debut for the property, it carried the weight of translating a sprawling video game and television phenomenon onto the big screen, pairing the Mewtwo origin story with a Pikachu short that rewarded young audiences already devoted to the series. For a certain generation, it marked a first trip to the cinema, and the promotional material that preceded it, including trailers like this one, became part of the cultural moment itself.
This cell preserves a close-up of Jessie, one of Team Rocket's two human antagonists and a favorite among collectors for her enduring popularity across the franchise's animated run. A trailer cell such as this one served to introduce or reinforce character presence ahead of release, using a single held moment to put a familiar face in front of audiences. A close-up framing signals her importance to the promotional campaign, offering a direct, personal glimpse of a character whose appeal has only grown with the series' longevity.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print of the Pokémon: The First Movie trailer (1999).
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges, as 35mm shows; the strip holds three full frames, and the picture area looks cropped at left and right.
Perforations
Four per frame on each edge, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing perforations in this capture.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track of two tracks sits between the picture and the lower perforations; Dolby Digital blocks, DTS timecode and SDDS tracks are not visible in this capture.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-tinted edge margins; the dye image looks saturated and neutral in balance, with no obvious fading or red shift in these frames.
Projection history
No scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; the speckled blue edge margins appear to be part of the stock's finish, not wear.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as one shot, and the animated style looks plausible for the film on record, though no title or text confirms it.
Era check
The two-track optical stripe and the colour positive on a blue-tinted base are consistent with a late-1990s 35mm release print, though the lack of Dolby Digital blocks leaves digital formats unconfirmed.
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 000069827
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
