Toei Animation continues to dominate the anime industry, being one of the largest and most influential studios in Japan. Over the years, it has been responsible for bringing some of the most iconic anime to life. With a diverse portfolio of popular series, Toei has maintained its relevance in the industry, generating billions in revenue. Recently, the studio revealed its top-performing franchises for the fiscal year, showcasing the incredible success of a few of its standout titles.
Among the many successful series under Toei’s belt, Dragon Ball has emerged as the studio’s highest-earning franchise. The series continues to be a global phenomenon, generating an impressive 19 billion yen. Its primary success came from overseas licensing, where it topped the charts by a wide margin. Even though it ranked second in other categories, Dragon Ball’s consistent performance across all platforms solidified its place at the top for Toei.
One Piece: A Close Contender to Dragon Ball’s Crown
Second place in Toei’s earnings list goes to One Piece, another iconic series that has cemented itself as a staple in anime culture. The series earned a respectable 18.4 billion yen, falling just behind Dragon Ball. One Piece performed exceptionally well in domestic licensing and films, taking first place in both of these categories.
However, it did not fare as well in overseas licensing, likely due to its more recent international success compared to Dragon Ball, which has had decades to build a global fanbase.
Other Top Earning Toei Franchises
While Dragon Ball and One Piece dominate the top spots, Pretty Cure, a magical girls series, rounds out the top three with 1.3 billion yen in total earnings. However, its performance was limited to domestic sales, as it struggled in overseas licensing. Following closely behind in fourth place is Digimon, which earned 1.06 billion yen, primarily from overseas licensing. Though the numbers are far lower compared to One Piece and Dragon Ball, both series remain beloved and have their own loyal fanbases.
Other notable Toei franchises include Slam Dunk, Saint Seiya, and Gegege no Kitaro, all of which contributed to the studio’s overall earnings. However, none of these series came close to the massive revenue generated by One Piece and Dragon Ball. These franchises continue to enjoy success in various categories, but the global appeal and enduring popularity of One Piece and Dragon Ball remain unmatched in Toei’s portfolio.
