List of multimedia franchises originating in print
Following is a
To qualify for purposes of this list, the original media must have originated from the work of an identifiable author or set of co-authors, and must have been adapted into works in at least three forms of media, and must have two or more separate works in at least two of those forms of media (a television series or comic book series is considered a single work for purposes of this list; multiple spin-off series or remakes of a previously ended series are considered multiple works). For example, a novel that spawned one film and one television series would not qualify; a series of novels made into a television series that had a spin-off series, or was remade as a new series, and which also spawned one film, does qualify.
In the following tables, the initial media through which the franchise characters or settings became known is shown in boldface. Only works of fiction are only considered part of the series; a book or a documentary film about the franchise is not itself an installment in the franchise.
Franchises originating in literary works
These franchises began as novels, short stories, and other forms of purely literary works.
Franchises originating in comics and printed cartoons
Franchise (Creator) |
Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frank Miller ) |
no | 300 (1998) Xerxes (2018) |
300 (2007) 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) |
no | no | no | 300: March to Glory (2007) | - |
The Addams Family (Charles Addams) |
several | cartoons in The New Yorker (1938–1988) |
The Addams Family (2019) The Addams Family 2 (2021) |
The Addams Family (1991) Addams Family Values (1993) |
The Addams Family: The Animated Series (1992–1993) |
The Addams Family (1964–1966) The New Addams Family (1998–1999) Wednesday) (2022) |
The Addams Family (video game series) | The Addams Family, a Broadway musical, toys, dolls, board games |
Alien vs. Predator[4] (see Aliens and Predator sections below) |
Aliens vs. Predator novel series |
Aliens vs. Predator comics (beginning 1989) |
no | Alien vs. Predator (2004) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) |
no | no | various |
- |
Archie Comics (John L. Goldwater) |
no | Archie Comics, various series, beginning in 1941 | The Archies in Jugman (TV Movie) | Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (TV movie) | The Archie Show (1968–1969) Archie's Weird Mysteries (1999–2000) and many others |
Riverdale (2017), Katy Keene (2020) |
no | Radio show |
Ashita no Joe
( |
no | Ashita no Joe (1968–1973) | Ashita no Joe (1980)
Ashita no Joe 2 (1981) |
Ashita no Joe (1970)
Ashita no Joe (2011) |
Megalo Box 2: Nomad (2021–)
|
no | yes | Joe vs. Joe (2003) |
Asterix (René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo) |
no | Asterix the Gaul (serialized in Pilote 1959–1960, collected volume published in 1961) 37 more volumes |
List of Asterix films | Asterix films (live action) | no | no | yes | Parc Astérix theme park board games and gamebooks |
Attack on Titan (Hajime Isayama) |
yes | Attack on Titan (2009–present) | yes | yes | Attack on Titan (2013–present) | no | yes | Theme park Action Figures and Toys |
Bleach (Tite Kubo) |
2 light novels | List of Bleach volumes | Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006) Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007) Bleach: Fade to Black (2008) Bleach: Hell Verse (2010) |
Bleach | Bleach (2004–2012) | no | several | musicals Bleach Trading Card Game |
Cardcaptor Sakura (CLAMP) |
no | Cardcaptor Sakura (1996-2000) Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2016-2024) |
Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie (1999) Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (2000) |
no | Cardcaptor Sakura (1998-2000) Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2018) |
no | several | Several audio dramas and character song singles |
DC Universe[5] (DC Comics) (includes Superman,[6] Batman, and many others) |
yes | DC Comics | yes | numerous others |
yes | yes | yes | Sandman, Hellblazer , etc.) Imprint of DC. Has connections to the universe sometimes.
