Pokémon: The Movie Trailer arrived in 1999 as part of the promotional machinery surrounding the franchise's leap from television to the big screen, with Warner Bros. handling North American distribution and Nintendo's characters driving a merchandising and media event unlike anything in children's entertainment at the time. Trailers from this period circulated in physical formats like 35mm as part of theatrical promotion, making surviving cells a window into how the franchise was marketed before Pokémon: The First Movie reached audiences. This era remains significant to collectors as the foundation of the franchise's cinematic ambitions.
This cell gathers Brock, Misty, Nurse Joy and Togepi, four figures whose pairing reflects the found-family dynamic central to the animated series. Brock and Misty, the original traveling companions, carry strong collector interest as fan favorites from the show's earliest seasons, while Nurse Joy represents the recurring support cast woven throughout every region. Togepi, Misty's companion creature, adds a layer tied to character development arcs. As a trailer cell, this piece represents promotional material meant to stir anticipation, capturing a moment selected specifically to showcase familiar, beloved characters to prospective moviegoers.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release print strip from the 1999 Pokémon: The Movie trailer.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations span each frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle punches that look clean and uniform along the whole strip.
Soundtrack
A dashed, dark blue band with white dots and lines runs along one edge, with grainy grey data blocks between the perforations on the opposite edge, consistent with Dolby Digital data and an optical track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Neutral to slightly cool clear base with a blue-tinted edge margin; the dye image shows saturated, balanced colour with no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; the only marks are round dark halos on single frames, which are phone reflections and are ignored.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one shot with only small movement between them, and the animation style fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
The Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations alongside an optical track fit a late-1990s 35mm release print, which suits 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 000071040
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
