1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s

2020s

Year	IPs	Milestones
2025	—	—
2024	—	AI tools widely adopted in production — Confirmed use by Netflix, studios, game companies.
2023	—	The Super Mario Bros. Movie released — Highest-grossing video game film to date.
2022	—	Genshin Impact becomes a global IP — Multi-billion-dollar annual revenue.
2021	—	—
2020	—	Global pandemic boosts digital entertainment — Streaming & gaming industries surge worldwide. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train released — Highest-grossing film in Japan’s history.

2010s

Year	IPs	Milestones
2019	—	Avengers: Endgame released — One of the highest-grossing films in history.
2018	—	—
2017	—	The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Redefines open-world game design.
2016	Your Name	Pokémon GO released — AR mass-market breakthrough.
2015	—	—
2014	—	—
2013	—	Frozen released — Highest-grossing animated film at the time.
2012	—	Disney acquires Lucasfilm (Star Wars) — $4.05 billion.
2011	—	—
2010	—	League of Legends global expansion — Esports becomes mainstream entertainment.

2000s

Year	IPs	Milestones
2009	—	—
2008	Marvel Cinematic Universe	Iron Man released & MCU begins — Most successful film universe franchise model.
2007	—	iPhone announced — Mobile gaming revolution starts.
2006	—	Twitter and modern SNS era begins — Fandom communication accelerates.
2005	—	—
2004	—	—
2003	—	—
2002	—	Naruto anime premieres — Global shonen anime boom.
2001	—	Microsoft launches Xbox — Establishes modern three-company console era.
2000	—	—

1990s

Year	IPs	Milestones
1999	Naruto	—
1998	—	—
1997	Harry PotterOne Piece	Final Fantasy VII released — Brings Japanese RPGs to global mainstream. One Piece manga begins — Eiichiro Oda.
1996	Pokémon	Pokémon Red & Green released — Highest-grossing IP in history.
1995	—	—
1994	—	PlayStation launched (Japan) — Sony’s first console.
1993	—	Jurassic Park released — Landmark CGI special-effects breakthrough.
1992	—	—
1991	—	Street Fighter II released — Capcom — Defines fighting game genre.
1990	—	—

1980s

Year	IPs	Milestones
1989	—	—
1988	—	—
1987	—	—
1986	—	—
1985	Super Mario	Super Mario Bros. released — Nintendo Famicom/NES — Best-selling franchise foundation. Studio Ghibli established — Hayao Miyazaki & Isao Takahata.
1984	Dragon Ball	Dragon Ball manga begins — Akira Toriyama.
1983	—	—
1982	—	—
1981	—	Donkey Kong released — First appearance of “Jumpman” (later Mario).
1980	—	Pac-Man released — Namco — Global pop culture icon.

1970s

Year	IPs	Milestones
1979	—	—
1978	—	Space Invaders released — Taito — Triggers global arcade boom.
1977	—	Atari 2600 launched — Home video game market begins.
1976	—	—
1975	—	—
1974	—	—
1973	—	—
1972	—	Atari releases Pong — First commercially successful arcade video game.
1971	—	—
1970	—	—

1960s

Year	IPs	Milestones
1969	—	Scooby-Doo debuts — Hanna-Barbera.
1968	—	—
1967	—	—
1966	—	—
1965	—	—
1964	—	Marvel’s Silver Age heroes established — Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers become mainstream.
1963	—	Astro Boy TV anime premieres — First Japanese TV animation with weekly broadcast.
1962	—	—
1961	—	—
1960	—	—

1950s

Year	IPs	Milestones
1959	—	—
1958	—	“Tennis for Two” created — William Higinbotham — One of the earliest electronic games.
1957	—	—
1956	—	—
1955	—	Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California — First modern character-based theme park.
1954	—	—
1953	—	—
1952	—	Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) manga begins — Osamu Tezuka — Foundation of modern Japanese manga.
1951	—	—
1950	—	—