Released in the summer of 2000, Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived at the height of Pokémania, when Nintendo's franchise was a dominant force in American pop culture. Distributed by Warner Bros. in the US following 4Kids Entertainment's localization, the film was the second theatrical feature built around the Pokémon universe, pairing Ash Ketchum's adventures with a merchandising juggernaut that spanned trading cards, video games, and a Saturday morning cultural moment. The theatrical trailer campaign was essential to that rollout, built to stoke anticipation among a young audience already primed by the television series.
This cell comes from that trailer reel, a 35mm strip used to promote the feature before its release. Pikachu, the franchise's central mascot, is the subject, a character whose recognizability made it the natural face of any promotional material. For collectors, trailer cells carry a different appeal than frames pulled from the feature itself, representing the marketing machinery that introduced audiences to the film. A Pikachu appearance here reflects the character's role as the promotional anchor of the entire campaign.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print trailer strip of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three full frames of picture.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with no visible tears or missing holes.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along the lower edge as two parallel tracks, and small data blocks sit in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Clear to light blue-tinted base at the edges; dye image looks neutral with saturated yellows and blues, no fading or red shift.
Projection history
None seen at this size beyond faint dust specks on the frames; no scratches, cue marks or splices visible.
Picture
Positive image, three consecutive frames of one shot with only slight movement between them, and the yellow character is consistent with a Pokémon film.
Era check
Consistent: an optical track with Dolby Digital data blocks between perforations suits a 35mm 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 000071282
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
