The anime industry produces an annual revenue of approximately $20 billion. Originating in Japan, this cultural phenomenon has established a significant global presence, with some of the largest anime series and franchises surpassing even the most successful Hollywood franchises and blockbusters. The most prominent among them generates revenue comparable to the GDP of several countries.

World's highest-grossing anime franchise

Despite the current popularity of titles like Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, and One Piece, which lead in ratings and viewership, their revenue figures pale in comparison to the phenomenal success of the Pokémon franchise. Originating in 1996 as a series of role-playing games, Pokémon has expanded into a comprehensive media franchise that includes manga, trading card games, and a variety of anime series and films. Over the past 29 years, this franchise has amassed an astonishing $100 billion in global revenue across all formats. This total comprises $92 billion from retail sales of games and merchandise, $6 billion from video games, and more than $1.2 billion from box office and home video sales of the anime.

The significance of the $100 billion revenue can be understood by comparing it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which has generated $33 billion in box office and home entertainment earnings, making Pokémon's revenue three times greater.

How Pokémon dwarfs other anime series

Pokémon holds a dominant position as the highest-grossing anime franchise globally. In second place is Anpanman, with a total gross of $38 billion, followed by Dragon Ball at $10 billion. Other notable franchises such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Gundam each have earnings ranging from $7 to $10 billion. Meanwhile, contemporary series like Solo Leveling and One Piece have yet to break into the top 10, with revenues below $1 billion each.

All about the Pokémon behemoth

Pokemon originated as a series of role-playing games in 1996, conceived by its creator, Satoshi Tajiri. The initial Gameboy titles paved the way for the anime series, which debuted in Japan in April 1997. From 1998 to 2000, Pokémon was introduced to international markets, quickly becoming a worldwide

In the early 2000s, the fervor surrounding the anime series and games was referred to as Pokemania. This phenomenon elevated its main characters, Ash and Pikachu, to the status of cultural icons. Over the years, the franchise has grown to include numerous spinoffs, comprising 23 animated films, 3 television specials, and 27 short films. Additionally, a live-action Hollywood adaptation was released in 2019, titled Detective Pikachu, featuring Ryan Reynolds in the lead role.

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