According to the August 2019 Issue of License! Global Top 150 Global Licensors, The Pokémon Company International is now the 23rd most profitable retail licensor worldwide selling over $2.8 billion USD in licensed products worldwide in 2018. This is down from $3.3 billion USD in 2017.

The Pokémon Company International - $2.98 Billion - 2018

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of the The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children's entertainment properties in the world.

With robust licensing programs spanning gaming, toys, apparel and accessories, designer collaborations, tech gear, home décor, and more, The Pokémon Company International continued to reach broad global audiences last year, giving fans more ways to engage with the beloved Pokémon brand.

Key licensees in 2018 included Wicked Cool Toys (master toy licensee for TPCi), Mattel's Mega Construx, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Ravensburger, which added figures, plush, roleplay items, puzzels and more to their growing lineup of official Pokémon merchandise. In addition, TPCi and Punko announced their first agreement to bring Funko Pop! Pokémon figure to retail, featuring the iconic Pokémon, Pikachu. The popularity of the product led to an expanded deal, resulting in the companies' launching a new "A Day with Pikachu" collection starting in February 2019, featuring a series of themed Pikachu figures available exclusively on PokemonCenter.com - the official destination for Pokémon merchandise in the U.S. - and more Funko Pop! Pokémon figures.

Major programs were based on a license of the globally popular TV animation, which boasts more than 1,000 episodes spanning 22 seasons. Recent seasons, including "Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon - Ultra Adventures" and "Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon Ultra Legends," aired via worldwide broadcast partners in 2018 and 2019, respectively. TCPi and Fathom Events also collaborated to debut the 21st animated Pokémon film, Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, at select theaters across multiple territories. TPCi also rolled out new offerings for the Pokémon TCG, which contines to be one of the best-selling card games in the world with more than 25.7 billion cards shipped to 74 countries in 11 languages. In tandem, TPCi's ongoing partnerships with mass retailers like Amazon, Carrfour, GameStop, Sainsbury's, Target, Tesco, and Walmart, plus many international independent retailers remain as additional awareness drivers for official merchandise like the Pokémon TCG.

Furthermore, the "Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu!" and "Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee!" video games launched in November 2018, and since March 2019, have sold more than 10.63 million units worldwide, making them the fifth best-selling Nintendo Switch titles to date. These titles also offer cross-platform connectivity with the incredibly popular "Pokémon GO" mobile game, which continued to build significant awareness for the brand as it reached more than 850 million downloads as of August 2018.

The strength of the Pokémon brand and its ability to bring customers into retail aisles led to several industry accolades in 2018, including a nomination for Action Figure of the Year by The Toy Association and a No. 6 ranking in NPD's Top 10 Toy Properties for January to June 2018.

TCPi's licensing and retail programs experienced further growth in 2019 and beyond with the premiere of the first-ever live-action Pokémon film, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, the upcoming release of the "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" video games, and a slow of new partnerships and merchandise to delight customers.

In May 2019, Pokémon Detective Pikachu premiered in theaters worldwide, released in partnership with Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment. As the No. 1 movie in worldwide gross for three consecutive weeks, the film's success in garnering global mainstream buzz yielded a variety of merchandise and licensing opportunities, including the launch of a special Detective Pikachu expansion for the Pokémon TCG, movie-themed toy lines by Wicked Cool Toys and Mattel's Mega Construx, and a collaboration with global fashion retailer H&M to release a range of apparel and accessories for adults and children.

Retailers such as Hamleys, Harrods and Joue Club also joined in the celebrating the Pokémon Detective Pikachu premiere in stores. GameStop and Walmart held unique promotions to celebrate the movie release, and Target hosted in-store events with the recently launched "Pokémon Pass" app. Expanding its retail marketing initiatives, TPCi created "Pokémon Pass" to further develop digital reward programs to provide deeper engagement with the brand for retail customers.

Lastly, 2019 welcomed numerous fashion collaborations with designers like Jeremy Scott, GCDS and Bobby Abley for their respective spring/summer 2019 collections that have appeared on runways in London, Milan, and New York.

In addition, TPCi partnered with several global fashion retailers, including Primark for an exclusive range of women;s apparel, now on sale in Europe, as well as adidas for a special adidas NEO collection of apparel, footwear and accessories, which is available in China with plans to introduce more items to fans around the world in the future.

