All-Time 15 Highest-Grossing Anime Franchises

Anime has become a global phenomenon, with fans all over the world enjoying the unique animation style and compelling stories. Over the years, anime has also become big business, with anime franchises generating billions of dollars in revenue. In this article, we will explore the all-time 15 highest-grossing anime franchises.

Methodology

The list of all-time highest-grossing anime franchises was compiled from various sources, including Box Office Mojo, The Numbers, and Japan's Motion Picture Producers Association. The ranking is based on the total revenue generated by the franchise, including merchandise, box office receipts, and home video sales.

All-Time 15 Highest-Grossing Anime Franchises

Pokémon

COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/highest-grossing-anime-franchises/ by Cecilia Jones on 2023-05-17T09:11:04.589Z

Pokémon is the highest-grossing anime franchise of all time, having generated over $100 billion in revenue. Created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996, the franchise has expanded to include a wide range of merchandise, including video games, anime, movies, trading cards, and toys.

The success of the Pokémon franchise is a testament to its enduring popularity and global appeal, with fans of all ages and backgrounds enjoying the adventures of Ash, Pikachu, and their friends. With new games and movies constantly being released, it is clear that the Pokémon franchise will continue to be a major player in the anime industry for years to come.

Hello Kitty

Over $80 billion have been made off of the Hello Kitty brand since the franchise's inception in 1974, making it one of the highest-grossing anime series of all time. The iconic heroine and her friends have become a cultural phenomenon despite the lack of a formal anime or manga series, appearing on everything from apparel to home decor.

Hello Kitty's universal popularity spans all age groups because of her childlike innocence and endearing charm. The franchise's continued success is assured by the steady stream of new partnerships and merchandise bearing the Hello Kitty name.

Dragon Ball

The Dragon Ball franchise, created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, has spawned numerous anime series, movies, and video games and is one of the highest-grossing anime franchises of all time, with over $20 billion in revenue. This is a testament to the franchise's compelling narratives, memorable characters, and thrilling action.

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli has earned approximately $3.5 billion in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing anime series of all time. Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke are just a few of the many critically acclaimed films that have come out of the studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki.

Studio Ghibli's films have won audiences all over the world with their gorgeous animation, complex plots, and endearing characters. Studio Ghibli has continued to produce high-quality films and merchandise even after Miyazaki's retirement in 2013, maintaining the studio's place as a leader in the animation industry for decades to come.

One Piece

With over $20 billion in sales, One Piece is one of the highest-grossing anime series of all time. The franchise, which Eiichiro Oda began developing in 1997, has since exploded in popularity and attracted an international legion of loyal followers. In this tale, Monkey D. Luffy and his crew are on the hunt for One Piece, a legendary treasure that will make them the Pirate King if they can get their hands on it.

Fans have been attracted by the One Piece series for over two decades, which is a testament to the series' compelling plots, likable characters, and thrilling action scenes. The continued success of the One Piece property, as evidenced by the continued production of anime series, movies, and products, suggests that the franchise will be influential for years to come.

Detective Conan

Over a billion dollars have been made from Detective Conan and Case Closed series, making it one of the highest-grossing anime franchises ever. High school investigator Shinichi Kudo (Gosho Aoyama, 1994) gets poisoned by a criminal organization and reverts to his childhood form, leading to an ongoing franchise. Even as he seeks treatment for his illness, he keeps up his casework under the alias Conan Edogawa.

Fans all across the world have been intrigued by the mysteries, plots, and characters of the Detective Conan franchise for nearly three decades. Over a thousand episodes of the anime series, dozens of movies, and a plethora of products later, it's evident that the Detective Conan franchise will remain a powerhouse in the anime business for quite some time.

Naruto

With over $10 billion in sales, Naruto is one of the most profitable anime series of all time. Masashi Kishimoto's 1999 creation has exploded onto the global stage, inspiring legions of devoted fans. Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja, strives throughout the novel to earn the title of Hokage and rule over his village.

For almost twenty years, fans have been intrigued by the adventures of Naruto and his cast of colorful characters and exciting action set pieces. The continued success of the Naruto franchise in the form of anime series, movies, and merchandise - including the new spin-off series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - indicates that the franchise will remain a force in the anime industry for the foreseeable future.

Doraemon

The Doraemon franchise is worth about $10 billion, making it one of the most successful in the history of anime. A beloved symbol of Japanese pop culture with fans all over the world, the brand was created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969. Doraemon, a robot cat from the future, travels back in time to assist a young boy called Nobita Nobi with his day-to-day issues.

Doraemon's popularity is a testament to the franchise's endearing story, endearing characters, and timeless appeal, which have delighted viewers of all ages. Doraemon has been and will be for a long time to come, a staple in the anime business, with multiple ongoing series, movies, and merchandise.

