Anime has swiftly become a global sensation, soaring to the pinnacle of the animation realm. With intricate plotlines, extravagant animation, and awe-inspiring world-building, anime offers an entertainment haven where even those with short attention spans find their match.
As a billion-dollar industry that exhibits no signs of slowing down, anime arguably stands as Japan’s most extensive and influential cultural export.
Despite an apparently boundless reservoir of shows and narratives, even the most devoted fans struggle to keep pace with the constant influx of new releases. Numerous anime franchises have raked in colossal revenues, but did you know that there are three anime franchises that Marvel might never hope to surpass in terms of earnings?
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has amassed an impressive $29.6 billion, this figure pales in comparison to the earnings of these three anime franchises, which have surged past the $50 billion mark. And, surprisingly, they are not the widely cherished shonen anime like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, or Bleach that have outpaced Marvel.
3. Anpanman (Total Revenue: 60$ Billion)
Anpanman is a Japanese children’s superhero picture book series created by Takashi Yanase, which ran from 1973 until the author’s passing in 2013. This series was adapted into an anime called Soreike! Anpanman, translated as Let’s Go! Anpanman in English, and it stands as one of the most beloved anime series for young children in Japan.
The storyline revolves around the adventures of Anpanman, a superhero whose head is made of anpan (a sweet bread filled with red bean paste), as he safeguards the world from an evil germ-like character named Baikinman.
The Anpanman characters are extensively merchandised and can be found on a wide array of children’s products in Japan, including clothing, video games, toys, and snacks. The series even gave rise to a short-lived spin-off show starring one of its recurring characters, Omusubiman. Remarkably, in 2002, Anpanman surpassed Hello Kitty as Japan’s highest-grossing character.
Anpanman‘s books have sold over 80 million copies as of February 2019, and the entire franchise has generated a staggering 8.8 trillion Japanese Yen in revenue by 2023, which is approximately equivalent to 60 billion USD.
2. Hello Kitty (Total Revenue: 80$ Billion)
Hello Kitty, also known by her real name Kitty White, is a fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu and presently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi. She is the intellectual property of the Japanese company Sanrio.
According to her backstory, Hello Kitty resides in a London suburb with her family and shares a deep connection with her twin sister, Mimmy, recognizable by her yellow bow.
Hello Kitty was brought into existence in 1974, and her inaugural product, a vinyl coin purse, made its debut in 1975. Initially, Hello Kitty‘s target audience was primarily pre-teenage girls. However, during the 1990s, the brand enjoyed remarkable commercial success among teenagers and adults alike. Hello Kitty’s popularity soared in tandem with the emergence of the kawaii (cute) culture.
In 2014, when Hello Kitty reached the age of 40, her estimated annual worth was around $8 billion. As of 2023, Sanrio has magnificently expanded the Hello Kitty brand into an astounding $84.5 billion franchise.
1. Pokémon (Total Revenue: 100$ Billion)
Indeed, the Pokémon franchise is renowned as the most valuable media franchise in terms of revenue.
Pokémon is a comprehensive Japanese media franchise encompassing video games, animated series, films, a trading card game, and various related media. The franchise unfolds in a shared universe where humans coexist with creatures called Pokémon, a diverse array of species possessing unique abilities.
While the franchise primarily targets children aged 5 to 12, it undeniably attracts enthusiasts of all ages. The Pokémon Company ceased disclosing Pokémon’s overall value in 2019. Back then, Pokémon was roughly estimated to possess a value of approximately $71 billion.
Since its inception in 1996, the Pokémon franchise has amassed an astonishing revenue of $100 billion across its diverse array of offerings, including television shows, movies, books, games, and various other merchandise.
