List of multimedia franchises originating in television series
Following is a list of multimedia franchises originating in television series, whether animated or live-action.
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 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 animated television series
Franchise (Creator) | Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adventure Time (Pendleton Ward) | yes | yes | no | no | Adventure Time (pilot 2007) Adventure Time (2010-2018) Adventure Time: Distant Lands (2020–2021) Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (2021-) | no | yes | board and card games album Toys |
The Amazing World of Gumball (Ben Bocquelet) | yes | yes | yes | no | The Amazing World of Gumball (2011–2019) Darwin's Yearbook (2019) The Gumball Chronicles (2020–2021) | no | yes | Toys Music Theme Park Ride |
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko) | yes | various | Aang: The Last Airbender (2026) | The Last Airbender (2010) | Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005) The Legend of Korra (2012) | Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024) | various | Trading Card Game Lego theme |
Beavis and Butt-Head (Mike Judge) | yes | Marvel Comics series (1994–1996) | Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996) Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe (2022) | no | Beavis and Butt-Head (1993–1997) First revival series (2010) Second revival series (2022) | no | MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head (1994) Various others | The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience (1993 album) |
Ben 10 (Cartoon Network) | no | yes | yes | yes | Ben 10 (2005–2008) Ben 10: Alien Force (2008–2010) Ben 10: Ultimate Alien (2010–2012) Ben 10: Omniverse (2012–2014) Ben 10 (Reboot) (2016–2021) | no | yes | Action figures Toys |
Blue's Clues (Traci Paige Johnson Todd Kessler Angela Santomero) | yes | no | Blue's Big Musical Movie (2000) | Blue's Big City Adventure (2022) | Blue's Clues (1996–2006) Blue's Clues & You! (2019–2024) | Blue's Room (2004–2007) | edutainment video games from Humongous Entertainment | several albums various toys live stage show |
Bob the Builder (Keith Chapman) | yes | no | various feature-length TV specials Bob the Builder (TBA) | no | Bob the Builder (1998–2004) :Project Build It (2005–2008) :Ready, Steady, Build (2010–2012) Bob the Builder (2015–2018) | no | yes | several children's songs including the series theme song various toys theme park attractions live stage show |
Dragon Tales (Ron Rodecker Jim Coane | Yes | The Dragon Tales Movie (TBA) | Dragon Tales (1999–2005) Dragon Land Tales (TBD) | Yes | Toys ,Albums, live shows, apparel | |||
Dora the Explorer (Chris Gifford Valerie Walsh Valdes Eric Weiner) | yes | no | no | Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) | Dora the Explorer (2000–2019) Go, Diego, Go! (2005–2012) Into the City (2014–2016) | no | multiple | toys, albums, theme park rides, live shows, apparel |
The Fairly OddParents (Butch Hartman) | no | no | yes | yes | The Fairly OddParents (2001–2017) The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish (2024) | The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder (2022–) | yes | toys |
The Flintstones (Hanna-Barbera) | yes | yes | The Man Called Flintstone (1966) The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown! (2015) several TV specials and movies | The Flintstones (1994) The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) | The Flintstones (1960–1966) several other animated series | no | yes | 2 theme parks live stage show |
George of the Jungle (Jay Ward and Bill Scott) | no | yes | no | George of the Jungle (1997) George of the Jungle 2 (2003) | George of the Jungle (1967) George of the Jungle (2007) | no | George of the Jungle and the Search for the Secret (2008) | no |
Gumby (Art Clokey) | no | Gumby comics Gumby: 50 Shades of Clay (2017) | Gumby: The Movie (1995) | no | Gumbasia (1953; short) Howdy Doody (1955–1956) The Gumby Show (1956–1969) Gumby Adventures (1988) | no | Gumby vs. the Astrobots (2005) | Gumby (1989 tribute album) |
Gundam (Yoshiyuki Tomino) | numerous | List of Gundam manga and novels | Over 6 depending on criteria | G-Saviour (2000) | Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–1982), and 15 additional series | no | List of Gundam video games | Hundreds of model kits, traditional merchandise and exotic specials including a car. |
