Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999 through Warner Bros., distributing the Japanese animated feature alongside Nintendo and The Pokémon Company at the height of the franchise's first great wave of popularity. The trailer campaign preceding its release was a cultural event in its own right, airing heavily across children's programming and building anticipation for Pokémon's leap from television and trading cards to the big screen. For a generation of young collectors, this marketing push was their first glimpse of the film, making surviving trailer material a tangible link to that original moment of discovery.
This 35mm cell, drawn from that trailer, groups together five Pokémon: Hitmonlee, Venusaur, Rhyhorn, Sandslash, and Scyther. Each was a recognizable figure from the early roster, prized by fans for distinct battle styles and strong presence in the games and card sets of the era. Assembling them together in a single promotional frame reflects the trailer's purpose: to showcase the breadth and variety of the Pokémon world before audiences ever saw the finished film. For collectors, a group cell like this captures the franchise's ensemble appeal at its most promotional and foundational stage.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm positive release-print trailer strip of Pokémon: The First Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm, with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape, cleanly punched with no tears or distortion visible.
Soundtrack
Two variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture; no Dolby Digital blocks are visible between the lower perforations, only a speckled pattern, and no DTS or SDDS data.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a faint blue tint at the edges; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no obvious fading or colour shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, splices or cue marks are visible on the three frames.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames show the same shot consecutively with minimal change, and the animated Pokémon characters fit the film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a 1999 35mm release print: positive dye image, optical stereo tracks, and speckled Dolby Digital area between perforations match late-1990s trailer 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 000069890
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