Source: https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/b0a2d8f9#/b0a2d8f9/42

Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution debuted in Japanese theaters on July 12th, 2019 and it was up against Disney's Toy Story 4 for their opening weekend. Movie 22 placed second behind Toy Story 4. It was shown on 408 screens and 454000 tickets were sold for Saturday and Sunday, generating 553 million yen. This placed it 110.6% above last years movie Everyone's Story in it's first week and it ended up with a final revenue of 3.9 billion yen, so it's a decent start for Movie 22. Toy Story 4 made 1.3 billion yen in the same weekend.

Source: https://eiga.com/ranking/

Theaters in five remaining territories still showing "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" propelled the adventure movie past US$436m worldwide, a new record for films based on video games. Cinemas in Norway, New Zealand, Slovenia, Portugal and Colombia generated US$6,994 over the weekend of July 12-14, 2019 per data published by Amazon's Box Office Mojo.

The movie has made $143.3 million USD (domestic, as of July 14th, 2019) and $286 million USD (foreign, as of July 7th, 2019) combing for US$436m. Pokémon Detective Pikachu overtakes Warcraft in terms of both critical response and box office revenue.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/pok-mon-detective-pikachu-becomes-highest-grossing-video-103240549.html

Pokémon Detective Pikachu was released officially worldwide on May 10th, 2019 and it debuted in 1st place, toppling Avengers: Endgame. As of May 12th, 2019, the movie has made $166,765,242 worldwide, domestically $54,365,242 accounting for 32.6% and foreign $112,400,000 accounting for 67.4% of the ticket sales.

International Sales - May 3th, 2019 to May 12th, 2019

Country	Distributor	Release Date	Opening Weekend	Total Gross	as of
Australia	WB	5/9/19	$3,514,851	$3,514,851	5/12/19
Belgium	-	5/8/19	-	$153,000	5/8/19
China	Legend	5/10/19	$39,879,448	$40,322,497	5/12/19
Colombia	WB	5/9/19	$568,144	$568,144	5/12/19
France	WB	5/8/19	-	$1,600,000	5/8/19
Iceland	Samfilm	5/10/19	$46,381	$46,381	5/12/19
Indonesia	WB	5/8/19	-	$271,000	5/8/19
Italy	WB	5/9/19	$179,162	$2,881,599	5/12/19
Japan	Toho	5/3/19	$4,112,878	$10,000,000	5/8/19
Lithuania	ACME	5/10/19	$59,518	$66,484	5/12/19
Netherlands	WB	5/8/19	-	$266,000	5/8/19
Nigeria	F1	5/10/19	$6,435	$6,435	5/12/19
Norway	SF Norge	5/10/19	$744,499	$744,499	5/12/19
Portugal	Lusomundo	5/9/19	$292,630	$292,630	5/12/19
Slovakia	ContFilm	5/2/19	$15,489	$15,489	5/5/19
South Korea	-	5/9/19	-	$844,012	5/5/19
Turkey	WB	5/10/19	$168,393	$168,393	5/12/19
Ukraine	Kinomania	5/9/19	$722,056	$722,368	5/12/19
Vietnam	QueenCGV	5/10/19	$582,913	$582,913	5/12/19

Source: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=detectivepikachu.htm

Pokémon Detective Pikachu moved from 3rd place to 1st place in its second week, this time beating Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire and Avengers: Endgame.

Ticket Sales - Japan Weekend of May 11th, 2019 to May 12th, 2019:

Rank	Previous Rank	Movie Title	Distributor	Theaters	Weeks in Theaters
1	3	Pokémon Detective Pikachu	Toho / Warner Brothers	349	2
2	2	Avengers: Endgame	Disney	365	3
3	1	Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire	Toho	363	5

Source: https://eiga.com/ranking/

Pokémon Detective Pikachu was released in Japanese theaters on May 3rd, 2019 and it made 457 million yen on 317,000 ticket sales for Saturday and Sunday. For the entire 4 day weekend, it brought in 948 million yen (approximately $8.6 million USD) on 676,000 ticket sales. This was enough for it to place 3rd in box office sales for that weekend behind Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire and Avengers: Endgame.