Inspector Gadget (Bruno Bianchi Andy Heyward Jean Chalopin) | yes | yes | Inspector Gadget: Gadget's Greatest Gadgets (2000) Inspector Gadget's Last Case (2002) Inspector Gadget's Biggest Caper Ever (2005) | Inspector Gadget (film) (1999) Inspector Gadget 2 (2002) | Inspector Gadget (1983–1986) Gadget Boy (1995–1998) Gadget & the Gadgetinis (2002–2003) Inspector Gadget (2015–2018) | Inspector Gadget's Field Trip (1996-1998) | multiple | various toys, podcast series |
The Loud House (Chris Savino) | numerous | various graphic novels | The Loud House Movie (2021) The Casagrandes Movie (2024) | A Loud House Christmas (2021) | The Loud House (2016-) The Casagrandes (2019-) | The Really Loud House (2022-) | various | various toys |
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Hideaki Anno) | no | Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga) (1994–2013) | Five films | no | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995–1996) | no | several | Petit Eva: Evangelion@School dramas Music |
Rick and Morty (Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon) | no | yes | several short films | appearance in Space Jam: A New Legacy (unofficial) | Doc and Mharti shorts (2006) Rick and Morty (2013-) The Vindicators (2022) Rick and Morty: The Anime (TBA) | no | Pocket Mortys Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality | several Broadgames action figures |
Rugrats (Klasky Csupo) | several | comic strip | The Rugrats Movie (1998) Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000) Rugrats Go Wild (2003) several TV specials | no | Rugrats (1991–2004) All Grown Up! (2003–2008) Rugrats Pre-School Daze (2005) Rugrats (2021 TV series) (2021-) | no | yes | Rugrats: A Live Adventure several albums |
RWBY (Monty Oum) | no | yes | no | no | RWBY (2013-) | no | various | various stage shows |
Scooby-Doo (Hanna-Barbera) | yes | yes | Scoob! (2020); various others | Scooby-Doo (2002), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) | Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969–1970), 11 others | no | yes | merchandise |
The Simpsons (Matt Groening) | yes | List of The Simpsons comics | The Simpsons Movie (2007) | no | The Simpsons shorts from The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1989) The Simpsons (1989-) | no | yes | The Simpsons Ride |
South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone) | no | no | South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999) several Paramount+ TV movies | no | South Park (1997-) | no | yes | Live Stage merchandise album |
Space Battleship Yamato (Yoshinobu Nishizaki) | no | Cosmoship Yamato manga (1974–1975) Great Yamato manga (2000–2001) | Space Battleship Yamato (1977) and various sequels (1978–2002) | Space Battleship Yamato (2010) | Space Battleship Yamato (1974–1980) Star Blazers (1979–1984) Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2013) | no | Space Battleship Yamato (1999) and sequels | Toys Action figures pre-fabricated kits Music |
Space Ghost (Alex Toth, William Hanna, Joseph Barbera) | yes | yes | Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007) Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm (2022) | Space Ghost (1966–1967) Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994–2008) The Brak Show (2000–2003, 2007) Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000–2015, 2023-) several spin-offs | no | yes | Toys Action figures Music | |
SpongeBob SquarePants (Stephen Hillenburg) | yes | yes | The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020) Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024) Plankton: The Movie (2025) | live-action scenes in films | SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–) Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years (2021-) The Patrick Star Show (2021-) | several scenes | yes | Toys Action figures Music |
Steven Universe (Rebecca Sugar) | yes | yes | Steven Universe: The Movie (2019) | no | 'Steven Universe' (2013–2019) Steven Universe Future (2019–2020) | no | yes | Action figures soundtracks |
VeggieTales (Phil Vischer Mike Nawrocki) | yes | VeggieTales SuperComics | Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002) The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008) | no | VeggieTales (1993 video series) several more | no | several | several toys children's music and soundtracks |
