Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived in theaters courtesy of Warner Bros. and Nintendo's licensing machine at the absolute peak of Pokémania, when the franchise dominated American playgrounds, television ratings, and trading card aisles alike. As the second theatrical feature following the original movie's surprise box office success, it carried the weight of proving the series had staying power beyond a passing fad. The promotional campaign leaned heavily on teaser trailers to extend the anticipation built over the preceding year, making this strip of film a piece of that marketing push rather than the feature itself.
This cell comes from that trailer reel, built around the franchise's central figure and most recognizable ambassador. Pikachu alone carries the promotional weight here, a choice that reflects how thoroughly the character had eclipsed the broader cast in merchandising and public recognition by 2000. Trailer cells like this one are prized by collectors precisely because they predate the feature, existing as advertising artifacts meant to be discarded rather than preserved. Holding a surviving strip from that ephemeral campaign material connects directly to the commercial frenzy surrounding the character at its commercial high point.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges, which fits 35mm; the strip holds three full frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both the top and bottom edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle holes that look cleanly punched.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs between the picture and the lower perforations, with a dashed line above it; no Dolby Digital blocks visible between the perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted edge margins on a clear base; the dye image looks neutral to warm with no obvious fading.
Projection history
A few fine hairline marks and specks across the frames and near the top edge; no cue marks or splices seen.
Picture
Positive colour image, three consecutive frames of one shot, and the cartoon style fits the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
The optical track and standard 35mm layout are consistent with a year-2000 trailer print, though the other soundtrack formats cannot be checked here.
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 000071281
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
