Sources: Wikidata. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
FILM NOTES
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 arrived from Warner Bros. and the Pokémon Company machine at the height of the franchise's first great wave of American popularity, riding the success of the original film and the Saturday morning cartoon that had turned a Japanese card and video game property into a global phenomenon. Known in Japan as Pokémon: The Movie 2000, it followed the Legendary Birds and Lugia into theaters, cashing in on merchandising tie-ins, a heavy Pokemon-themed soundtrack, and a release strategy built to maximize a captive young audience during their summer vacation. It remains a marker of that peak cultural moment.
This cell preserves Melody, the human character introduced in this film who aids Ash and friends through its central quest, a figure often sought by collectors filling out supporting cast runs beyond the core trio. A close-up frame of her suggests a moment pulled for emphasis, the kind of isolated character study used in trailers, promotional stills, or publicity cells to spotlight a new face joining the Pokémon world. For collectors building out Movie 2000 material, Melody represents a character-specific addition distinct from the more commonly found Ash, Pikachu, or legendary bird cells.
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.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, rounded-rectangle punches with clean edges.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track (two bands) sits beside the picture on the lower edge, and Dolby Digital data blocks fill the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-tinted clear base at the edges; the dye image looks neutral with saturated colours and no obvious fading.
Projection history
None seen at this size; the only mark is one round dark ring on a single frame, which is the phone camera reflected in the base.
Picture
Positive image, three consecutive frames of one shot with a barely changing pose; the animated style fits the film on record.
Era check
Dolby Digital data between the perforations plus an optical track fits a 2000-era 35mm release print, matching the film's 2000 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 000071333
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
