Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as part of the promotional machine built around Warner Bros' theatrical release of Pokémon: The First Movie, itself adapted from Japan's Pikachu's Summer Vacation and Mewtwo Strikes Back materials by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc., with Toho handling the original animation pipeline. Trailers of this kind circulated to exhibitors and press ahead of the franchise's explosive American debut, and surviving 35mm strips from that distribution window are scarce, since most prints were returned, junked, or cut down once the theatrical run ended.
This cell is noted as Venusaur Clone, with Zygarde and Rayquaza named as the figures present. Venusaur stands among the original starter evolutions and clones of established Pokémon were a recurring hook in the franchise's early marketing, making this a point of interest for collectors tracing how the series previewed its creature roster to a new American audience. Zygarde and Rayquaza, both later legendary additions, place this strip within promotional material that was later repurposed or reissued, a common practice for trailer reels circulated across multiple release cycles.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip for Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three frames, two of them near-identical and one different.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape, cleanly punched with no visible tearing or damage.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track of two tracks runs beside the picture, with Dolby Digital data blocks visible in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue tint to the clear base at the edges; dye image looks neutral to cool, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
A thin dark horizontal line crosses the first two frames, consistent with a projected print; no splices or cue marks seen at this size.
Picture
Positive image; the first two frames repeat the same drawing and the third is a different shot, so they are not one continuous shot; animated artwork is consistent with the film on record.
Era check
Dual optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations fits a late-1990s 35mm release print, 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 000069946
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
