With the anime genre becoming more ingrained in the global mainstream space, series like Mob Psycho 100, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Chainsaw Man are practically guaranteed to see big draws in the west. The genre is a respectable money-maker now, with several high-profile franchises leading the charge in terms of revenue according to more recent aggregate sources like Statista, TitleMax Money & Finance, and more franchise-specific authorities.
Of course, anime like Pokémonare among the most obvious to see. However, other shonen anime franchises like One Pieceand Fist of the North Star garner admirable levels of mainstream popularity.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995 - 1996) - Approx. $12 Billion
Stream On Netflix
Neon Genesis Evangelion is among the best mecha series, as well as among the best anime to come out of the '90s, overall. It was a milestone series for the anime genre that helped bolster its popularity throughout the decade, and it even spawned a series of reimagined anime movies. The world centers around a shadowy organization called Nerv at war against alien beings known as angels.
Shinji, the son of a Nerv operative, is recruited alongside other teenagers to pilot the titular mechas. Evangelion's plot has been widely acclaimed for its dark, cerebral nature. It's far deeper than what fans might typically think of the mecha subgenre, as the story gradually unravels into a riveting conspiracy and exploration of psychological themes. Much of what Evangelion has earned was through home media, the Japanese box office, pachinko machines, and more.
Sailor Moon (1992 - 1993) - Approx. $13.9 Billion
Stream On Hulu
The shonen demographic is certainly among the most popular to appeal to when it comes to anime, but Sailor Moon was a cultural icon in its own right in the '90s for the shoujo demographic. Naoko Takeuchi's manga grew into a milestone franchise for anime, effectively spearheading the "magical girl" subgenre within it.
It starts with Usaki Tsukino, a young klutzy girl struggling in school, who eventually sees her life drastically changes as she's granted the ability to turn into a galactic guardian of Earth from an invading monstrous threat. It's inspired multiple adaptations in the years since, and it remains deeply embedded in the mainstream even 30-plus years after the manga's debut. As with many of these anime franchises, Sailor Moon's total gross estimate comes from a variety of entertainment sectors, with merchandise being the biggest driving force.
Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998) - Approx. $19.8 Billion
Stream On Hulu
While the anime shows have been saturated and aren't the most talked about within fan circles, the original series was another staple of the late '90s and the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, in general, has been an impressive money-making machine. The original TV anime was something of a phenomenon in its own right, revolving around young Yuugi Mutou and the Millenium Puzzle that his grandfather gave him, awakening his alter ego to take part in the iconic card game.
Yu-Gi-Oh! essentially served as a vehicle for the depicted card game, as it still functions as the wider franchise's most iconic aspect. Along with the likes of Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! is arguably one of the most successful mainstream trading card games.
One Piece (1997 - ) - Approx. $20.5 Billion
Stream On Crunchyroll
The last consistent member of Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine's era of the "Big Three" manga, Eiichiro Oda's One Piece IP as a whole has shown immense staying power in the mainstream. One Piece has over 1,000 chapters in the source material and another 1,000 plus episodes in its TV anime adaptation, not to mention its slew of anime movies, video games, and merchandise.
Following the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy on his quest to find the titular coveted treasure, the story explodes into a vibrant pirate-themed odyssey and one of the greatest shonen series to date. Along with the sprawling story, One Piece's narrative has been more specifically lauded for its rewarding character arcs, lore, and excruciatingly detailed worldbuilding.
Fist Of The North Star (1984 - 1987) - Approx. $21.8 Billion
Stream On Crunchyroll
One of the most influential franchises in the industry, writer Buronson's Fist Of The North Star indirectly inspired several other manga and anime in the decades that would follow. This martial arts-focused series takes place in a Mad Max-like timeline where the planet has been ravaged by humanity's collective folly from nuclear and overall disregard for the Earth, with violence and power now firmly being the status quo. Enter Kenshirou, an elite martial artist dominating the evils that redefined the laws of the land.
Spanning several anime adaptations, video games, pachinko machines, and more, its seemingly "80s action hero" aesthetic seems mostly enduring through Hirohiko Araki's manga/anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Gundam (1979 - ) - $23.7 Billion
Stream On Crunchyroll
Gundam is one of the longest-running anime franchises ever, with the IP practically being a mascot of the Japanese entertainment industry. Just as well, the Gundam franchise has long since become the face of the mecha anime subgenre.
It has a sprawling sci-fi world defined by giant humanoid robots being piloted to fight each other, spanning several anime movies and shows, and especially the countless plastic model kits on the merchandising side. There has been a fair mix of hits and misses when it comes to anime projects, but the high points have undoubtedly made for some of the most memorable stories in the mecha subgenre.
Dragon Ball (1986 - ) - $27.7 Billion
Stream On Funimation
Another juggernaut of the anime industry, Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga and the wider franchise are one of the IPs most synonymous with the anime genre. Like many other franchises like this, it's been thoroughly fleshed out into a multimedia effort, spanning TV and movie anime adaptations alongside video games and merchandise.
Goku's colorful adventures as a baby growing up as a fish out of water paved the way for a wider cast of vibrant Dragon Ball characters, galactic threats, and over-the-top action sequences. Goku, Vegeta, the Super Saiyans as a concept, and more are still some of the most recognizable elements of the anime genre and the franchise has proven to be one of the industry's most enduring.
Anpanman (1988 - ) - Approx. $44.9 Billion
Stream On Tibu
It might come as a surprise to many western anime fans, but the Anpanman franchise is a massive one in its native country. As one would expect given the colorful premise and art style, this IP thrives due to its immense popularity among kids. The series follows its titular cake-themed superhero, whose made of the traditional Japanese dessert called anpan.
Each episode sees Anpanman protect his villagers from the germ-themed villain known as Baikinman. As with other entertainment media franchises, Anpanman is one that mostly rakes in its revenue through the children's merchandise that the show inspired.
Hello Kitty (1987) - Approx. $84.5 Billion
Stream On Roku
Like with the aforementioned Anpanman -- and to a lesser degree, Pokémon -- the Hello Kitty franchise is also a huge revenue maker thanks to its extensive line of merchandise, rather than the anime itself. Even if it feels like an anime franchise by technicality, the fact that several anime endeavors going back to the '80s have been pieces of this multimedia juggernaut still qualifies.
It's a simple and innocent show effective for children that sees the titular kitten go on colorful adventures with her twin sister. There's nothing special about this premise, but it's an instantly recognizable brand nonetheless thanks to its tried and true formula for moving merchandise across various demographics.
Pokémon (1997 - ) - Approx. $105 Billion
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Unsurprisingly, the Pokémon IP is an absolute titan of not just the industry, but the highest-grossing multimedia franchise in general -- as noted by The Hill. Between the long-running anime TV series, anime movies, video games, and the trading card game, the franchise will likely remain incredibly lucrative for years to come.
Pokémon managed to strike a special chord among the masses. The imaginative world of superpowered wild animals, unique locations, and competitive battling was the perfect cocktail for an anime franchise that could expand into so much more. The concept of the Pokémon themselves easily fits into a variety of multimedia premises.
Source:gamerant.com