Voltron (World Events Productions) | no | various | Voltron: Fleet of Doom (1986) | no | Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984–1985) Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998) Voltron Force (2010) | no | Voltron: Defender of the Universe (2011) | Toys Action figures |
Winx Club (Iginio Straffi) | yes[1] | yes[2] | Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom (2007) Winx Club 3D: Magical Adventure (2010) Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss (2014)[3] | no | Winx Club (2004–Present) PopPixie (2011) World of Winx (2016–2017)[4] | Fate: The Winx Saga (2021–Present) | various | Merchandise[5] Soundtracks[6] Winx on Ice (2008–2010) |
Yogi's Gang (William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, and Ed Benedict) | yes | yes | Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964) Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 | Yogi Bear (2010) | The Huckleberry Hound Show The Yogi Bear Show and many other series | no | many | Merchandise, Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken restaurant chain, Jellystone Park |
Franchises originating in live action television series
Franchise (Creator) | Literature | Comics | Animated films | Live action films | Animated TV series | Live action TV series | Video games | Other media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen) | yes[citation needed] | no | no | Ali G Indahouse (2002) Borat (2006) Brüno (2009) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) | no | Da Ali G Show' (2000–2004) (though the characters of Ali G and Borat debuted on The 11 O'Clock Show in 1998 and F2F in 1997 respectively) | no | soundtracks to mentioned feature films |
The Avengers (TV series) (Sydney Newman) | The Avengers (TV series)#Novels The Avengers (1998 film)#Novelisation | The Avengers (TV series)#Comics | no | The Avengers (1998 film) | no | The Avengers (TV series) (1961–1969) The New Avengers (TV series) (1976–1977) | no | The Avengers (TV series)#Radio series The Avengers (TV series)#Audio The Avengers (TV series)#Stage play |
Babylon 5 (J. Michael Straczynski) | various | various | no | no | no | Babylon 5 (102 episodes, 1994–1998) Crusade (1999) and six TV films (1998–2007) | no | |
Barney (Sheryl Leach Kathy O'Rourke-Parker) | yes | no | no | Barney's Great Adventure (1998) several specials Barney (TBA) | Barney's World (2024-) | Barney & the Backyard Gang (video series, 1988–1991) Barney & Friends (1992–2010) Barney Home Video series (1993–2017) | Barney's Hide & Seek Game (1993) | A Day in the Park with Barney several children's albums |
Battlestar Galactica (Glen A. Larson) | various | Battlestar Galactica (comics) | no | no | no | Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979) Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009) | yes | |
The Bill (Geoff McQueen) | The Bill#Novels (1984–1987) | no | no | no | no | The Bill (1983–2010) Burnside (TV series) (2000) Murder Investigation Team (TV series) (2003–2005) | no | The Bill#Music |
Blake's 7 Terry Nation | Blake's 7#Books and magazines Avon: A Terrible Aspect | no | no | no | no | Blake's 7 (1978–1981) | Blake's 7#Gaming | Blake's 7 (audio drama) |
The Brady Bunch (Sherwood Schwartz) | no | no | no | The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) A Very Brady Sequel (1996) The Brady Bunch in the White House (2002) | The Brady Kids (1972–1974) | The Brady Bunch (1969–1974) The Brady Brides (1981) | no | numerous albums A Very Brady Musical |
Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan) | no | yes | no | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) several short films | Slippin' Jimmy (2022) | Breaking Bad (2008-2013) Better Call Saul (2015-2022) several miniseries | Breaking Bad: Criminal Elements | podcasts |
Charlie's Angels (Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts) | no | yes (1979; 2019) | no | Charlie's Angels (2000) Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) Charlie's Angels (2019) | no | Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) Charlie's Angels (2011) | yes (2003; 2008; 2019) | Charlie's Angels: Animated Adventures (2003) |
Dad's Army (Jimmy Perry and David Croft) | Dad's Army books and memorabilia | yes[7] | no | Dad's Army (1971 film) Dad's Army (2016 film) | A Stripe for Frazer (2016) | Dad's Army (1968–1977) Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes (2019) | no | Dad's Army (stage show) List of Dad's Army radio episodes It Sticks Out Half a Mile (1983–1984) Dad's Army Museum |
