Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived from Warner Bros. and Nintendo at the height of Pokémania, following hot on the heels of the franchise's explosive theatrical debut. Built around the legend of the three bird deities and a balance of elements thrown into chaos, it pushed the anime's merchandising engine into overdrive while introducing American audiences to Lugia and a wider mythic scope for the series. Trailer material from this release captures a studio still refining how to market Pokémon to a mainstream crowd hungry for more after the first film's success, making these promotional fragments a snapshot of that transitional marketing moment.
This cell draws from a trailer reel, meaning its purpose was to entice rather than narrate, offering a glimpse of plot without full context. Ash Ketchum, the series' perpetual hero, appears here alongside Pikachu, his signature partner and the character most responsible for the franchise's identity. The orb in the cell's description points to one of the film's key mystical artifacts tied to its elemental balance plot, suggesting a moment of discovery or pursuit central to the story's stakes. For collectors, this pairing of Ash and Pikachu remains the most sought-after combination in Pokémon memorabilia.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000, shown by its Dolby Digital and optical tracks.
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges, which is the 35mm layout; the strip holds three frames, shown here lying on its side.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes that look evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing perforations seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track of two parallel tracks runs beside the picture, with Dolby Digital data blocks visible in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted base at the edges, with a neutral, full-colour dye image and no obvious fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; the one dark ring on the middle frame is a camera reflection and is ignored.
Picture
Positive colour image; the three frames repeat the same shot with a trainer in a red cap holding a golden orb beside Pikachu, matching the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Dolby Digital blocks plus an optical analogue track on a 35mm positive is consistent with a release print or trailer from around 2000.
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 000071242
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
