Naruto is a legendary shonen series by creator Masashi Kishimoto, who started this iconic story on September 21, 1999 in issue 43 of Weekly Shonen Jump. The Naruto the series would continue to be serialized for another 15 years in the magazine before reaching its conclusion in 2014. The anime followed a few years later and ended in 2017.
It's been almost a decade since this masterpiece ended, and even with a limited release of content, it's now proven to still be the king among various anime. In the official annual earnings report released this month, Naruto has officially been crowned as the highest-grossing anime series in Tokyo, despite not having an anime series for nearly a decade.. By pushing out the other competitors and staying at the very top, Naruto officially proved that he was unbeatable.
TV Tokyo's latest revenue report confirms Naruto as top grossing non-anime series
TV Tokyo is a major Japanese television station owned by TV Tokyo Corporation. It first began broadcasting on April 22, 1964 and is still one of the most watched channels in Japan today. TV Tokyo is particularly known for broadcasting many major anime series to Japanese audiences, including the likes of Naruto, Boruto, Pokemon, and even more recent shows like Black Clover. On May 9, 2026, TV Tokyo revealed its latest fiscal year report, which ran from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. In the report, the channel officially confirmed its biggest anime money, with a clear top performer among them. TV Tokyo's highest grossing anime sales came from none other than Naruto.
Naruto is an iconic series originally created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999 and later animated in 2002 by Studio Pierrot with TV Tokyo. When we talk about revenue from anime sales, specifically it is the revenue generated from multiple outlets such as streaming, merchandise, games, and more. TV Tokyo didn't disclose exactly how much Naruto generated, but it was undoubtedly a significant amount to top the charts. This is especially impressive since Naruto ended almost a decade ago and yet remains an extremely profitable IP.
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Naruto has beaten other big franchises like Yu-Gi-Oh!, Black Clover and Pokemon in recent news
Naruto topped the TV Tokyo charts, and that's even more impressive when you look at the rest of the top 5. The runner-up for the channel was actually Boruto, which is Naruto's own sequel. In a way, the Naruto franchise as a whole has taken over the top two spots in money generation, showing the potential revenue generation from this IP. This is with Boruto also currently on hiatus, making it even more impressive.
After Naruto and Boruto, Yu-Gi-Oh! came in third place. Yu-Gi-Oh! is an extremely popular anime, yet still surpassed by Naruto and its sequels. Pokemon was also in the top 5, but only 4 overall. We were definitely shocked to see Pokemon so low compared to other series, as it would appear to be a top-grossing series. Finally in 5th place was Black Clover whose manga ended recently. This isn't a surprise as everyone knows that Black Clover never reached Naruto's level of popularity.
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TV Tokyo to expand Naruto franchise globally
The Naruto the anime is about to celebrate a massive milestone very soon thanks to its 25th anniversary next year. Since the Naruto anime first started airing in 2002, it will be 25 years next year. Of course, TV Tokyo will not let this anniversary pass without announcing new projects. Due to the overwhelming success of Naruto, TV Tokyo wants to use the popularity to create a worldwide Naruto boom. In southern France, a Naruto-themed park has opened in Parc Spirou. This could be just the beginning of an expansion that will continue apace in the coming months.
Why Naruto Could Be Getting New Anime Content Soon
While theme parks and worldwide recognition are always welcomed by Naruto fans, most of us want to see the return of the Naruto anime more than anything else. Studio Pierrot previously promised 4 Naruto special episodes and after production they should be released sometime in 2026. However, the exact release date remains unconfirmed. The closest thing fans have to a Naruto return is the return of the Boruto anime, which is expected soon.
A full Naruto remake hasn't been announced yet, but with remakes and remasters like One Piece and Dragon Ball already coming out, it's not impossible for Naruto to get one as well. With its immense worldwide popularity and massive global support, a Naruto revival seems imminent and we absolutely can't wait to see what's in store for us next year, with its 25th anniversary.
Source: TV Tokyo Fiscal Report 2026
