Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in late 1999 courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo, riding the crest of a cultural wave that had swept American children's media that year. Its theatrical trailer circulated widely on 35mm in advance of release, introducing moviegoers to Mewtwo, the franchise's darkest creation, well before the feature itself landed in theaters. For many collectors, trailer material from this period marks the true beginning of Pokémon as a cinematic property, distinct from the television series that preceded it.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer, centered on Mewtwo in a scene of attack. Mewtwo stands apart from the franchise's friendlier roster, a genetically engineered Pokémon whose storyline carries weight and menace rarely seen elsewhere in the series. A trailer cell such as this served to announce the film's tone to audiences, and Mewtwo attacking speaks directly to that promise of conflict and power, making it a natural point of interest for those who trace the character's early theatrical presence.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three complete frames of picture.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing perforations seen.
Soundtrack
Two variable-area optical tracks run between the picture and the lower perforations, with a dashed line above them; no Dolby Digital blocks are visible between the perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted base along the edges; the dye image looks neutral to cool, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible across the three frames.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one continuous shot, and the animated look is consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a late-1990s release print, since a two-track variable-area optical soundtrack and a 35mm safety-style base were standard for theatrical trailers of that period.
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 000069839
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
