Fat Cash: 10 Cartoon Characters That Earn Their Studios Major Bank
Cartoons have been a major industry for nearly 100 years, and it is only become more prominent thanks to production companies such as Pixar and Disney spending years creating gorgeous, multimillion dollar films. As for the actors, animated films are desirable due to the ease of recording your voice: there’s no time in the makeup chair and you still get a rather large paycheck.
Animated pictures have been pushed into high demand, and have generated billions and billions of dollars. Part of the reason cartoons are a huge success is the family appeal; a family of four can see a movie instead of a lone viewer or a couple on a date, like for more mature films. Merchandising has also driven in huge additional revenue for cartoon major motion pictures through the sale of toys and other items.
But which cartoon characters have been able to rake in the big bucks? We present to you the top 10 franchises that stand above the rest, although you might notice some more obvious choices omitted. It would be nearly impossible to tally up the revenue that old Disney characters (such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck) have generated, since they were mainly television characters and didn’t star in many huge movies where profits were easily calculable, so take that into consideration. Here are the 10 cartoon characters that have broken the bank, and our wallets.
#10 – Alvin ($1.3 Billion)
Alvin the Chipmunk still cracks the top 10 despite the fact that the old cartoon series was not even taken into consideration! Alvin’s profitability may only date back to 2007, when the first Chipmunks movie was released, but the film made $300 million in profits for Fox, so of course they were due for some sequels.
The second one, or “The Squeakquel,” as they called it, profited even more for the studios while the third film, “Chipwrecked,” just increased the franchises gross to unforeseen levels. Toys, and fast food advertising contracts, helped establish the already household name character as a bona fide moneymaking machine. Merchandise sales alone were estimated at $300 million in the first year of the film franchise’s reboot; that’s nothing to squeak at for a franchise over 50 years old, although we do wonder when puberty will make Alvin stop squeaking.
#9 – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III ($1.43 Billion)
Although Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III might not be the most household name on the list, he is the main character of the massively successful “How to Train Your Dragon” series by Dreamworks; Hiccup was voiced by Jay Baruchel, and the character had the infamous dragon, Toothless.
The first film in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series netted a $340 million profit, while the second pulled in even more at around $450 million. In addition to the movies, there have been short films, a TV series, ice shows, and even video games to further establish Hiccup’s profitability and popularity. There is also a third feature film coming to theaters in the summer of 2018. While Hiccup may not be the most household name for now, it’s only a matter of time until this dragon franchise is fully housetrained and is known worldwide, especially if these figures continue.
#8 – Nemo ($1.46 Billion)
The adorable little orange clownfish with a deformed fin is one of only two characters on the list that has appeared in only one movie. Nemo was the titular character in the film “Finding Nemo,” which was the fourth franchise created by Pixar following the massively successful “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” and “Monsters, Inc.”
“Finding Nemo” had a moderately sized budget back when it was released in 2003 at $94 million, and it ended up pulling in over $900 million in theater profits alone; you could find kids clutching onto adorable Nemo plushes all over the world after the film was released. There is a sequel coming out in 2016 to the film, although it is not known if it will feature Nemo, as it’s called “Finding Dory.” Pixar plans to “just keep swimming” all the way to the bank with this franchise.
#7 – Elsa ($1.87 Billion)
Now we approach the other character on our list that has not had a sequel, yet. Elsa, the Ice Queen from Disney’s “Frozen,” sang one of the most captivating (and for parents, one of the most grating) songs of the last five years with “Let it Go” (voiced by Idina Menzel). The 2013 film was a big gamble for Disney and Pixar with a production budget of $150 million, but they certainly beat the house on this one.
“Frozen” brought in a whopping $1.27 billion in worldwide box office, and merchandise sales were among the highest for any single movie in history. With nearly half a billion in DVD sales, it’s no wonder kids are still singing the songs. Elsa isn’t done yet, as a sequel to “Frozen” was announced in March of this year; I guess we just can’t let it go and it seems Disney and Pixar certainly don’t want to.
#6 – Gru ($1.88 Billion)
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is the bald-headed main character of the franchise “Despicable Me;” the first movie was released in 2010, and within five years it has made Gru and his minions extremely well-known and increasingly marketable. “Despicable Me” ended up with a worldwide profit of nearly half a billion dollars, while the sequel netted nearly $900 million, and that is most definitely not despicable at all.
The Dreamworks creation has helped the studio have financial security for future releases, and this summer brings a spinoff of the original series featuring Minions in their own movie; that is sure to be a major merchandising hit in its own right, considering their adorableness. Gru isn’t done yet, either, as a third “Despicable Me” movie will be coming out in June of 2017 (which will be a major summer for moviegoers).
#5 – Woody ($2.6 Billion)
Back in 1995, there was a little movie studio nobody had heard of before and had never released a major film. Who would have thought that a studio that started with a little lamp, would have a box office smash hit in “Toy Story?” Somehow, Pixar even got a massive budget and the ability to get Tom Hanks and Tim Allen to voice their main characters. 20 years later, and their cowboy Woody has made Pixar into the premium name for animated features.
