“Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” (劇場版ポケットモンスター ミュウツーの逆襲), Original Release Japanese Movie Poster 1998, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) L258A
This is an original Japanese B2 poster printed in 1998 for the first Japanese theatrical release of Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back (劇場版ポケットモンスター ミュウツーの逆襲), directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and distributed in Japan by Toho. It promoted the double bill of the feature with the opening short Pikachu’s Summer Vacation (ピカチュウのなつやすみ).
Film background
The first Pokémon theatrical feature, the film centres on Mewtwo, a powerful clone of the Mythical Pokémon Mew, who rebels against the humans who created him and lures select Trainers—including Ash, Misty and Brock—to a remote island to prove the superiority of cloned Pokémon. As Mewtwo’s plan escalates into a brutal showdown between originals and clones, Ash’s self‑sacrifice forces both humans and Pokémon to confront questions of identity, free will and what truly defines strength. The movie was a huge commercial success and helped cement Pokémon as a global pop‑culture phenomenon.
Poster design
This vibrant B2 is packed with all‑ages energy. In the foreground, Ash surges forward across a swirling, storm‑tossed sea, Poké Ball in hand, with a beaming Pikachu perched on his shoulder; Squirtle and Bulbasaur surf the waves beside them while Charizard banks through the sky. Behind, Brock, Misty and Team Rocket’s Jessie, James and Meowth cheer or scheme in classic anime poses. The bold green and gold logo 「ポケットモンスター」/POCKET MONSTERS dominates the centre, with the fiery red subtitle 「ミュウツーの逆襲」 and its English translation “MEWTWO STRIKES BACK!” beneath, flanked by Mewtwo and Mew facing off amidst crackling lightning. A large Pikachu and Togepi sit at the lower left with a handwritten style note inviting viewers to “wait for us at the cinema”, while to the right a bright orange title block announces the accompanying short 「ピカチュウのなつやすみ」. The vertical tagline on the right asks, “Who is the strongest Pokémon?!”—perfectly capturing the movie’s big‑screen event feel.
This poster is in excellent condition (please refer to the imagery of the exact poster for sale).
It is over 27 years old.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
