Pokemon: The Movie 2000 arrived in theaters as the franchise's second animated feature, riding the wave of Pokemania that swept through American pop culture at the turn of the millennium. Distributed by Warner Bros. in the US and produced by the same Japanese animation houses behind the television series, it expanded the mythology with Legendary Pokemon and higher stakes storytelling, while still anchoring itself to the characters that made the brand a sensation. Promotional trailers for the film circulated widely in cinemas and on home video releases, building anticipation among a young but devoted audience and cementing the movie's place in the franchise's theatrical history.
This cell preserves a strip from that trailer reel, centered on Pikachu, the character most responsible for the franchise's worldwide recognition. Trailer cells like this one served to introduce or remind audiences of the film's central draw before the feature itself began, offering a glimpse meant to stir excitement rather than narrative detail. For collectors, a Pikachu cell from this particular promotional reel holds appeal as a tangible artifact of the character's peak cultural moment, tied directly to the marketing campaign that helped define the Pokemon movie era for an entire generation.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print of the Pokémon: The Movie 2000 trailer.
Gauge
35mm: four-perforation frame pitch on both edges, with three frames showing on this strip.
Perforations
Four perforations per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape, cleanly punched with no visible tears.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track with two tracks sits beside the picture, and Dolby Digital data blocks appear in the gaps between the lower-edge perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear base with a light blue border tint; the dye image looks neutral, with no visible fading or colour shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size; no scratches, cue marks or splices are visible on these three frames.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-identical shot, and the character is consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Consistent with a 2000-era release print or trailer, since analog optical tracks paired with Dolby Digital data blocks were standard on 35mm prints then.
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 000071274
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
