The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002) brought Craig McCracken's Cartoon Network hit to theaters through Warner Bros., expanding the show's origin story into feature form. Released at the height of the series' popularity, the film traced how Professor Utonium's chemical accident produced three super-powered kindergartners tasked with saving Townsville. It stands as one of the defining theatrical efforts of Cartoon Network's early push into film, a bridge between Saturday morning programming and big screen ambition, and remains a touchstone for animation collectors tracking the studio's crossover years.
This cell comes from the trailer reel, the promotional strip cut to announce the film ahead of release, carrying Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup together as the complete trio. Trailer cells like this one hold particular appeal because they predate the finished feature, capturing the marketing moment rather than a narrative beat. Having all three girls together in a single promotional frame satisfies collectors who want the team as a unit rather than isolated appearances, representing the franchise's core identity in its most recognizable configuration.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip for The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames running consecutively.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with rounded-rectangle holes and no visible tears or torn corners.
Soundtrack
A twin variable-area optical track runs beside the picture, and Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
A faint line of small characters sits along the upper edge, too small and indistinct to quote reliably; no 'SAFETY FILM' text is legible.
Base & colour
The edge margins show a light blue-teal tint and the picture dyes look neutral to slightly warm, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
No distinct scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; the dark picture frame lines look clean.
Picture
Positive image, three consecutive frames of one shot, and the cartoon characters shown are consistent with The Powerpuff Girls Movie trailer on record.
Era check
An optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks on a 35mm positive print fits a 2002 theatrical release print, since that format combination was standard then.
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 000071080
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
