Dragon Ball has long been one of the most successful franchises in anime and manga. Over the course of its 40-year history, beginning with the series' debut in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1984, the powerhouse IP has seen consistent surges in popularity with each new generation of fans discovering Goku and friends. Now, Bandai Namco's newly released 2025 Financial Reports have revealed that Dragon Ball set a new record for highest single-year earnings by one of their IPs.

The franchise came in first place by a wide margin, raking in 190.6 billion yen from April 2024 to March 2025. Following behind was Mobile Suit Gundam, with 153.5 billion, a difference of nearly 40 billion between Bandai Namco's top two earners. Rounding off the top three was One Piece, which followed closely behind at 139.5 billion.

Dragon Ball Leads the Way as Bandai Namco's Top-Earning Franchise

The Iconic Franchise Set a New Record For Single-Year Revenue

Dragon Ball's 190.6 billion yen in revenue marks the first time a Bandai Namco IP has reached the 190 billion mark in a single year, with the franchise toppling its prior year's earnings of 140.6 billion yen. Gundam's earnings were also up from 145.7 billion yen, a figure that helped the franchise sur Dragon Ball for the number one spot for the first time in six years, though it didn't take long for Goku and company to reclaim their throne.

In third place, One Piece's revenue also jumped up from 112.1 billion in the prior year, for an impressive increase of nearly 20 billion yen. All three IPs set new personal records in a historic year for Bandai Namco, which enjoyed incredible increases in profit across the board. Dragon Ball's record-setting revenue was likely helped by the Dragon Ball Daima anime and hit mobile game Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle, celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Bandai Namco Expects Strong Years From Its Top IPs in 2026

Dragon Ball's Revenue Is Projected to Drop But Remain Successful Next Year

Following its historic year, Bandai Namco projects Dragon Ball to generate around 150 billion yen in 2026, a drop-off of 40 billion from 2025. Given the lack of a new anime or major gaming release like Sparking! Zero, a projected decrease isn't all that surprising, though the 150 billion figure is still good for the second highest behind Gundam's projected 160 billion. Of the top three earners, only Dragon Ball is expected to experience a drop.

Despite its continued success year after year, there is still no confirmation from Toei Animation that Dragon Ball Super's anime will ever return, and the manga remains on its extended hiatus, dating back to March 2024. Both companies have been having disputes over the rights to the franchise since Akira Toriyama's ing last year, and there appears to be nothing planned for release anytime soon. Nevertheless, Bandai Namco continues to profit greatly from Dragon Ball, and will continue to do so as long as its fan base continues giving their .

Source: Bandai Namco 2025 Financial Report