Weekly Shonen Jump Author Kazumata Oguri Reveals How Much He Earned from the 1998 Anime Series
Weekly Shonen Jump's popular gag manga from the 90s, Hanasaka Tenshi Tenten-kun's creator Kazumata Oguri, has revealed the financial details that have been curious in the anime world. Oguri announced that for the 43-episode anime series that started airing in 1998, he received approximately 200,000 yen (about $1,300) per episode as an 'original work fee.' The author surprised fans by stating that the total income from the broadcast rights over a full year was equivalent to the price of a new domestic car sold in Japan at the time.
However, Oguri's statements show that the real profit came not from anime broadcast rights, but from increased manga sales due to the popularity generated by the anime. The famous mangaka stated that during the 1998-1999 period when the anime was airing, sales skyrocketed as his manga was prominently displayed in bookstores, and in his best year he earned about 100 million yen. This once again proved the often-repeated view in the anime industry that 'anime are essentially massive advertisements that boost manga sales.'
Produced by Nippon Animation and aired on Fuji TV, Hanasaka Tenshi Tenten-kun followed the adventures of Tenten, a clumsy angel, and his friend Hideyuki. Oguri also recounted that on his editor's advice, he converted his home into an office to save on taxes and moved to a larger apartment. He also emphasized that royalties from merchandise such as toys, clothing, and plush figures ranged only from 1% to 5%, so making a fortune from this area was only possible if the series became a massive hit.
These candid statements offer a rare financial perspective, especially regarding the 'Golden Age' Weekly Shonen Jump period of the 1990s. For fans, this information is very important to understand how a mangaka's success is directly linked not just to on-screen popularity but also to the sales of printed works. Oguri's story once again reveals the economic balances behind the shiny facade of the anime world and the true position of a creator in the industry.
