Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in 1999 through Warner Bros., riding the crest of a cultural phenomenon that had swept toys, trading cards, and a weekly television series into one of the decade's defining crazes for young audiences. The film's trailer served as an early herald of that theatrical crossover, introducing moviegoers to the clash between Mewtwo and the cloned Pokémon central to the story. For many collectors, trailer material from this release marks a unique moment: the franchise's transition from small screen to cinema, captured in promotional reels that circulated before the feature's wide release and helped build anticipation for what became a landmark in animated film history.
This cell gathers an assembly of Pokémon drawn from across the series' early roster, with Venusaur appearing twice, once in its familiar form and once as its cloned counterpart, a detail tied directly to the film's plot of genetic duplication. Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Sandslash, and Scyther round out the grouping, each a recognizable face from the original 151 that fueled the franchise's initial wave of popularity. As a trailer cell, this frame would have functioned to showcase the breadth of creatures appearing in the film, offering audiences a glimpse of the ensemble before the narrative's central conflict unfolded.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm positive release print of the Pokémon: The First Movie trailer (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, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with no visible tearing or distortion.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations, with a speckled band of Dolby Digital data blocks sitting between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear to light blue-tinted base with a neutral-to-slightly-warm dye image; no red shift or fading seen at this size.
Projection history
None seen; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the three frames.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames repeat one continuous shot of animated Pokémon characters, consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Dual optical and Dolby Digital soundtrack on a 35mm positive print is consistent with a 1999 theatrical 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 000069888
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
