The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002) arrived courtesy of Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Studios, expanding Craig McCracken's hit television series into a theatrical origin story. Written and directed by McCracken, the film traced how Professor Utonium's three chemically altered creations became the protectors of Townsville. It landed during a strong period for animated franchise extensions, giving longtime fans a bigger canvas for the show's blend of superhero action and candy colored style, while introducing the girls and their world to audiences who had never seen the series.
This cell comes from the trailer reel, the footage cut together to promote the film ahead of release, built to introduce Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as a unit. Trailer material holds particular appeal for collectors because it represents the industry's first attempt to sell the film to the public, often using imagery distinct from the final cut. Having all three girls together on a single strip of 35mm ties directly to the franchise's core identity, the trio presented as one inseparable act, which is exactly what made the property recognizable and collectible in the first place.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release print of The Powerpuff Girls Movie trailer (2002).
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames, consistent with a 35mm release print.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with rounded-rectangle holes; the soundtrack-side edge shows Dolby data blocks between its perforations.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs beside the picture as stacked tracks, with Dolby Digital data blocks visible in the gaps between the perforations on the sound edge.
Edge print
Faint reversed edge text is visible along the upper edge, but it is too small and indistinct to quote reliably.
Base & colour
The base has a light blue tint at the edges, and the dye image looks neutral to slightly warm with no obvious fading.
Projection history
No scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; the strip shows a gentle curl but no clear projection wear.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-identical shot, and the cartoon style matches The Powerpuff Girls, consistent with the film on record.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital data blocks on a blue-tinted base is consistent with a 2002 35mm release trailer 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 000071086
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
