Pokémon: The Movie Trailer (1999) arrived as part of the promotional push surrounding the franchise's explosive theatrical debut in the West, timed to the release of Pokémon: The First Movie. Warner Bros. handled distribution in the United States, capitalizing on a cultural wave that had already swept through television, trading cards, and handheld games. Trailers like this one served as the first theatrical introduction many American audiences had to the animated property beyond its television run, making these promotional reels historically significant markers of the franchise's crossover into mainstream cinema.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer featuring four of the franchise's most recognizable early creatures: Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Vulpix. Pikachu's presence alone makes this desirable, as the character served as the franchise's mascot and face of the entire marketing campaign. Squirtle and Bulbasaur represent two of the original starter creatures beloved by early collectors, while Vulpix adds a less common figure to the grouping. As a trailer cell, this frame functioned to entice audiences ahead of the main feature, offering a quick assembly of familiar characters meant to stir recognition and anticipation in theaters.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations span each frame on both edges, and the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame along both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track of two white waveform lines runs along the lower edge, with a dashed line above it. No Dolby Digital blocks, DTS line or SDDS visible.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue border tint; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, splices or cue marks are visible on these three frames.
Picture
Positive colour image. The three frames show the same shot with almost no change between them. Characters match Pokémon, consistent with the film on record.
Era check
A 35mm positive with an optical track and no digital data blocks fits a 1999 trailer print, though Dolby Digital data would be expected between perforations on many prints of the era.
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 000070032
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
