Pokémon: The First Movie arrived in American theaters in November 1999, riding the crest of a cultural phenomenon that had swept through trading cards, television, and toy aisles. Warner Bros. handled distribution for this Japanese production, which introduced American audiences to Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon whose existential struggle gave the franchise an unexpected dose of gravity amid the merchandising frenzy. The film's commercial success, pairing a feature presentation with the beloved Pikachu's Vacation short, cemented Pokémon's place in mainstream American entertainment and proved that a card game and cartoon could fill theaters nationwide.
This 35mm cell preserves a moment from the promotional trailer, the advance reel built to generate anticipation before the feature's release, and it centers on Mewtwo, the movie's central antagonist turned tragic figure. "Mewtwo Attacks!" names the character's defining action in the story, the aggressive posture that made him a formidable screen presence and a sought-after figure among collectors drawn to the franchise's rare early cinema artifacts. Trailer cells like this one capture Pokémon's theatrical debut at its promotional origin point.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of the Pokémon: The Movie trailer (1999).
Gauge
35mm layout with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three full frames, with partial frames cut at both ends.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no torn or stretched holes seen at this size.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations, showing two tracks; the gaps between the lower perforations hold a speckled grey block pattern consistent with Dolby Digital data.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Light blue-green tinted margins with a neutral clear base; the dye image looks balanced with no obvious fade or red shift.
Projection history
A few small dark flecks sit on the frames, otherwise no scratches, cue marks or splices seen in this capture.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as one shot and show an animated character in a style consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a late-1990s release print: a Dolby Digital block pattern alongside an optical analogue track suggests a theatrical print from that period.
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 000070118
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