Ticket Sales - Weekend of May 4th, 2019 to May 5th, 2019:

Rank	Previous Rank	Movie Title	Distributor	Theaters	Weeks in Theaters
1	2	Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire	Toho	363	4
2	1	Avengers: Endgame	Disney	365	2
3	-	Pokémon Detective Pikachu	Toho / Warner Brothers	349	1

Source: https://eiga.com/ranking/

Nintendo revealed its Consolidated Results for the Years Ended March 31, 2018 and 2019 report which indicted that Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee! has sold 10.63 million units. Top Selling Titles Sales Units figures were also updated and a list of the sales for Pokémon games is below.

Operating Results and Financial Positions for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2019

The results for this fiscal year showed strong software sales for Nintendo Switch, which contributed to the expansion of hardware sales. In particular, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate recorded sales of 13.81 million units, while Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee! sold 10.63 million units and Super Mario Party sold 6.4 million units, making them all major worldwide hits.

Outlook for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2020

Nintendo Switch has continued to spread quickly around the world since launch, providing a foundation for further business growth. In order to maintain this momentum, we will release Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kitin April, Super Mario Maker 2 in June, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses in July, all worldwide. In addition, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, Animal Crossing (temp.) and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening are slated for release in 2019. Furthermore, major titles from other software publishers are scheduled to be released. We aim to contribute to momentum of the platform by continuously introducing attractive new titles in addition to popular titles already released.

Top Selling Titles Sales Units - As of March 31, 2019

Pokémon Diamond Version / Pearl Version - 17.67 million pcs.
Pokémon X / Pokémon Y - 16.39 million pcs.
Pokémon Sun / Pokémon Moon - 16.15 million pcs.
Pokémon Black Version / White Version - 15.64 million pcs.
Pokémon Omega Ruby / Pokémon Alpha Sapphire - 14.19 million pcs.
Pokémon HeartGold Version / SoulSilver Version - 12.72 million pcs.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! - 10.63 million pcs.
Pokémon Ultra Sun / Pokémon Ultra Moon - 8.37 million pcs.

Sources: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/3ds.html

Nintendo presented their Earnings Release for the Nine-Month Period Ended December 2018 on January 31st, 2019. A new Pokémon RPG for Nintendo Switch is still on the announced launch schedule for late 2019 in Japan. Nintendo also revealed the current sales numbers for many of the current Pokémon titles.

Pokémon X and Y: 16.37 million
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: 14.17 million
Pokémon Sun and Moon: 16.14 million
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon: 8.28 million
Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee: 10 million (1.85 million copies in Japan, 8.16 million overseas)

Consolidated Operating Results

For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, three Nintendo Switch titles became major hits with record sales, which helped invigorate the platform. They are, Super Mario Party released in October, at 5.3 million units, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! released in November, at 10 million units, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released in December, at 12.08million units.

Sources: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2019/190131_2e.pdf and https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2019/190131e.pdf

Nintendo revealed its Nintendo's Consolidated Results for the Years Ended March 31, 2017 and 2018 report which indicted that Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon sold 7.51 million units or just about 50% less of what Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon sold last year in a shorter time span.

Operating Results and Financial Positions for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018

Nintendo 3DS hardware sales remained solid in each region even after the launch of Nintendo Switch, with sales during this fiscal year reaching 6.40 million units. For the Nintendo 3DS software, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon sold 7.51 million units, while overall sales for this fiscal year totaled 35.64 million units.

Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2018/180426e.pdf

Pokémon RPG for Nintendo Switch Still Scheduled for Release in "2018 or later"

Nintendo also revealed in the Earnings Release for Fiscal Year Ended March 2018 - Supplementary Information in the Launch Schedule of Primary Nintendo Products by Region (extracts: Apr. 2018〜) section that a Pokémon RPG for Nintendo Switch (temp.) is still scheduled for release in "2018 or later".

Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2018/180426_4e.pdf

The Pokémon Company International announced today that Pokémon has followed up its record-breaking sales performance in 2016 with continued growth in Europe throughout 2017 for its Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and toys.

According to figures recorded by the NPD Group Toys retail tracking service, Pokémon is the number one Strategic Trading Card Game property in Europe, with total sales exceeding €100 million. Total sales for such games in Europe in 2017 were over €122 million, giving Pokémon a phenomenal 82% share of the market.

Pokémon TCG sales continued to rise in key territories, with growth of 42% in the United Kingdom, 56% in Spain and an incredible 644% in Italy. Pokémon toys [HB1] also saw a significant rise in sales in 2017, with an increase of 54% in the UK, 14% in Germany and 146% in Italy.

