Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as part of Warner Bros.' theatrical push to introduce American audiences to the Pokémon phenomenon ahead of the first feature film's release. Riding the momentum of the television series and the trading card craze, the trailer served as an early marketing artifact during the height of Pokémania, a moment when the franchise was transforming from a Japanese video game export into a dominant piece of American pop culture. These promotional strips are scarce survivors, often overshadowed by prints of the feature itself.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer reel, gathering Ash Ketchum alongside three of the franchise's most recognizable Pokémon: Pikachu, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. As the series protagonist, Ash anchors the group, while Pikachu remains the franchise's defining mascot and the two starter Pokémon round out an early roster familiar to any fan of the original generation. A trailer cell like this one captures the promotional language of the era, built to introduce the cast and spark anticipation rather than to advance a scene from the finished film.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Kodak 2383 release print of the 1999 Pokémon: The Movie trailer.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds four full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched with no tears visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs on one edge, with a Dolby Digital data block in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Reads in reverse along the top edge: "2383 187 341 1 30 KODAK 28 1999 L", with a small square mark at the end.
Base & colour
Clear base with a light cyan-blue edge tint; dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no fading or red shift seen.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on these four frames.
Picture
Positive image; the four frames repeat one near-identical shot, consistent with a Pokémon animated trailer, and nothing contradicts the film on record.
Era check
Kodak 2383 print stock, a 1999 date code, and an optical track with Dolby Digital data all fit a 1999 release print.
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 000070177
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
