Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived from Warner Bros. and Nintendo at the height of Pokémon's first wave of American popularity, a theatrical follow-up rushed out to meet demand while the franchise dominated Saturday mornings and toy aisles alike. Built around the Legendary Birds and the balance of the elements, it gave fans a bigger, more mythic story than the television series could offer, and it remains a touchstone for collectors who grew up with that initial surge of Pokémania. Its place in the franchise's early film history makes any surviving theatrical print material a marker of that specific cultural moment.
This cell preserves a scene featuring Maren, a supporting character from the Shamouti Island segment of the film, alongside Pikachu and Tracey Sketchit, Ash's travelling companion during this chapter of the anime. Maren appears only in this movie, which makes frames tied to her relatively scarce compared to material built around the franchise's more constant cast. Pairing her with Pikachu points to one of the quieter character beats threaded through the island story, a moment of connection rather than battle, and it gives collectors a tangible link to a character who never reappears beyond this single theatrical outing.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release print of Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Gauge
35mm: four perforations per frame along both edges, and the strip holds three frames, with only partial frames visible beyond them.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle shape, and cleanly punched with no visible tears or damage.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs along the lower edge in two bands, with a Dolby Digital data pattern visible in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Reads backwards along the top edge: "KODAK 2383 ... 1999 92" followed by a purple square mark, partly clipped by the capture.
Base & colour
Light blue clear base with neutral, saturated dye colours in the image; no fading or red shift visible.
Projection history
No scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; the round dark rings on the right frames are phone-camera reflections, not wear.
Picture
Positive image; the three frames run consecutively as one near-static shot, and the animated style and yellow character fit Pokémon: The Movie 2000.
Era check
Consistent with a 1999–2000 release print: Kodak 2383 print stock, a dated edge code, and combined optical plus Dolby Digital sound.
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 000071307
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
