“Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One / Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure”, Original Release Japanese B2 Theatrical / Roadshow Poster 1999, Rare Lugia Key Visual, B2 Poster Size (c.51.5cm × 72.8cm) G160

This is an original, rare Japanese B2 theatrical / roadshow poster printed in 1999 to promote the Japanese theatrical release of Gekijōban Pocket Monsters: Maboroshi no Pokémon Lugia Bakutan (劇場版ポケットモンスター 幻のポケモン ルギア爆誕), released in Japanese cinemas on 17 July 1999, with Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure (ピカチュウたんけんたい) shown alongside it. Internationally, the feature became known as Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One. It was the second Pokémon theatrical feature, following the enormous success of Mewtwo Strikes Back the previous year, and this is the original Japanese B2 Lugia key visual from its first-release summer 1999 campaign.

Film background
Lugia Bakutan expanded the Pokémon cinematic universe dramatically, introducing Lugia as one of the franchise’s great Legendary Pokémon and placing it at the centre of an elemental conflict involving Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. After the collector Jirarudan disrupts the natural balance by attempting to capture the Legendary Birds, Satoshi — known internationally as Ash Ketchum — becomes central to an ancient prophecy and the restoration of harmony between the three islands and their guardians. The film was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Takeshi Shudo, key figures in the formative years of the Pokémon anime and movie series. The theatrical programme was accompanied by the short Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure, continuing the successful feature-and-Pikachu-short format established with the first movie.

Creator / artist background
This sheet does not print a separate standalone poster-illustrator credit, so the most important creative names are those behind Pokémon and the original animated production itself. Satoshi Tajiri created the original Pokémon concept, while Ken Sugimori was one of the defining visual architects of the franchise and responsible for the foundational character artwork associated with the original games. The film also belongs to the early cinematic era overseen by director Kunihiko Yuyama, with the broader Pokémon production involving many of the same creators and animation staff who established the visual identity of the franchise during its extraordinary late-1990s expansion.

Poster design
Printed in the classic Japanese B2 cinema-poster format, this original 1999 design is one of the most spectacular compositions from the early Pokémon theatrical campaigns. Lugia dominates the centre of the sheet, exploding vertically from a violently churning ocean in a huge burst of white spray. Its open mouth, sweeping wings and almost sculptural white-and-purple form create a striking contrast against the brilliant blue sea and sky.

Above Lugia, Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno streak across the turbulent sky, immediately establishing the central conflict between the three Legendary Birds. In the upper-left corner, Satoshi / Ash and Pikachu charge into the composition with a Poké Ball, while the lower section brings together an extraordinary ensemble of characters from the early anime: Misty / Kasumi, Tracey / Kenji, Professor Oak, Jessie, James, Meowth and Slowking, alongside the film-specific characters Flura — known as Melody in the English-language version — and the collector Jirarudan, known internationally as Lawrence III.

Running vertically down the upper-right edge is the dramatic promotional line 命をかけて、かかってこい!!, which can be translated naturally as “Put your life on the line — come at me!!” It gives the poster an unusually intense, almost confrontational energy for an early Pokémon campaign.

The lower third is anchored by the enormous metallic title treatment. ルギア is rendered in fiery orange and gold, followed by the distinctive English wording “REVELATION-LUGIA” and the monumental Japanese 爆誕 (Bakutan — literally suggesting an explosive or spectacular birth). At lower right, a bright yellow-and-black illustration featuring Pikachu advertises the accompanying ピカチュウたんけんたい / Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure, preserving the exact double-feature configuration audiences saw during the original Japanese summer 1999 release.

The bottom production area retains the original Pikachu Project ’99, Toho and theatrical-distribution markings associated with the first Japanese release, making this a genuine piece of promotional material from Pokémon’s extraordinary first wave of worldwide cultural expansion.

This poster is in excellent condition, very close to near mint. The sheet remains unfolded, with exceptionally strong colour saturation throughout: the ocean blues remain deep and vibrant, Lugia’s whites and purples are exceptionally clean, and the orange, red and gold title printing retains its original intensity. The margins and corners are remarkably well preserved, with only extremely minor handling consistent with a Japanese theatrical poster more than a quarter of a century old. There are no significant condition issues distracting from the artwork, and the overall appearance is exceptionally fresh.

Please refer to the imagery, as this is the exact poster that is for sale. Once framed, it will display fantastically.

It is over 27 years old.

It is not a reproduction or a reprint.