National Film Vault

OFFICIAL FILM AUTHENTICATION BY CROWN GRADING

AUTHENTIC

CROWN CERTIFIED

Tap to enlarge

MOVIEPokémon 3: The Movie Trailer/Pikachu & Pichu Short Trailer

SCENEPikachu

FILM FORMAT35mm

YEAR2001

CERTIFICATE IDNFV-000003383

FILM NOTES

Released in 2001 by Warner Bros. in North America under license from The Pokémon Company and Nintendo, Pokémon 3: The Movie arrived during the height of the franchise's theatrical run, following the success of the first two films. Paired with the short "Pikachu & Pichu," it offered young audiences a double feature of adventure and lighter comedic interludes, reinforcing Pikachu's role as the enduring mascot of the series. These promotional reels circulated in theaters to build anticipation, a snapshot of the franchise's peak cultural saturation in the United States.

This cell preserves a strip from the trailer reel for that release, a format built to tease audiences ahead of the feature presentation. Pikachu, the character named here, remains the single most recognizable figure in the Pokémon universe, and material tied to promotional reels rather than the film itself holds particular appeal for collectors who track the franchise's marketing history. A trailer cell like this represents the brief, curated glimpse meant to draw ticket buyers in, distinct from story prints, and stands as a physical artifact of how Pikachu was presented to theatergoers that year.

Authentication Findings 8 checks

Consistent with a 35mm release print of the Pokémon 3: The Movie Pikachu & Pichu trailer (2001).

Gauge: 35mm, with four perforations per frame along both edges; the strip holds three frames, all visible in full.
Perforations: Four per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shaped and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing holes seen.
Soundtrack: A variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations, with a second matching track beside it; the gaps between the lower perforations show grey speckled blocks, consistent with Dolby Digital data.
Edge print: Only a small code reading "OD-00" next to a purple dot, appearing mirrored along the lower edge; no manufacturer text or "SAFETY FILM" is legible.
Base & colour: Pale blue-green base along both edges; the dye image looks neutral to slightly cool, with clean colour and no obvious fading.
Projection history: No scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; the strip looks clean, with only the camera reflection on the middle frame, which is ignored.
Picture: Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-static shot of the same yellow animated character, which matches a Pokémon trailer.
Era check: Consistent: an optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks on a blue-tinted base fits a 2001 theatrical release print, and the animated Pokémon picture fits the title on record.

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 000071158

Original Film Capture As received

The film strip as photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation

Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size