Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived in theaters courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo's partnership with 4Kids Entertainment, riding the crest of Pokémania at its commercial peak. As the second theatrical feature in the franchise, it pushed the promotional machine into overdrive, with trailers circulating widely in advance of release to build on the momentum of the first film. These preview reels are collected today as time capsules of that cultural moment, when Pokémon merchandise and media saturated American youth culture like little else.
This cell comes from that trailer, centered on Ash Ketchum, the franchise's enduring protagonist and the character collectors most associate with its earliest, most iconic imagery. The moment named, Ash releasing Pokémon, speaks to themes of sacrifice and bond that run through the series, often marking turning points in the story. As a trailer cell, it represents the film's marketing push rather than the final theatrical cut, a distinction that gives these pieces their own niche appeal among film preservation collectors.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm layout, four perforations per frame along both edges, with three full frames visible on the strip.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched, with no visible tears or missing holes.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs beside the picture as two parallel waveform lines, with a dashed data line along the outer edge and a speckled pattern in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a pale blue tint along the edges; the dye image looks saturated and neutral, with no obvious fading or colour shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; one dark ring on the right-hand frame area is the phone camera reflected in the glossy base.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames run consecutively as one shot with only slight movement between them, and the animated style fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent: an optical track with Dolby-style data blocks between the perforations and a clean positive print on 35mm suits a 2000 theatrical release 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 000071220
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
