Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, brought to U.S. audiences by Warner Bros. and Nintendo's licensing muscle at the height of Pokémania. Built around promotional material for that release, this trailer reel captures the marketing push that introduced millions of kids to the franchise's first cinematic outing. The movie's success at the box office cemented Pokémon's crossover from television and trading cards into a genuine theatrical event, and ephemera tied to its release, including trailer strips like this one, document that transitional moment when a Japanese game property became an American cultural fixture.
This cell centers on Mewtwo, the genetically engineered Pokémon whose origin and power made it the franchise's most formidable early antagonist. As the first legendary-tier Pokémon introduced to mainstream audiences, Mewtwo carries outsized collector interest, standing apart from the series' friendlier mascots. A trailer cell exists to sell anticipation rather than tell story, offering a single preview frame meant to tease conflict and scale. The phrase "Attacks" names the moment outright: this is Mewtwo in confrontation, the film's central menace asserting itself ahead of release, a fragment of the campaign that convinced audiences this was more than a children's cartoon.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release print trailer for Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three complete frames in a row.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-corner and evenly spaced, cleanly punched, with no torn or missing holes seen at this size.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical track runs beside the picture, and the speckled Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Printed along the upper edge as read: "2383 187 341 1 30 KODAK 28 1999 L", with a small square mark at the right end.
Base & colour
Clear, slightly cool blue-cyan base, with a dye image that looks saturated and unfaded; the edge margins show an even pale cyan tint.
Projection history
Faint vertical lines run through the frames and a few small specks sit near the frame bottoms; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one continuous shot, and nothing in them contradicts a 1999 animated feature trailer such as the film on record.
Era check
Kodak 2383 print stock with a 1999 date code, an optical track and Dolby Digital blocks all fit a 1999 theatrical release print 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 000070051
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