|
Death Note (Tsugumi Ohba) |
several light novels | Death Note (2003–2006) | no | Death Note (2006); several others | yes | yes | several | - |
Dennis the Menace(Hank Ketcham) | no | Dennis the Menace (1953–present) | Dennis the Menace in Mayday for Mother (1981) Dennis the Menace in Cruise Control (2002 TV film) |
Dennis the Menace: Dinosaur Hunter (1987 TV film) (1998)Dennis the Menace (1993) Dennis the Menace Strikes Again A Dennis the Menace Christmas (2007) |
Dennis the Menace (1986–1988) The All-New Dennis the Menace (1993) |
Dennis the Menace (1959–1963) | Dennis the Menace (1993) | - |
Detective Conan )(Gosho Aoyama |
no | volumes | 27 films | no | seasons 1-15 seasons 16-30 |
yes | yes | Trade cards |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney) |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007) several sequels spin-off series |
Diary of a Wimpy Kid webcomic (2004–2005) | yes | Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) |
no | no | Poptropica tie-ins | Toys Action figures |
Doraemon (Fujiko Fujio) |
no | Dorabase |
several | no | Doremon (2005–present) |
no | various | musical |
Dragon Ball (Akira Toriyama) |
yes | List of Dragon Ball manga volumes | yes | Dragonball Evolution (2009); several others | Dragon Ball (1986−1989) (2018–present)Dragon Ball Z (1989−1996) Dragon Ball GT (1996−1997) Dragon Ball Super (2015−2018) Dragon Ball Heroes |
no | List of Dragon Ball video games | Toys Action figures Collectible Card Game |
Dyesebel (Mars Ravelo) |
no | Serialized in Pilipino Komiks (1952–53) | no | several (1953, 1964, 1973, 1978, 1990, and 1996) | no | Dyesebel (2008) Dyesebel (2014) |
no | |
Fullmetal Alchemist (Hiromu Arakawa) |
yes | List of Fullmetal Alchemist chapters | Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (2012) Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2017) |
Fullmetal Alchemist (film) | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Fullmetal Alchemist (TV series) (2003−2004) | no | yes | - |
Garfield (Jim Davis) |
no | Garfield (comic strip) (syndicated in 1978) |
The Garfield Movie (2024) | Garfield: The Movie (2004) Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006) |
Garfield and Friends (1988–1994) The Garfield Show (2009–2016) | no | yes | - |
Ghost in the Shell (Masamune Shirow) |
no | Ghost in the Shell (1989–1990) | Ghost in the Shell (1995) Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004) |
Ghost in the Shell (2017) | Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002–2003) | no | Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (PS2) (2004) |
original video animation |
Hellboy (Mike Mignola) |
various | List of Hellboy comics (1993−present) | Hellboy: Sword of Storms (2006) Hellboy: Blood and Iron (2007) |
Hellboy (2004) Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) Hellboy (2019) |
no | no | various | - |
Initial D | no | List of Initial D chapters (1995−2013) | Initial D Third Stage (2001) | Initial D (2005) | List of Initial D episodes | no | Several including Initial D Arcade Stage series
|
toys
model kits |
Josie and the Pussycats | no | yes | no | Josie and the Pussycats (film) | Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space |
no | no | |
Judge Dredd (John Wagner) |
29 Novels | List of Judge Dredd Comic Stories (1977−present) | no | Judge Dredd (film) (1995) Dredd (2012) |
no | no | various | - |
Lucky Luke (Morris) |
no | Lucky Luke comics (1946–present) Rantanplan (1987–2011) Kid Lucky (1995–1997, 2011–present) |
Daisy Town (1971) (2017)La Ballade des Dalton (1978) Les Dalton en cavale (1983) Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure |
Lucky Luke (1991) Les Dalton (2004) Lucky Luke (2009) |
(2001–2003) Rintindumb (2006) |
The Daltons (2010) |
several | |
Lupin the Third (Monkey Punch) |
No | List of Lupin III Manga (1977−present) | ) | Lupin III (film) (2008) (2019)Dredd |
Lupin III Anime Series | Lupin (Philippine TV series) | List of Lupin III video games |
Two stage Musicals, Music Soundtrack. Board game |
Marsupilami (André Franquin) |
several Bibliothèque Rose books | Marsupilami comic albums (1987–present) Comics in Disney Adventures magazine (1993–1994) |
no | HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012) |
Raw Toonage shorts (1992) Marsupilami (1993) Marsupilami (2000-) |
no | Marsupilami (1995) Marsupilami: Hoobadventure (2021) |
|
, and many others) | yes | Marvel Comics | yes | various See also Marvel Cinematic Universe |
numerous others |
several others |
numerous others |
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Broadway musical) |
The Mask (Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi) |
