Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in the United States in November 1999 through Warner Bros., brought to American theaters by Nintendo and 4Kids Entertainment at the height of Pokémania. It was the franchise's first theatrical feature, built around the genetically engineered Mewtwo and introducing him as a figure of tragedy and power rather than a simple antagonist. The film's box office success proved that the Pokémon brand could move beyond television and trading cards into mainstream cinema, and its promotional trailers were a key part of building that anticipation, circulating in theaters months ahead of release.
This cell comes from that trailer reel, the kind of promotional footage meant to stoke excitement before the feature itself opened. The arena setting names a staged confrontation, and the gathering of Mewtwo alongside Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise points to the film's central standoff, pitting the original three Kanto starters against Mewtwo's engineered might. Mewtwo remains one of the most sought-after Pokémon among collectors for his rarity and his role as the film's defining character, while the three starters anchor the moment in the franchise's earliest and most recognizable roster.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip for Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout, with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with rounded-rectangle holes; no torn or distorted perforations seen.
Soundtrack
Two variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture on one side; Dolby Digital data blocks sit between the perforations on the opposite edge, with no DTS or SDDS seen.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted base along the edges with neutral, stable dye in the image area; no fading or red shift seen.
Projection history
No scratches, cue marks or splices seen at this size; a faint round halo on the third frame is camera reflection, ignored.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames repeat one near-identical shot consecutively, and the animated artwork is plausible for the Pokémon film on record, with no contradicting content.
Era check
Consistent with a late-1990s release print, since an analogue optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations matches the format of 1999 theatrical prints.
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 000069880
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
