Many collectors remember Ancient Mew from their childhood. That glossy card with strange, unreadable characters remains one of the most mysterious Pokémon cards ever created. What many people don't know is that there are six official versions of this card. They look similar, but differ in foil, copyright year, packaging, and even a known printing error.
Below you will find an easy, clear explanation of all the variations.
Why Ancient Mew is so unique
Ancient Mew was created for the Pokémon movie, which was released in Japan simultaneously with the Lugia movie. The card is quite different from almost all other Pokémon cards because both the front and back are glossy . This makes the card look beautiful, but it also makes it more susceptible to scratches.
That's why high grades (like PSA 10) are rare, and it's precisely those perfect examples that become valuable.
The 6 Ancient Mew Versions (in order of release)
1. Ancient Mew 1 - Original Glitter Foil (Japan)
This is the very first version. The card came in a small pamphlet and had a glittery foil pattern.
The most famous variant of this is the “Nintedo” misprint , where the N is missing from the copyright.
This is the most sought after and valuable version of the original release.
2. Ancient Mew 2 - Original Cosmos Film (Japan)
This card came out at the same time as the glitter version, but has a cosmos foil (round, bubble-like shine).
Otherwise, it's almost identical. The main difference is the pattern on the front.
3. Ancient Mew 1 corrected - bug fixed (Japan)
When the error in the first glitter version was discovered, the copyright rule was changed.
These cards are exactly the same as the original glitter version, except that “Nintedo” has been replaced with “Nintendo”.
Because the misprint is rarer, this corrected version is less valuable.
4. International release - the version most had
This is the version that many children outside Japan got with the movie Pokémon 2000 .
The map looks very similar to the Japanese version but has:
- copyright year 2000
- has cosmos foil
Individual copies in good condition don't cost much, but a PSA 10 is expensive because the double film scratches easily.
5. Japanese Reissue 2019 - Return of Glitter Foil
In 2019, a remake of the original Pokémon movie was released.
Japan then got another Ancient Mew release, again with glitter foil , just like in 1999.
The only clear difference: the copyright year is 2019 .
6. Korean Release 2020 - The Late Regional Release
Because the film was released later in Korea, a local version was released there in 2020.
The map itself is almost identical to the 2019 Japanese map, but:
- the copyright year is 2020
- the card was in cellophane , not in a pamphlet
Other fun facts
Double foil:
Ancient Mew is one of two Pokémon cards with a shiny back.
Misprint is king:
The “Nintedo” variant is by far the most sought after version.
Condition is super important:
The double foil makes these cards easily damaged, making perfect copies much more valuable.
Tips for collectors
When buying Ancient Mew cards or organizing your own collection, please note:
- the copyright year (1999, 2000, 2019, or 2020)
- the foil pattern (glitter or cosmos)
- or if the card is the well-known Nintendo misprint
- the condition , especially at the edges and back
- whether the card was in a pamphlet or in cellophane
Packaging can say a lot about the origin of the card.
Short overview - all 6 versions at a glance
- Ancient Mew 1 — Original Glitter Foil (Japan), including “Nintedo” misprint
- Ancient Mew 2 — Original Cosmos Film (Japan)
- Ancient Mew 1 corrected — glitter foil, bug fixed
- International Edition — Cosmos Film, copyright 2000
- Japanese reissue 2019 — glitter foil, copyright 2019
- Korean edition 2020 — glitter foil, copyright 2020, cellophane