no | The Mask (1991–1995) The Mask Returns The Mask Strikes Back |
no | The Mask (1994) Son of the Mask (2005) |
The Mask: Animated Series (1995–1997) | no | no | no |
Men in Black (Lowell Cunningham) |
no | The Men in Black (comics) | no | Men in Black (film series) | Men in Black: The Series | no | several | Men In Black: The Roleplaying Game
|
Miffy (Dick Bruna) |
no | Miffy, Miffy at the Zoo (1955) | Miffy the Movie (2013) | no | Miffy's Adventures Big and Small (2015), Miffy and Friends (2003) | no | no | Miffy's Bicycle (2017) play[8] |
Kohei Horikoshi ) |
yes | List of My Hero Academia manga volumes | My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018) | no | My Hero Academia (2016–present) | no | yes | original video animations Toys Action figures |
) | several | List of Naruto manga volumes |
yes | no | Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017–present) |
no | several | Original video animations Trading card game |
One Piece (Eiichiro Oda) |
several | List of One Piece manga volumes (1997–present) | 12 films | no | One Piece (1999–present) |
One Piece (2023) | several | music
Trading card game |
Peanuts (Charles M. Schulz) |
several | Peanuts (1950–2000); numerous compilation books; comic books by Gold Key and KaBoom!; graphic novels by KaBoom! | A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) Snoopy Come Home (1972) Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown (1977) Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) (1980) The Peanuts Movie (2015) |
no | several TV specials from 1965 to 2011, starting with A Charlie Brown Christmas The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show (1983–1986) This Is America, Charlie Brown (1988–1989) Peanuts (2014) Snoopy in Space (2019–present) The Snoopy Show (2021–present) |
It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (TV special) | several |
musicals
|
Elzie Crisler Segar ) |
no | Thimble Theatre comic strips; various |
yes |
Popeye (1980) | numerous | no | yes | - |
Ranma ½ (Rumiko Takahashi) |
no | Ranma ½ (1987–1996) | Three films | TV special (2011) | yes | no | List of Ranma ½ video games | original video animations |
Sabrina the Teenage Witch | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
Sailor Moon (Naoko Takeuchi) |
no | List of Sailor Moon chapters (1993–1997) | Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie (1995) |
no | Sailor Moon (1992–1996) Sailor Moon Crystal (2014–2016) |
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003–2004) |
several | musicals |
Saint Seiya (Masami Kurumada) |
yes | List of Saint Seiya chapters (series) several others |
Five films | no | Saint Seiya (1986−1989) Saint Seiya Omega (2012−2014) |
no | several | Original video animations musicals discography merchandise |
Sam & Max (Steve Purcell) |
Sam & Max: Freelance Police (1987) several others |
no | no | The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police | no | Sam & Max: Save the World (2007)Sam & Max#Video games|several others]] |
soundtracks | |
Sgt. Frog (Mine Yoshizaki) |
several guide books | List of Sgt. Frog chapters (1999–present) various tie-ins and spinoffs |
Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie (2006); four other films | no | Sgt. Frog/Sergeant Keroro (2004–2011) Keroro (2014) |
no | several | music CDs Keroro Land magazine Kerokero Ace magazine |
The Smurfs (Peyo) |
yes | Johan and Peewit The Smurfs (comics) |
Les Aventures des Schtroumpfs (1965) The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1976) Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017) |
The Smurfs (2011) The Smurfs 2 (2013) |
The Smurfs (1981–89) | no | yes | yes |
Spawn (Todd McFarlane) |
no | Spawn (1992–present) (1998–1999) various spin-offs, one-shots, crossovers, mini series, and ongoing seriesShadows of Spawn |
no | Spawn (1997) | Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997–1999) | no | several |
The Dark Saga (1996) |
Spirou/Spirou & Fantasio (Rob-Vel) |
yes | Comics in Spirou & Fantasio albums (1948–present) (1990–present) (spin-off)Le Petit Spirou |
no | Les aventures de Spirou et Fantasio (2018) Le Petit Spirou (2017) (spin-off adaption) |
Spirou (1993–1994) Two of a Kind: Spirou and Fantasio (2006–2009) Spirou and co (series of animated shorts) Le Petit Spirou (2012–present) (spin-off adaption) |
no | Spirou (1995) Spirou: The Robot Invasion (2000) |
Parc Spirou theme park audio plays |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird) |
no | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1984–2009) various |
yes | yes | yes | Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997–1998) | yes | merchandise cereal apparel |
Tintin (Hergé) |
