Want to know which anime franchises have made the most money? You've come to the right place! East Asian animation has been attracting the attention of the rest of the world for a long time now, but in recent decades this success has only grown. In the midst of many genres such as romances, which are known as "shoujo", and action, which are better known as "shounen", a number of gigantic works have emerged that bring a lot of profit to the companies that license them.
There are so many anime There are so many different anime released every year that choosing which one to start marathoning can become a difficult task for newer otaku (anime and manga fans) and even those with more experience. However, in order to help you with this, in today's article we're going to list the most popular anime of all time according to the profit they generate. We'll analyze their stories and hopefully help you find the next title to check out! Let's take a look with us, shall we?
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
A landmark of the shounen genre, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure couldn't be left out of the list of anime franchises with the highest profits. In production since 1987, the work is written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki and is still being published today. The anime is full of exaggeratedly epic and funny stories and poses that have continued to win the hearts of audiences over the years, earning around US$ 10 billion in net worth.
In the plot, we meet the members of the Joestar family and the curse their descendants bear. From time to time, someone is born into the lineage whose name can be nicknamed "Jojo" and who is destined to go on great adventures and suffer various evils along the way. The first season begins in the year 1888 and introduces us to Jonathan Joestar, whose enemy is the powerful vampire Dio Brando, known as "Evil Incarnate".
Naruto
With a net worth valued at around US$ 10 billion, Naruto is the next title to join the list of anime franchises with the highest profits. The adventures of the ninja in the orange jumpsuit were the gateway for many young otaku into the anime universe and proved to be very profitable throughout the time it was in publication, generating revenue to this day with spin-off series and licensed products.
Here we follow a young orphan who is treated like dirt by his fellow villagers and dreams of becoming the strongest ninja of all so that he can finally be recognized as someone worthy. The main series of the manga was launched in September 1999 and came to an end in November 2014. It was later replaced by Boruto, a story that follows the misadventures of Naruto's son and remains in publication to this day.
Sailor Moon
Moving on to the "shoujo manga" side, we have Sailor Moon which, with a net worth of approximately US$ 14 billion, has become one of the most profitable anime franchises. The story was created and also drawn by Naoko Takeuchi in 1992 and features charismatic characters and a captivating story that served as inspiration for a whole sub-genre that developed from its release: Mahou Shoujo (magical girls in a free translation).
Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy high school girl who tries to go about her life as normal as all her classmates. However, one day she meets a talking cat in the middle of the street who explains to her that it is her mission to act as a heroine in the service of an ancient kingdom together with a group of other girls with the same destiny.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Known for its deep and remarkable story, Neon Genesis Evangelion is also one of the highest-grossing anime franchises in history, with around US$ 17 billion raised since its release in 1995. Its plot is dense and goes far beyond a group of children piloting giant robots, exploring philosophical questions about human existence and interpersonal relationships.
The central focus is on Shinji Ikari, a teenager who wants recognition from his father, who is always prioritizing work over his existence. He ends up being recruited to work on a military base and pilot a robot known as an EVA alongside other "children" of a similar age. These EVAs are humanity's last hope against alien invaders who have destroyed the Earth before, causing a post-apocalyptic scenario.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the anime best known to the public, even those who don't consider themselves otaku, since the title has been shown on broadcast TV and is also the focus of one of the most profitable card games of all time. As such, the work, which has a net income of approximately US$ 20 billion and was released in 1996, couldn't be left out of the list of anime franchises with the highest profits.
The story of Yu-Gi-Oh! revolves around Yugi Muto, a young man who loves games and became known for defeating world champion Seto Kaiba in a card duel. When he solves the Millennium Puzzle, he awakens a guardian spirit who helps him in the Shadow Games, mystical challenges that reveal the true character of the contestants. The plot explores friendships and intense disputes, with Yugi taking on the role of "king of the games".
One Piece
We can't talk about the anime franchises that have made the most money without mentioning One Piece. The shounen anime launched in 1999, written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, is one of the oldest anime franchises still in publication and has earned around US$ 21 billion in net worth, making its mangaka one of the richest of all those who have worked with it.
In One Piece, we follow Luffy in his saga to find a special treasure that will make him the "king of pirates" and, as he sails towards his goal, he assembles his crew with friends he makes along the way. The adventures and criticisms in the book have made it a true classic and a must-have for anyone wishing to enter the otaku world.
Hokuto no Ken
Known by many as "JoJo's father" because of the style of its artwork, Hokuto no em inspired several other works, including the manga by Hirohiko Araki already mentioned in this list. The work launched in 1983 has a net worth of approximately US$ 22 billion, which means that it must be among the anime franchises with the highest profits of any in existence.
Kenshiro, successor to the Hokuto Shin-ken style, fights to protect the innocent in a post-apocalyptic world. Alongside Rei, master of the Nanto Suicho-ken, he faces the Claw Clan, who have kidnapped Rei's sister Airi as a form of blackmail. During the battles, Kenshiro meets Raoh, a powerful opponent, but the duel ends without a winner. Wounded, Rei uses his last days to seek revenge against Yuda, his former captor.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball has a special place in the hearts of many fans and also a silver medal when it comes to the most profitable anime franchises in history. The manga was written and illustrated by the late mangaka Akira Toriyama and has a net worth of approximately US$ 23 billion.
In the story we have protagonist Son Gokuis an alien who was raised among humans and is always training to become the strongest being in the universe and protect the Earth from the most diverse threats. Including those who, like him, also come from another planet. Goku sees the Earth as his home and those around him as his family, showing compassion and a gigantic charisma since he first appeared in the manga in December 1984.
Mobile Suit Gundam
And the silver medal goes to... Mobile Suit Gundam with its revenue calculated at a net worth of US$ 26 billion! As the queen of the highest-grossing anime franchises of all time, it's no wonder that the story launched in 1979 is winning the hearts of otaku to this day with lots of action and depth in the development of the characters!
In Universal Century 0079, the Principality of Zeon, an alliance of space colonies, rebels against the Earth Federation in search of independence. With powerful weapons, Zeon quickly gains the military advantage and conquers areas on Earth, changing the balance of power. This epic conflict challenges technology and morality on both sides, as the struggle for control of the planet intensifies.
Pokรฉmon
The gold medal couldn't go to any other anime than Pokรฉmon. Although the franchise didn't start out as an anime, but as a Nintendo game, and its biggest revenue comes from games and cards, it's impossible to talk about the anime franchises that have made the most money without mentioning this title. Its revenue in assets far exceeds all the others, amounting to around US$ 150 billion made between films and other merchandise.
In the story of the animation, we are introduced to Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old boy who sets off around the world with his companion Pikachu to become the greatest Pokรฉmon master of all time. Along the way he makes many friends and also meets a huge number of other catchable creatures. It's worth noting that this is one of the longest-running anime series, on air since 1997 with 26 seasons.
Conclusion
So far, these are the main anime franchises that have made the most money of all! Did you know any of them? Let us know because we're looking forward to hearing about your experience with our article! Also, don't forget to check out our article on the nine strongest characters in Jujutsu Kaisen!
Questions that might interest you
What are the factors that make an anime franchise popular with fans?
Generally, characters who have a lot of charisma and who fans can identify with are the key to an anime becoming popular among otaku.
Do anime franchises have an impact on pop culture outside Japan?
Anime is exported to every corner of the Earth and ends up influencing various areas of pop culture outside the country, with elements even seen in American cinema, such as Hollywood's adaptation of the manga Ghost in the Shell.
