Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as part of the promotional push surrounding Pokémon: The First Movie, released theatrically by Warner Bros. in the United States under license from Nintendo and the broader Pokémon franchise machine. The late-1990s marked the franchise's explosive crossover into Western mainstream culture, and trailer reels like this one circulated through theaters to build anticipation ahead of the feature. As a piece of 35mm promotional film, it stands as a physical artifact of that marketing campaign, distinct from the movie itself.
This cell centers on the Poké Ball alongside Pikachu, pairing the franchise's defining piece of equipment with its most recognizable character. Pikachu has long served as the face of Pokémon across media, and cells featuring the character draw steady collector interest for that reason alone. As a logo card, this piece likely functioned as a branding moment within the trailer sequence, the kind of frame built to anchor the Pokémon identity in viewers' minds before the feature itself began. It represents the promotional, rather than narrative, side of the franchise's film history.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release print of the Pokémon: The Movie (1999) trailer.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, with rounded-rectangle punches that look cleanly cut; the bottom row alternates with Dolby data blocks.
Soundtrack
A pair of variable-area optical tracks with a dashed blue line above, plus Dolby Digital data blocks in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a slight blue-cyan cast at the edges; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices in this three-frame section.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-identical shot, and the Pikachu and Poké Ball artwork fits a Pokémon trailer.
Era check
Consistent: optical tracks plus Dolby Digital blocks fit a late-1990s 35mm release print, matching 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 000070146
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