no | cartoons in Le Vingtième Siècle (1929–1939) The Adventures of Tintin series |
five animated films | Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece (1961) (1964)Tintin and the Blue Oranges |
Hergé's Adventures of Tintin The Adventures of Tintin |
no | yes | radio shows musical stage play |
Turok (Rex Maxon) |
4 novels | Turok: Son of Stone (1956–1982; 2010–2011) Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (1993–1996; 2014-) Turok (1998) |
yes | no | no | no | Turok (series) | - |
The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore) |
3 novels | The Walking Dead (2003–present) | yes | no | no | The Walking Dead TV series (2010–present) | The Walking Dead (2012) The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (2013) |
- |
Wangan Midnight (Michiharu Kusunoki) |
no | Wangan Midnight (1990–2008)
Wangan Midnight: C1 Runner (2009–2012) Ginkai no Speed Star (2014–2015) Shutoko SPL - Ginkai no Speedster (2016–present) |
no | 12 direct-to-video movies (1991–2001)
Wangan Midnight The Movie (2009)
|
Wangan Midnight (2007–2008) | no | Wangan Midnight (2001)
Wangan Midnight R (2001) Wangan Midnight (2007)
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune series ] (2004–present)
|
toys
model kits |
Kazuki Takahashi ) |
yes | Yu-Gi-Oh! (1996–2004) Yu-Gi-Oh! R (2004–2008) several |
Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016) |
no | Yu-Gi-Oh! (1998) Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000–2004) Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (2004–2008) several |
no | several | Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game |
Yu Yu Hakusho )(Yoshihiro Togashi |
no | List of Yu Yu Hakusho chapters (1990–1994) |
Yu Yu Hakusho - Chapter of Underworld's Carnage - Bonds of Fire (1994) |
no | Yu Yu Hakusho (1992–1995) |
no | several | various merchandise
|
See also
- List of fictional shared universes in film and television – many multimedia franchises are based in fictional universes
- List of public domain works with multimedia adaptations
- List of highest-grossing media franchises
- Media mix
References
- ^ ISBN 0765629496:
In one of the most celebrated ventures in media convergence, Larry and Andy Wachowski, creators of The Matrix trilogy, produced the game Enter the Matrix (2003) simultaneously with the last two films of the trilogy, shooting scenes for the game on the movie's sets with the movie s actors, and releasing the game on the same day as The Matrix: Reloaded. Likewise, on September 21, 2004, Lucasfilm jointly released a new DVD box set of the original Star Wars trilogy with Star Wars: Battlefront, a combat game in which players can reenact battles from all six Star Wars films. In 2005, Peter Jackson likewise produced his blockbuster film King Kong (2005) in tandem with a successful King Kong game designed by Michael Ancel and published by Ubisoft. In the last several years, numerous licensed videogame adaptations of major summer and holiday blockbusters were released a few days before or a few days after their respective films, including: all three Star Wars films (1999–2005); all five Harry Potter films (2001–2008); all three Spider-Man films (2002–2007); Hulk (2002); The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005); Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006); Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007); and Transformers (2007). These multimedia franchises have made it more difficult to distinguish the production of films and videogames as separate enterprises.
- ISBN 1410946266: "The Harry Potter series was another huge multimedia franchise that triumphed at the box office".
- ISBN 0300182430: "It was the films, beginning with Dr No in 1962, which made Bond into a multimedia franchise which continues to turn over more money per annum than any other literary creation of the twentieth century, with the possible exception of the Harry Potter films".
- ^ Note: Alien vs. Predator is a crossover franchise established from the existing Alien and Predator franchises
- ^ "Media crossovers have us asking, 'who's ripping off who?'", Edmonton Journal (July 14, 2000), p. E3: "Marvel Comics is already reaping an "X-cellent" multimedia bounty on the backs of the special effects-laden feature..."
- ISBN 160473809X: "[W]hen considering Superman as a multimedia franchise, and critical interpretations of him, it would seem that development and variety have been central to his longevity".
- ^ Gilbert A. Blouchard, "Mining comic books for movie gold is old hat", Edmonton Journal (July 14, 2000), p. E3: "Marvel Comics is already reaping an "X-cellent" multimedia bounty on the backs of the special effects-laden feature..."
- ^ "Miffy".