Doctor Who[8] (Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, and Donald Wilson) | List of Doctor Who novelisations (1965–2012) various | List of Doctor Who comic stories | no | Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) | The Infinite Quest (2007) Dreamland (2009) | Doctor Who (26 seasons from 1963 to 1989, new series 2005–present); one TV film and several spin-offs | various | Website animated series Radio and audio serials Stage productions |
The Equalizer (Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim) | yes | no | no | The Equalizer (2014) The Equalizer 2 (2018) The Equalizer 3 (2023) | no | The Equalizer (1985–1989) The Equalizer (2021–) | - | |
Fraggle Rock (Jim Henson) | yes | yes | no | no | Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series (1987) The Doozers(2014–2018) | Fraggle Rock (1983–1987) Fraggle Rock: Rock On! (2020) Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (2022–) | yes | albums |
Gilligan's Island (Sherwood Schwartz) | no | no | no | Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978) The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (1979) The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981) | The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974–1975) Gilligan's Planet (1982–1983) | Gilligan's Island (1964–1967) | no | no |
Jackass (Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze) | no | no | no | Jackass: The Movie (2002) Jackass Number Two (2006) Jackass 3D (2010) Jackass Forever (2022) spin-off films and TV specials with two of them under the Jackass presents title | no | Jackass (2000–2002) Wildboyz (2006–2008) | Jackass: The Game | no |
Last of the Summer Wine (Roy Clarke) | Summer Wine Chronicles (1986) | Last of the Summer Wine (1983)[9] | no | Getting Sam Home (1983) Uncle of the Bride (1986) | no | Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010) First of the Summer Wine (1988–1989) | no | Stage adaptations, Audio (1995) |
Mission: Impossible (Bruce Geller) | yes | several | no | Mission: Impossible film series | no | Mission: Impossible (1966–1973, 1988–1990) | yes | - |
Monty Python | various | no | A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman | several | no | Monty Python's Flying Circus several TV specials | various | Record albums |
The Twilight Zone (Rod Serling) | Twilight Zone: 19 Original Stories on the 50th Anniversary (2009) | Comics | no | Twilight Zone: The Movie (1982) Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics (1994) | no | the original series and Reebots | The Twilight Zone (1988) Twilight Zone VR (2022) | radio drama and Stage Adaptations, Disney's Park based on series |
Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis) | various | no | no | Mr. Bean Takes an Exam (1991 short) Bean (1997) Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) | Mr. Bean: The Animated Series | Mr. Bean (1990–1995) Comic Relief sketches | no | Facebook videos TV commercial appearances |
The Muppets (Jim Henson) | no | The Muppet Show (comics) various | no | The Muppet Movie (1979), and seven additional films | Muppet Babies (1984–1991) Muppet Babies (2018–2020) | Sam and Friends (1955–1961) The Muppet Show (1976–1981) Muppets Tonight (1996–1998) Muppets Now (2020) | yes | Discography, live shows |
Only Fools and Horses (John Sullivan) | He Who Dares... (2015) You Know It Makes Sense, Lessons From The Derek Trotter School of Business (And Life) (2018) | no | no | no | no | Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003) The Green Green Grass (2005–2009) Rock & Chips (2010–2011) | no | Royal Variety Show (Only Fools and Horses) (1986) Comic Relief special (1997) Beckham in Peckham (2014) Only Fools and Horses The Musical (2019) Trotters Trading Game (1990) |
Power Rangers/Super Sentai (Haim Saban and Shuki Levy/Shotaro Ishinomori) | no | yes | no | various Sentai Films Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997) | no | Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (1975–1977) various Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993–1996) various | various | Power Rangers Collectible Card Game various stage shows |
The Prisoner (Patrick McGoohan) | The Prisoner#Books | The Prisoner#Comics | no | no | no | The Prisoner (1967–1968) The Prisoner (2009 miniseries) | The Prisoner#Games | The Prisoner#Audio dramas |