“Toy Story” was a massive triumph and it spearheaded two sequels that would bring in even more success at the box office. Woody dolls were popping up on toy shelves and big time companies, such as McDonald’s and Walmart, were using Woody in their advertisements. If you weren’t ready to say goodbye to Woody yet, there’s a fourth “Toy Story” coming out in 2017; let’s hope it’s not as tear-jerking as the previous entry, but you can bet it will be just as big of a blockbuster.
#4 – Manny ($3.34 Billion)
It’s hard to pick a single “main character” from the “Ice Age” series, but if you had to choose one, it would be Manny the Mastadon. Manny was voiced by comedian Ray Romano, an odd choice, but it definitely worked out in the end. The “ice age” seems to have already been upon us, with four “Ice Age” movies that have all been incredibly successful at the box office.
In addition to the movies, “Ice Age” has released a couple of video games, television shows, an on-ice production, and of course, DVD’s. By the time it’s all said and done, Manny could end up leap frogging our next character on the list, because there is a fifth installment in the “Ice Age” series coming out in 2016. Now if only that squirrel could get that darn acorn, we might actually have a film on our hands.
#3 – Shrek ($3.92 Billion)
Who would have thought that 20 years ago, one of the biggest animated characters of all-time would be an Ogre who hangs out with a donkey named freakin’ Donkey. In the original “Shrek” film, the voice for the title character was supposed to be Chris Farley, who recorded 90 percent of the lines before he passed away and was replaced by Mike Myers.
The film still succeeded despite the tragic loss of its original lead talent and spawned multiple sequels, with a total of five films based around the Shrek universe. Nearly 90 percent of the revenue that Shrek has created has come from the films releases, while the rest have been filled by DVD sales and merchandise. There was even an off-Broadway production of the original tale. With almost 4 billion in total revenue, that’ll certainly do, donkey. That’ll do.
#2 – Simba ($7.85 Billion)
The early 1990s saw the revitalization of Disney cartoon movies in what is now known as the “Disney Renaissance.” Appropriately leading the biggest film of 1994 was Simba, the main character in “The Lion King.” The movie received praise from critics and the adoration of fans across the world, but the merchandise sales didn’t make up a big bulk of the revenue unlike some of the other characters on this list; let’s just say there was a reason the original film’s music is so widely regarded.
The reason why Simba has brought in so much money over the years is because of a musical that was based on the film. “The Lion King” is the highest grossing musical of all-time, and it has brought in more than $6 billion worldwide (that means no worries, for the rest of your days). Re-releases, DVD sales and a straight to video sequel have also helped Simba pad his luxurious mane.
#1 – Homer Simpson ($12.9 Billion)
There is a ton of money when it comes to primetime television, and no show in the history of television has held a prime spot on Sunday nights longer than “The Simpsons.” As the patriarch of the family, Homer Simpson is the most profitable and memorable character from the show. “The Simpsons” has lasted 26 seasons now and doesn’t have an end in sight, to the dismay of many.
Between the show raking in more than a billion over its long run, a movie that collected millions at the box office, and tons of merchandise, “The Simpsons” is the biggest money maker in cartoon history. There is even a section dedicated to them at Universal Studios and a huge $750 million contract from FX to air all of the show’s episodes. That is a lot of donuts. Mmmmm donuts…
#9 – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III ($1.43 Billion)
Although Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III might not be the most household name on the list, he is the main character of the massively successful “How to Train Your Dragon” series by Dreamworks; Hiccup was voiced by Jay Baruchel, and the character had the infamous dragon, Toothless.
The first film in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series netted a $340 million profit, while the second pulled in even more at around $450 million. In addition to the movies, there have been short films, a TV series, ice shows, and even video games to further establish Hiccup’s profitability and popularity. There is also a third feature film coming to theaters in the summer of 2018. While Hiccup may not be the most household name for now, it’s only a matter of time until this dragon franchise is fully housetrained and is known worldwide, especially if these figures continue.
#8 – Nemo ($1.46 Billion)
The adorable little orange clownfish with a deformed fin is one of only two characters on the list that has appeared in only one movie. Nemo was the titular character in the film “Finding Nemo,” which was the fourth franchise created by Pixar following the massively successful “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” and “Monsters, Inc.”
“Finding Nemo” had a moderately sized budget back when it was released in 2003 at $94 million, and it ended up pulling in over $900 million in theater profits alone; you could find kids clutching onto adorable Nemo plushes all over the world after the film was released. There is a sequel coming out in 2016 to the film, although it is not known if it will feature Nemo, as it’s called “Finding Dory.” Pixar plans to “just keep swimming” all the way to the bank with this franchise.
