Danny Choo's recent post on the relative popularity of Gundam versus Star Wars as measured by Google Trends got me thinking. (For those who missed it: Gundam wins handily in Japan, while making a lower yet remarkably strong showing in America.)
But what do the numbers REALLY mean? I decided to put a few other comparisons to the test before jumping to any conclusions. Take a gander and judge for yourselves.
The analysis: You saw this one coming, right? Sex is a bigger trend than Star Wars. I have to admit I was a little worried there for a minute.
CHARLES MANSON versus DEVILMAN
The analysis: Charles Manson defeats Devilman. What to make of this one? (Intriguingly, Manson defeats George Lucas as well, albeit by a slightly narrower margin.)
The analysis: Godzilla wins. As it should be.
The analysis: GODZILLA WINS AGAIN (which, come to think of it, sounds suspiciously like a Godzilla movie title.)
POKEMON versus DUKES OF HAZZARD
The analysis: Is the fact that the Pokemon are apparently more appealing than Bo and Luke Duke a good thing or a bad thing?
PIKACHU versus HILLARY CLINTON
The analysis: Surprisingly close. Hillary got a big boost this year, but once Pikachu throws his hat into the presidential race, they'll be neck and neck again.
And in closing, I leave you with this tantalizing bit of information.
The analysis: OTAKU WIN. By a landslide. What's the world coming to?
Interesting...
Let's test some popular transfan theories with this:
Is Optimus Prime representative of Transformers? Apparently not.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22optimus+prime%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Nor is Megatron:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22megatron%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Posted by: thomas | March 19, 2007 at 10:39 PM
(stupid spam filter thinks I'm spamming you...)
Apparently Evangelion was once as popular as Transformers:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2Cevangelion&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Sailor Moon, too:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22sailor+moon%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
This one is a shocker:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22care+bears%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Posted by: thomas | March 19, 2007 at 10:40 PM
After the previous result, this one shouldn't be:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22my+little+pony%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
But Barbie 0WNz them all:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2C%22barbie%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
As does LEGO, but to a lesser extend than Barbie:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=transformers%2Clego&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Posted by: thomas | March 19, 2007 at 10:41 PM
(Apologies for the split up message. Damn that spam filter :( )
So this should be enough to reduce to shambles the theory that Transformers are one of the hottest selling toy properties on the world...
Oh, BTW, Barbie vs. Pokemon:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=barbie%2Cpokemon&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all
Looks like a though fight...
Posted by: thomas | March 19, 2007 at 10:43 PM
(whoosh)
Posted by: Roger | March 20, 2007 at 02:50 AM