Pokémon gained additional recognition at the UK Toy Fair in London by winning two separate awards. The Pokémon Trading Card Game collected Pocket Money Toy of the Year at the Toy Industry Awards, organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association and Toy Retailers Association. Additionally, the new line of Pokémon toys [AD2] made by Wicked Cool Toys and distributed by Character Options was crowned the winner of the Toy Fair 2018 Editor’s Choice Award, which was voted on by media visiting the show.

Simon Benton, VP of Pokémon TCG Sales Europe, said: “2017 was another exceptional year for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. We are the number one Strategic Card Game in Europe, and the UK toy industry voted the Pokémon Trading Card Game the top Pocket Money Toy of the Year. The continued success is testament to the fantastic support of all our retailers and the Pokémon TCG's huge appeal, and with further expansions and promotions planned, we expect another strong performance in 2018.”

Peter Murphy, senior director of marketing at The Pokémon Company International, said: “Wicked Cool Toys’ first Pokémon master toy range has been fantastically well received by retailers and the media at the recent toy fairs in London and Nuremberg. The huge interest in the new toy line is hugely encouraging, and we expect sales to continue to rise when the range launches later this year.”

The global phenomenon of Pokémon was first launched in Japan in 1996 as a role-playing game for Nintendo’s Game Boy system and reached the United States and Europe in 1998–99. The first Pokémon games introduced the original 151 Pokémon. Today, the Pokémon universe includes more than 800 Pokémon that players can catch, trade, and battle against their opponents with in the quest to become a top Pokémon Trainer.

Pokémon has since grown into one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world. It is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time, with more than 300 million video games sold worldwide. In addition, 23.6 billion TCG cards have been shipped to 74 countries in 11 languages, and over 450,000 players take part in Pokémon events every year. There are also more than 900 episodes of the animated TV series, soon starting its 21st season.

According to the April 2017 Volume 20 Number 2 Issue of License! Global Top 150 Global Licensors, The Pokémon Company International is now the 19th most profitable retail licensor worldwide selling over $3.3 billion USD a year in licensed products worldwide. The 20th Anniversary campaign in 2016 certainly helped its sales as it greatly surpassed its $2 billion USD and 34th place in 2015. Pokémon GO and Pokémon Sun and Moon also helped the brand. To put this incredible achievement into perspective, The Pokémon Company International has now passed major companies such as: Ford, the NBA and Playboy for sales and is just behind the NFL and GM.

License! Global Top 150 Global Licensors Report - THE POKÉMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL

Pokémon enjoyed an incredibly strong year at retail in 2016, which marked the brand’s 20th anniversary. The milestone, which recognized the first introduction of Pokémon video games 20 years ago, catapulted the perennially popular brand into the global spotlight and kicked off with the first-ever Pokémon Super Bowl commercial. The company also introduced the mobile game “Pokémon Go,” which became a global phenomenon and was downloaded 650 million times.

Pokémon followed this success with “Pokémon Sun” and “Pokémon Moon” for the Nintendo 3DS, which became the third best-selling Nintendo 3DS titles of all time, adding to the 280 million Pokémon video games already sold. The Pokémon trading card game continues to be popular with 21.5 billion cards shipped globally as of 2016, and was the No. 1 selling toy in the strategic card games subclass. Pokémon animation aligned with Disney XD as its new U.S. broadcast partner.

The Pokémon animated TV series includes more than 900 episodes spanning 20 seasons and is licensed for broadcast in more than 160 countries, as well as on a variety of VOD platforms around the world. In 2017, the award-winning “Pokémon Go” mobile game will continue to receive ongoing updates with new characters, seasonal in-game events and ongoing support from promotional collaborations with Sprint and Starbucks in the U.S.

The latest TCG expansion, Pokémon TCG: Sun and Moon, launched in North America and Europe in February, the first of four expansions that will launch quarterly. The 20th season of the Pokémon animated series, titled “Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon,” will debut in 2017, as will the 20th animated Pokémon movie, and production will begin on Detective Pikachu, the first live-action Pokémon movie. Additionally, the Pokémon Company will continue to introduce new experiences for the brand across mobile and core gaming, animation, TCG, licensed products including toys, apparel and more.

Source: http://images2.advanstar.com/PixelMags/license-global/pdf/2017-04-top150.pdf (Page T14)