Pokemon rakes in $15 billion

[Dante]

Most adults still find Pokémon difficult to grasp. The numbers are easier: The franchise, originally based on a trading-card game, has raked in a total of $15 billion for owner Nintendo.

 

- Mechandise had declined by 2003 after huge popularity earlier

- Nintendo brought everything under one roof, Pokémon USA in 2006, which has been more selective about licensing

- With the huge popularity of DS, Diamond/Pearl being online, the timing of the new cartoon, and broadening the range of Pokémon used for merchandising, the entire brand has been revitalised

- 10th season of the cartoon began as the highest rated show on Cartoon Network for boys ages 6-11

- Merchandising expected to exceed $50 million, compared to $4 million last year

- Sales of Trading Cards have already exceeded 2006, expected to triple last year's total this year

- Toys R Us is opening Pokémon boutiques in its 585 US stores

- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for DS are selling to both young and older gamers

- In Japan, the new movie, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, is biggest in recent years from the series, already grossing more than $40 million and is set to finish in the top 10 movies of the year.

 

Business 2.0

New York Times

Japan Box Office

[Deathborn]

The franchise, originally based on a trading-card game, has raked in a total of $15 billion for owner Nintendo.

 

:eek:

[Kurtle Squad]

:eek:

Hahaha....yeah, how thick. Esp since it's based on being a young kid*

 

*non-urban & being born before 1990/1995 when kids started being able to walk over everyone and being up themselves

[Cube]

:eek:

 

I thought the TCG was a shameless cash-in of the TV show/game (whichever was first).

 

So...the games are actually the shameless cash-ins....

[Tellyn]

Just to clarify, the games are the originals. Shows, cards and merchandise all came after the game.

[Serebii]

At least they didn't say it was based on the anime...if they did, they would have not heard the last of it :p