Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as part of the promotional wave Warner Bros. and Nintendo built around the franchise's first theatrical feature, riding the peak of Pokémon's crossover from Game Boy screens into mainstream American culture. The teaser reels that circulated in theaters that year were many young collectors' first glimpse of the animated world beyond television, and 35mm prints of this promotional material are scarce survivors of a marketing campaign built for disposal rather than preservation.
This cell preserves a Charizard close-up, paired with Ash Ketchum, two figures central to the franchise's identity. Charizard remains among the most sought-after Pokémon in any format, prized for its stature as a signature creature of the series' early years. A close-up designation points to a moment of emphasis, the kind trailers use to showcase a marquee attraction and draw audiences toward the feature film. Alongside Ash, the pairing reflects the trainer-and-partner bond that anchored the show's appeal, offered here as a promotional highlight rather than a narrative scene.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release-print trailer strip for Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four-perforation frame pitch with perforations along both edges; the strip holds three complete frames in view.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle in shape and cleanly punched with no tears seen.
Soundtrack
Two variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture, with Dolby Digital data blocks visible in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a slight blue-green cast at the edges; the dye image looks neutral to warm, with saturated oranges and no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
No lines, scratches, cue marks or splices seen at this size; the strip looks clean.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one continuous shot, and the animated look is consistent with the animated film on record.
Era check
Dolby Digital data between the perforations plus an optical track gives a late-1990s 35mm release print layout, consistent with a 1999 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 000069913
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