#7 – Elsa ($1.87 Billion)
Now we approach the other character on our list that has not had a sequel, yet. Elsa, the Ice Queen from Disney’s “Frozen,” sang one of the most captivating (and for parents, one of the most grating) songs of the last five years with “Let it Go” (voiced by Idina Menzel). The 2013 film was a big gamble for Disney and Pixar with a production budget of $150 million, but they certainly beat the house on this one.
“Frozen” brought in a whopping $1.27 billion in worldwide box office, and merchandise sales were among the highest for any single movie in history. With nearly half a billion in DVD sales, it’s no wonder kids are still singing the songs. Elsa isn’t done yet, as a sequel to “Frozen” was announced in March of this year; I guess we just can’t let it go and it seems Disney and Pixar certainly don’t want to.
#6 – Gru ($1.88 Billion)
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is the bald-headed main character of the franchise “Despicable Me;” the first movie was released in 2010, and within five years it has made Gru and his minions extremely well-known and increasingly marketable. “Despicable Me” ended up with a worldwide profit of nearly half a billion dollars, while the sequel netted nearly $900 million, and that is most definitely not despicable at all.
The Dreamworks creation has helped the studio have financial security for future releases, and this summer brings a spinoff of the original series featuring Minions in their own movie; that is sure to be a major merchandising hit in its own right, considering their adorableness. Gru isn’t done yet, either, as a third “Despicable Me” movie will be coming out in June of 2017 (which will be a major summer for moviegoers).
#5 – Woody ($2.6 Billion)
Back in 1995, there was a little movie studio nobody had heard of before and had never released a major film. Who would have thought that a studio that started with a little lamp, would have a box office smash hit in “Toy Story?” Somehow, Pixar even got a massive budget and the ability to get Tom Hanks and Tim Allen to voice their main characters. 20 years later, and their cowboy Woody has made Pixar into the premium name for animated features.
“Toy Story” was a massive triumph and it spearheaded two sequels that would bring in even more success at the box office. Woody dolls were popping up on toy shelves and big time companies, such as McDonald’s and Walmart, were using Woody in their advertisements. If you weren’t ready to say goodbye to Woody yet, there’s a fourth “Toy Story” coming out in 2017; let’s hope it’s not as tear-jerking as the previous entry, but you can bet it will be just as big of a blockbuster.
#4 – Manny ($3.34 Billion)
It’s hard to pick a single “main character” from the “Ice Age” series, but if you had to choose one, it would be Manny the Mastadon. Manny was voiced by comedian Ray Romano, an odd choice, but it definitely worked out in the end. The “ice age” seems to have already been upon us, with four “Ice Age” movies that have all been incredibly successful at the box office.
In addition to the movies, “Ice Age” has released a couple of video games, television shows, an on-ice production, and of course, DVD’s. By the time it’s all said and done, Manny could end up leap frogging our next character on the list, because there is a fifth installment in the “Ice Age” series coming out in 2016. Now if only that squirrel could get that darn acorn, we might actually have a film on our hands.
#3 – Shrek ($3.92 Billion)
Who would have thought that 20 years ago, one of the biggest animated characters of all-time would be an Ogre who hangs out with a donkey named freakin’ Donkey. In the original “Shrek” film, the voice for the title character was supposed to be Chris Farley, who recorded 90 percent of the lines before he passed away and was replaced by Mike Myers.
The film still succeeded despite the tragic loss of its original lead talent and spawned multiple sequels, with a total of five films based around the Shrek universe. Nearly 90 percent of the revenue that Shrek has created has come from the films releases, while the rest have been filled by DVD sales and merchandise. There was even an off-Broadway production of the original tale. With almost 4 billion in total revenue, that’ll certainly do, donkey. That’ll do.
#2 – Simba ($7.85 Billion)
The early 1990s saw the revitalization of Disney cartoon movies in what is now known as the “Disney Renaissance.” Appropriately leading the biggest film of 1994 was Simba, the main character in “The Lion King.” The movie received praise from critics and the adoration of fans across the world, but the merchandise sales didn’t make up a big bulk of the revenue unlike some of the other characters on this list; let’s just say there was a reason the original film’s music is so widely regarded.
The reason why Simba has brought in so much money over the years is because of a musical that was based on the film. “The Lion King” is the highest grossing musical of all-time, and it has brought in more than $6 billion worldwide (that means no worries, for the rest of your days). Re-releases, DVD sales and a straight to video sequel have also helped Simba pad his luxurious mane.
#1 – Homer Simpson ($12.9 Billion)
There is a ton of money when it comes to primetime television, and no show in the history of television has held a prime spot on Sunday nights longer than “The Simpsons.” As the patriarch of the family, Homer Simpson is the most profitable and memorable character from the show. “The Simpsons” has lasted 26 seasons now and doesn’t have an end in sight, to the dismay of many.
Between the show raking in more than a billion over its long run, a movie that collected millions at the box office, and tons of merchandise, “The Simpsons” is the biggest money maker in cartoon history. There is even a section dedicated to them at Universal Studios and a huge $750 million contract from FX to air all of the show’s episodes. That is a lot of donuts. Mmmmm donuts…
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