So, which is the most successful anime ever created ?

[params7]

Dragonball Z, Naruto, etc what do you think anime ever created ?

i say DBZ, every kid out there knows about this and there are still great merchandises coming out like new DBZ budokai games on the ps2 and er, well its really famous, lots of people worldwide know more about the dbz than they know any other anime.

[Buzz Dixon]

It's a neck-and-neck run between TETSUWON ATOM (ASTRO-BOY) and SAILOR MOON. I'd say SAILOR MOON in the long run 'cuz while ASTRO-BOY was the first to break out of Japan, SAILOR MOON was the one that found the key audience (i.e., tween-to-teen girls).

[Jack]

In terms of manga, I believe One Piece and Slam Dunk have sold the most.

[Trystenn]

I would say eiter Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, DBZ, or One Peice.

[Robotech Master]

Dragonball Z was the most successful back in the 80's through early 90's, with Yu Yu Hakusho right behind it. But times have changed, and neither of those shows were popular enough to be called "Most popular ever created." Detective Conan and One Piece have both equaled, if not surpassed, the popularity that Dragonball Z had. Naruto is popular, but most of its popularity is concentrated with Western viewers; its been proven that Japan itself is more fond of shows like Detective Conan, which far surpasses Naruto's popularity over there.

As for all time; there are plenty of relatively unknown series in the States (because they are too old or too different for Western audiences), that are really popular in Japan. They have lasted for practically a decade, not just years, with tons of merchandise and stuff that the kids just eat up. Most of those series are made for younger audiences.

[Unbiased]

If you also count merchandise, Pokemon has spawned billions in total gross for years and running.

[GreenLantern2008]

One Piece would be the most selliin

[Bryan Rios]

Inu Yasha seems to have many many many fanboys and fangirls across the lands... As does DBZ and Sailor Moon. But I'd really have to say Akira is one helluva sucessful anime.

[OverMaster]

Doraemon has been running in manga and anime forms since the 1970s, spawned more than 15 movies, was used as a national symbol for the celebrations of New Year 2000 in Japan, and has sold trillions in merchandise all over Asia.

[Cephus]

You just can't compete with Doraemon, sorry. It's been running almost continually since 1973 and the current series runs a thousand episodes or more, on the air since 1979. It's made billions and billions and billions of dollars and Doraemon is a national icon in Japan (as well as having been ripped off by the FCC).

DBZ and the rest are but a blip on the radar.

[Infinity Chameleon]

So what'd be the likely #2 then?

[kid cthulhu]

Wow, I've never even HEARD of One Piece!

I'd have to go with DBZ or Pokemon, although Akira is still #1 in my book.

[Deskad]

DBZ, still has fans nearly 2 decades later.

[SuperSaiyaMan12]

DBZ, still has fans nearly 2 decades later.
From what was said on the thread, it seems Doraemon has outclassed DBZ's popularity by a decade. It still counts as number 2 though.

[Pikachu]

If you're talking purely Anime, in Japan it would be "Doraemon"... the longest running Anime series of all time. And as a matter of fact, I watched "Doraemon" last night on prime time tv here in Japan. Just a few months ago in Japan the new "Doraemon" film was released. He's still going strong in he land of the rising sun! "Doraemon" has been on nearly two and a half times longer than "The Simpsons."


Originally posted by SuperSaiyaMan12
From what was said on the thread, it seems Doraemon has outclassed DBZ's popularity by a decade. It still counts as number 2 though.

True, True, True. You speak the truth my brother!

In America it would be debatable since Anime hasn't been deemed *classic yet, even though there are Anime classics and fans of them. "Macross" for example, but among the contemporary Anime boom, it would have to be "Pokemon" hands down. I think the hordes of kiddies watching "Pokemon" daily outstrip the after school teens watching "Dragon Ball Z"... and as for number of die hard American Anime fans I think oldies goldies groups like the "Macross" generation may still have a larger following. This isn't to say "DBZ" isn't popular, because it is, at least in America. It's popularity in Japan has slowed to a halt and become more of a nastolgic past time.

When it comes to Japan's pat time though, there is more to choose from. Yet as for iconic animation symbols, we have "Micky Mouse" and they have "Astro Boy."

Manga success of course complicates matters. There are so many which have huge cult followings, which still are successful today, and new ones which gain daily.