Quatermass (Nigel Kneale) | novelizations | no | no | The Quatermass Experiment ((1953) Quatermass II (1955) Quatermass and the Pit (1958–59) Quatermass (1979) The Quatermass Experiment (2005) | no | The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) Quatermass 2 (1957) Quatermass and the Pit (1967) The Quatermass Conclusion (1979) | no | The Quatermass Memoirs radio series (1996) Quatermass and the Pit theatrical production (1997) |
Red Dwarf (Rob Grant and Doug Naylor) | Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (1989) Better Than Life (1990) Last Human (1995) | Red Dwarf Magazine | no | Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020) | no | Red Dwarf (1988-) | Red Dwarf XII - The Game | Red Dwarf - The Role-playing game Dave Hollins: Space Cadet |
Saturday Night Live (Lorne Michaels) | yes | yes | no | several films based on characters from recurring sketches | no | Saturday Night Live (1975-) | yes | soundtracks |
Sesame Street (Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett) | various | Sesame Street (comic strip) | no | Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985) The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) Sesame Street (2025) | Mecha Builders (2022-) | Sesame Street (1969-) Play with Me Sesame (2002–2007) The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (2020-) various TV specials | various | toys, theme park, apparel, food products and other merchandise, live shows |
Star Trek[10] (Gene Roddenberry) | List of Star Trek novels | Star Trek (comics) | no | Thirteen feature films (beginning in 1979) | Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–74) Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020-) Star Trek: Prodigy (2021-) | Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–69) Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–99) Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001) Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–05) Star Trek: Discovery (2017–) Star Trek: Picard (2020-) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-) | numerous | - |
The Sweeney (Ian Kennedy Martin) | The Sweeney#Books | The Sweeney#Comics | no | Sweeney! (1977) Sweeney 2 (1978) The Sweeney (2012 film) | no | The Sweeney (1975–1978) | no | The Sweeney#Music |
The X-Files (Chris Carter) | The X-Files literature | The X-Files (comics) | no | The X-Files (1998) The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008) | no | The X-Files (1993–2002; 2016–2018) Millennium(1996–1999) The Lone Gunmen (2001) | yes | |
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (David Briggs, Mike Whitehall, Steven Knight) | multiple quiz books | no | no | Slumdog Millionaire (2008) | scrapped animated spinoff | Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? (1998-2014, 2018-present), alongside many international versions Millionaire Hot Seat (2009-2023) 50-50 (2008) Quiz (2020) | several | soundtrack release, board games, compilation tape, DVD game, Play It! |
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
- List of television series made into books
- List of international television show franchises
- Media mix
- Science fiction on television#Media fandom
References
- ^ Noble, Barnes &. "Online Bookstore: Books, NOOK ebooks, Music, Movies & Toys". Barnes & Noble.
- ^ "Winx Club Magazine (Volume) - Comic Vine". comicvine.com.
- ^ "Winx Club: The Mystery of the Abyss" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 25, 2014). "Netflix Orders 'Winx Club' Spinoff Series". Deadline.
- ^ "Winx Club Dolls Mattel - eBay". eBay.
- ^ "Winx Club CD: CDS | eBay". Archived from the original on 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ^ ISBN 9780330237598 – Piccolo/Pan, London–1973.
- ^ Miles Booy, Love and Monsters: The Doctor Who Experience, 1979 to the Present (2012), p. 155, ISBN 184885479X: "If treating the programme as a multimedia franchise – and at this point it becomes hard to think of it as anything else – is a good thing, then this was the point where the BBC began to connect the dots".
- ^ Clarke, Roy; Roger Mahoney (December 1983). Last of the Summer Wine. Express Books. ISBN 0-85079-136-7.
- ^ Mark Clark, Star Trek FAQ: Everything Left to Know about the First Voyages of the Starship Enterprise (2012), p. 1, ISBN 1557839638: "Star Trek, which once struggled to survive from one season to the next, has become immortal—and, beyond that, inescapable. The series, and the multimedia franchise that grew from it, is now woven inextricably into the fabric of America and the world".
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