Pokémon Framed Memorabilia — Jay Goede (Original Voice of Mewtwo) Hand Signed Autograph & 1999 Trading Card
For an entire generation, one voice defined the most powerful Pokémon ever created. This professionally framed display pairs a hand-signed autograph from Jay Goede — the original English voice of Mewtwo in Pokémon: The First Movie — with an original 1999 Pokémon trading card. The autograph has been authenticated by Beckett and inlcudes a digital Certificate of Authenticity. A deeply personal piece of Pokémon history for anyone who grew up in the golden era of the franchise.
The man behind the voice — and why almost no one knew his name for years
Jay Goede is a Yale School of Drama graduate and accomplished Broadway actor whose stage credits include Angels in America and productions opposite Sigourney Weaver, Viola Davis, and Frances McDormand. When he was hired to voice Mewtwo in 1999, the role was non-union — meaning he could not use his real name as a Screen Actors Guild member. He created the pseudonym "Philip Bartlett" from his middle name and the street he grew up on, and that is the name that appeared in the film's credits. For years, Pokémon fans had no idea who the original Mewtwo actually was. It wasn't until dedicated fans noticed his real name credited in the Pokémon Live! stage musical program that they began connecting the dots — eventually tracking him down on Facebook to confirm that the voice of Mewtwo was very much alive. The story of his discovery by the Pokémon community is one of the most remarkable fan detective stories in pop culture history.
One weekend, one performance, one generation
Jay Goede landed the role of Mewtwo on a Friday. He recorded every single line of dialogue for the entire film the following Monday. In a single session, he delivered the performance that would go on to move millions of children to tears, and lines that would be quoted by fans for decades — including the iconic: "I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." Goede has since said he had no idea at the time how deeply the character would resonate — he later described it as "an amazing gift" to have been part of something that meant so much to so many people. A signature from the man who delivered that performance in a single weekend is a singular piece of Pokémon history.
Pokémon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back was released in Japan in 1998 and in the United States on November 10, 1999, grossing over $163 million worldwide. It remains one of the highest-grossing anime films ever released in North America, and for millions of 1990s children it was the most emotionally powerful film they had seen — a meditation on identity, belonging, and the meaning of life delivered through the voice of a character that Jay Goede gave his entire soul to in one remarkable Monday recording session.
Paired with an original 1999 Pokémon trading card from the height of the franchise's first golden era, this display is a time capsule of one of the most culturally significant moments in the history of animated film and collectible card gaming.
| Film | Pokémon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back (1999) |
| Autograph | Jay Goede — original English voice of Mewtwo |
| Signature type | Hand signed |
| Authentication | Beckett Authentication Services (BAS) — Digital COA |
| Trading card | Original 1999 Pokémon trading card |
| Dimensions | 16" x 26" |
| Presentation | Professionally framed, ready to hang |
| Film credit name | "Philip Bartlett" (pseudonym used due to SAG non-union conflict) |
Jay Goede & Pokémon: The First Movie — Quick Facts
- Jay Goede is a Yale School of Drama graduate and accomplished Broadway actor — his stage credits include Angels in America (1993) and productions alongside Sigourney Weaver, Viola Davis, Frances McDormand, and other major theatrical legends
- Goede landed the role of Mewtwo on a Friday and recorded every line of the character's dialogue the following Monday — one of the most remarkable single-session voice performances in the history of animated film
- He was credited in the film as "Philip Bartlett" — a pseudonym created from his middle name and the street he grew up on — because the non-union role conflicted with his SAG membership; for years Pokémon fans had no idea who the original Mewtwo was
- Dedicated Pokémon fans eventually tracked him down after noticing his real name credited in the Pokémon Live! stage musical program — one of the most celebrated fan detective stories in pop culture history, confirming that the voice behind one of animation's most beloved characters was very much alive
- Pokémon: The First Movie grossed over $163 million worldwide and remains one of the highest-grossing anime films ever released in North America; for millions of children it was one of the most emotionally affecting films of their childhoods
- Goede also voiced Dr. Fuji — Mewtwo's creator — in the same film, making his contribution to the movie even more layered than most fans realize
- The 1999 Pokémon trading card era represents the absolute peak of the franchise's first cultural explosion — original 1999 cards are among the most sought-after collectibles in the hobby, with high-grade examples commanding extraordinary sums at auction
Authenticity Guaranteed.
We appreciate your business and look forward to helping you bring home a piece of history!