Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived in theaters courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo's licensing arm at the height of Pokémania, when the franchise had conquered Game Boy screens, trading card shelves, and Saturday morning television in under two years. This second theatrical feature followed the surprise success of the original Pokémon movie and was promoted with an aggressive marketing push, including trailer reels distributed to theaters to build anticipation. Studios of the era commonly struck promotional prints like this one for exhibitors, making surviving trailer cells a distinct category from the feature film itself.
This cell preserves Ash Ketchum and Pikachu together, the central pairing that anchors the entire franchise's appeal. As the trailer's subject, the pair signals the forward momentum and energy a preview is meant to deliver, drawing audiences toward the full feature. Collectors prize Ash and Pikachu material above nearly any other franchise imagery, since the duo represents the emotional core of the series. A promotional trailer cell like this one captures the movie's marketing history as much as its narrative, a piece of how Pokémon was sold to theatergoers in 2000.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm Dolby Digital release print of the Pokémon: The Movie 2000 trailer.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three frames laid side by side.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched with no tearing or missing holes.
Soundtrack
A two-track variable-area optical track runs between picture and the lower perforations; Dolby Digital data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue edge tint and neutral-to-cool dye image; no visible fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; one round halo on the middle and right frames matches the phone reflection and is ignored.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one shot with only small movement, and the animated Pikachu fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks on a clear-base positive print is consistent with a 2000-era theatrical release print or 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 000071227
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
