Pokémon: The Movie 2000 marked Warner Bros.' second theatrical release of the franchise in North America, arriving at the height of Pokémania as Nintendo, Game Freak, and 4Kids rode the success of the original series and its debut film. Promoted heavily with toy tie-ins, soundtrack releases, and a national trailer campaign, it cemented Pokémon as a dominant force in children's entertainment at the turn of the millennium. Trailers from this period are themselves artifacts of that marketing push, cut to build anticipation ahead of the film's wide release.
This cell comes from that promotional reel, featuring Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, the franchise's central pairing and its most recognizable faces. The moment named, retrieving the orb, points to a key plot beat tied to the film's mythical conflict, the kind of narrative hook trailers are built to tease without giving away resolution. For collectors, Ash and Pikachu together represent the series' core appeal, and a trailer cell tied to a specific story event offers a tangible piece of how that film was first sold to audiences.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release-print trailer strip from Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes evenly spaced and cleanly punched, with no torn or missing perforations seen.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along one edge, with a dual-track pattern, and the gaps between the perforations on that edge hold small speckled data blocks.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue edge tint and a neutral dye image; no red shift or fading seen.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on the three frames.
Picture
Positive image, three consecutive near-identical frames from one shot, with a character design matching the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a 2000-era release print: an optical track with Dolby Digital-style data blocks between the perforations suits a trailer for a 2000 theatrical release.
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 000071243
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
