Pokémon 3: The Movie arrived in American theaters in 2001 through Warner Bros. and 4Kids Entertainment, the third theatrical outing built from the anime phenomenon that swept through merchandising, television and film at the turn of the millennium. Promotional trailers for the film circulated widely in advance of release, giving audiences an early look at the story's central figures before the feature itself reached screens. These trailer reels remain of interest to collectors as artifacts of the marketing campaign that introduced new characters to a mainstream audience already devoted to the franchise.
This cell preserves a moment from that trailer featuring Entei and Molly Hale together, two figures central to the film's plot. Entei, a Legendary Pokémon rarely seen in the animated series at this scale, drew particular attention from fans and collectors for its unusual role in the story. Molly Hale, the human child whose grief and imagination set the film's events in motion, anchors the emotional core of the narrative. A trailer cell pairing these two speaks to the advance promise made to audiences, hinting at the bond between them before the full story unfolded in theaters.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip of Pokémon 3: The Movie (2001).
Gauge
35mm, with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three frames, shown here sideways on the panel.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with rounded-rectangle holes and no tears or torn edges visible.
Soundtrack
Two parallel variable-area optical tracks run beside the picture; Dolby Digital blocks between the perforations are not clearly resolved, so only the analogue tracks are confirmed.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue-cyan tint at the edges; the dye image looks vivid and neutral, with no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; the single dark ring on the middle frame is a camera reflection and is ignored.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames repeat essentially the same composition as one continuous shot, and the animated look fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with an early-2000s release print: positive dye image, optical analogue tracks and a clear base all suit a 2001 35mm 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 000071132
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