Attack On Titan

Over the past few years, Attack on Titan has become one of the highest-grossing anime series of all time. The brand, which Hajime Isayama launched in 2009, has amassed a dedicated following all around the world. In this world, people build barriers to keep off the Titans, gigantic humanoid monsters that kill people for no apparent reason. Eren Yeager and his pals enlist in the military to take on the Titans and learn the truth about their origins.

Fans have been captivated by the Attack on Titan franchise because of the series' strong and riveting plot, rich characters, and visceral action scenes. The Attack on Titan franchise will continue to be a key participant in the anime industry for years to come, as seen by the continued production of many anime seasons, movies, and products, including the just concluded anime series.

Sailor Moon

With over $13 billion in sales, Sailor Moon is one of the highest-grossing anime series of all time. Naoko Takeuchi's 1991 creation has become a pop culture phenomenon and an inspiration for countless other anime and manga. The Sailor Guardians are a team of teenage ladies that fight evil and save the planet in this anime series.

Sailor Moon has become a cultural phenomenon thanks to its engaging plots, likeable characters, and touching messages of friendship and love. Even after the release of the remake series Sailor Moon Crystal, it is apparent that the Sailor Moon franchise will remain a dominant force in the anime industry for many years to come.

Yo-kai Watch

With over $3 billion in sales, Yo-kai Watch is one of the highest-grossing anime series in recent history. The brand, which Level-5 launched in 2013, has been a hit in Japan and is gaining acclaim in other countries. The protagonist, Nate, is a little child who can see and converse with Yo-kai, supernatural creatures.

The Yo-kai Watch series has become so popular because of its imaginative plots, vivid visuals, and memorable tunes. Yo-kai Watch has been, and will be for a long time to come, a staple of the anime and gaming industries, with many anime series, movies, and video games continuing in production.

Evangelion

The Evangelion series is one of the highest-grossing anime franchises ever, with over $2 billion in sales. Hideaki Anno's 1995 creation has become a staple in the anime canon and a major inspiration. The protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is a young kid whose father recruits him to operate a massive bio-machine called an Evangelion in a war against the enigmatic and powerful entities known as Angels.

The popularity of the Evangelion franchise is a tribute to the franchise's thought-provoking plot, complex characters, and cutting-edge animation and storytelling. The Evangelion franchise continues to captivate viewers and test the limits of anime storytelling with its current revival film series, merchandise, and partnerships with other popular properties like Godzilla and Hello Kitty.

Fate

Over the past few years, the Fate franchise has become one of the most financially successful in the history of anime amassing over $3 billion in sales. The franchise, which Type-Moon launched in 2004, has expanded to encompass anime shows, movies, video games, and novels. The plot follows a group of mages as they engage in the Holy Grail War by calling upon various historical and mythical personalities, or Servants.

The popularity of the Fate series is a credit to the series' detailed world, engaging plot, and well-rounded characters, such as Saber and Archer. There is no doubt that the Fate franchise will be a big participant in the anime and game industries for years to come, since many spin-off series and items are continually being developed, the most recent of which is the anime series Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia.

Pretty Cure

One of the highest-grossing anime franchises in recent years, Pretty Cure (or PreCure) has earned over $1.5 billion worldwide. The franchise, which began in 2004, is a popular magical girl anime series for young girls created by Toei Animation. The protagonists of this novel are a band of young women who become the magical warriors known as the Precure in order to protect the world from the powers of darkness.

The Pretty Cure franchise has been so successful because of its lively animation, diverse array of characters, and empowering messages about female companionship, teamwork, and self-determination. There is no doubt that the Pretty Cure franchise will be a major force in the anime and toy industries for many years to come, since many anime series, movies, and goods are continually being developed.

Crayon Shin-chan

Over $1.3 billion in sales puts Crayon Shin-chan in the top 10 of all-time highest-grossing anime series. Yoshito Usui's 1990 creation has spawned other successful anime and manga series that appeal to both kids and their parents. Throughout the novel, a little kid named Shin-chan and his family and friends encounter various comedic and ridiculous circumstances as they go about their daily lives in Japan.

The popularity of the Crayon Shin-chan series is a result of the show's offbeat sense of humor, likable protagonists, and endearing animation. It's evident that the Crayon Shin-chan franchise will be a beloved and enduring part of the anime industry for years to come, since many anime series, movies, and merchandise are continually being developed, including collaborations with popular properties like Godzilla and One Piece.

Conclusion

Anime has become a major industry, with anime franchises generating billions of dollars in revenue. The all-time 15 highest-grossing anime franchises are a testament to the enduring popularity and global appeal of anime. From the beloved characters of Pokémon and Hello Kitty to the action-packed adventures of Dragon Ball and One Piece, these franchises have captured the hearts of fans around the world and continue to thrive today.

About The Authors

Cecilia Jones - Cecilia Jones loves to write about movies, music, and the most popular and exciting news.