Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as Warner Bros. and Nintendo's advance promotional reel for Pokémon: The First Movie, timed to the franchise's early explosion in North America. Built from Japanese theatrical footage, it introduced audiences to Mewtwo and the island of cloned Pokémon before the feature itself opened. As an early marketing artifact, it holds a distinct place for collectors tracing how Pokémon's film debut was sold to the public ahead of release.
This cell, Blastoise Clone, belongs to that preview reel's parade of genetically duplicated Pokémon assembled by Mewtwo. Alongside Gyarados, Scyther, and Nidoqueen, the Blastoise shown here represents one of the artificial creatures central to the film's plot, standing in for the original it was copied from. Blastoise remains a core first-generation favorite, and seeing it folded into Mewtwo's roster of clones gives this piece a clear narrative anchor. As a trailer cell, it reflects the footage chosen to tease that story to audiences, a fragment of the advance reel rather than the finished film.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release-print trailer strip for Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout: four perforations per frame along both edges, with three picture frames showing on this strip.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
Two variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture; Dolby Digital blocks sit in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations, so this is a Dolby SR-D print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue border; dye image looks neutral and saturated, no sign of fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size beyond faint dust specks; no scratches, cue marks or splices visible.
Picture
Positive colour image; first two frames repeat the same close shot, third frame is a different shot, and the animated characters match the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a 1999 release print: optical tracks plus Dolby Digital data blocks fit late-1990s theatrical prints, and the picture matches the Pokémon animation.
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 000069896
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
