A giveaway for the second Pokemon film upended the schoolyard trading card economy for good.
But sweeten the pot it did anyway, because Pikachu loves us.
To this day, the Ancient Mew card remains one of the most striking trading cards ever printed.
In fact, I dont have to imagine it.
I was one such kid!
It all represented a quicker and more complete instruction on economics than anything a grade school could offer.
Each of the first twoPokemonfilms,Pokemon: The First MovieandPokemon the Movie 2000, have weirdly explicitly anti-Pokemonthemes.
Similarly,Pokemon the Movie 2000is all about the dangers of collecting.
Despite the ample initial supply, the demand continues to go up.
Some Ancient Mew cards, however, can sell for as much as $5,000!
Thats because Nintendo made an error in its first printing of the card.
Ultimatelythere were five total printings of the Ancient Mew.
The first iteration features a major spelling error in which the Nintendo copyright at the bottom is spelled Nintedo.
In the end though, capitalism ended up teachingPokemona lesson instead.
On a long enough timeline, demand wins out.
