1998 Pokémon: The First Movie “Mew and Mewtwo” Original Concept Art

JOHN ALVIN (1948–2008)

1998 Pokémon: The First Movie “Mew and Mewtwo” Original Concept Art

signed "A." (lower right)

graphite on vellum & ink on paper, framed

Mew and Mewtwo (approx.): 10 3/4 x 7 3/8 inches (27.3 x 18.7 cm)

Alvin studio certificate (approx.): 8 x 10 1/2 inches (20.3 x 26.7 cm)

frame of original work and Alvin studio certificate: 17 x 23 1/4 x 5/8 inches (43.2 x 59.1 x 1.6 cm)

framed certificate of authenticity: 13 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 5/8 inches (33.7 x 29.8 x 1.6 cm)

Excecuted in 1998. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the John Alvin Estate signed by Andrea Alvin, Administrator of the Estate of John Alvin.

Pokémon: The First Movie opened in America on November 10, 1999, at the height of Pokémania. The campaign was everywhere: the theatrical poster, VHS packaging, Burger King promotions, apparel. For millions of Americans, this was the image that introduced them to Pokémon on the big screen.

John Alvin painted the key art for films including E.T., Blade Runner, The Lion King, Aladdin, Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia. He worked at the end of the great illustrated-poster era, when a film’s campaign could begin with a painting rather than a photographic composite. For Pokémon: The First Movie, he had a particular problem: how do you take creatures designed at 56 pixels and make them work at forty feet?

Looking closely at the drawing, he made the proportions of both Pokémon match the proportions of their Game Boy sprites: Mewtwo has the heavy lower body and narrow shoulders, while Mew has the oversized head and tiny limbs. Alvin worked from Red and Blue, translating the language of a handheld screen into a theatrical image.

Drawn in graphite before the poster was painted, this is Alvin's first version of the design, with Mewtwo seated behind and Mew floating in front. It became the basis for the poster, the VHS box, and the wider campaign.

Accompanied by a letter and certificate of authenticity confirming the work as original concept art used in the production of Pokémon: The First Movie.