Jack is right, as of contemporary times the sales charts dictate "One Piece" and "Slam Dunk" as the number one selling comics in recent time. Closely rounding out the top would probably be titles like "Yu Yu Hakusho" and "Dragon Ball Z."

Pika!

[FalconX2000]

Really, has Doraemon been anywhere near the top of any ratings/sales measure after the 90s got rolling?

[GozertheGozarian]

Really, has Doraemon been anywhere near the top of any ratings/sales measure after the 90s got rolling?
That would mean something if we were talking about popularity. Longevity is more important.

[Little_Mac]

That would mean something if we were talking about popularity. Longevity is more important.

Both are important. You could argue that 60 Minutes is the most successful weekly show since it has been on since 1968 (or some soap opera). I bet you though, that it probably doesn't top any list of the top 10 greatest shows in the last 40 years.

In the Western world, it's Pokemon one and Yugi-oh second. The anime sparked tremendous sales in the entertainment/gaming industry and I don't think any other anime has gained as much money.

[Sound Silence]

That would mean something if we were talking about popularity. Longevity is more important.

It depends, though Doraemon IS popular and...longevitous.

It all depends on how you measure success though. There's outright monetary gain, there's successful as standing the test of time, and there's successful in terms of gaining exposure and popularity around the world.

Pokemon's a good example, but it's such a phenomenon you can't really say it's "just" a game or anime anymore.

[Shadow Skill]

As good and successful as One Piece is, I doubt it's as popular or well comercialized internationlly as Naruto and Pokemon.

[Zero Hunter]

Wow, I've never even HEARD of One Piece!

I'd have to go with DBZ or Pokemon, although Akira is still #1 in my book.

Go to the One Piece thread and absorb the awesomeness. Where else are you going to get a cyborg, a master swordsman, and living skeleton who likes to see womens panties, crazy strong stretchy guy, and a talking reindeer doctor, and those are just half the crew.

[KnockBlock]

Dragonball Z was the most successful back in the 80's through early 90's, with Yu Yu Hakusho right behind it. But times have changed, and neither of those shows were popular enough to be called "Most popular ever created."

YYH, yes. DBZ, no.

Dragon Ball Z isn't the most popular title of all but its in there as one of the most popular series ever.


Detective Conan and One Piece have both equaled, if not surpassed, the popularity that Dragonball Z had.

I don't agree with that.


In America it would be debatable since Anime hasn't been deemed *classic yet, even though there are Anime classics and fans of them. "Macross" for example, but among the contemporary Anime boom, it would have to be "Pokemon" hands down. I think the hordes of kiddies watching "Pokemon" daily outstrip the after school teens watching "Dragon Ball Z"... and as for number of die hard American Anime fans I think oldies goldies groups like the "Macross" generation may still have a larger following. This isn't to say "DBZ" isn't popular, because it is, at least in America. It's popularity in Japan has slowed to a halt and become more of a nastolgic past time.

DBZ is still highly regarded in Japan. Dragon Ball Kai is doing good in the ratings.

[FalconX2000]

That would mean something if we were talking about popularity. Longevity is more important.

Time not being in the top tier is time lost. Simply hanging around doing ok for a long time does not greatness make.

[Sound Silence]

I don't agree with that.


Right.

One Piece may have surpassed it in manga sales by now, but that's just in terms of sales. I think DBZ had/has a much larger audience of people who weren't interested in buying manga/anime.

A good chunk of my friends grew up as huge DBZ fans and still have fond memories of it, and are pretty much not interested in anime in general, which to me indicates the level of popularity DBZ has.

[Darth Joker]

I'm surprised that nobody has even mentioned NGE yet.

When it comes to actually selling DVDs and physical media, NGE is in a class by itself.

Rebuild of Evangelion was, by far, the best selling anime of 2010. It actually competes with freakin' Michael Jackson (in Japan).


NGE's level of modern popularity is also astounding when you consider that its original run was only 26 episodes, and was 15 years ago in 1995. There was a very large gap between that original run, and the latest remakes of it, yet it's popularity has appeared to increase over time, if anything.

[Lobsterdom]

Sazae-san.

Broadcasted since 1969, long before Doraemon; still dishing out the highest ratings on Japanese TV.

End of thread.