Wondering why Nintendo are still releasing Pokémon films? Well, wonder no more...

Variety is reporting that the Pokémon film series (which totals eleven films to date) has collectively broken the �50 billion ($455 million) mark at the Japanese box office alone, and is now the highest-earning Japanese animated series ever.

The Pokémon franchise seems to have no sign of slowing in the land of the rising sun - where the films (now consigned directly to DVD in Western markets) still open to huge profit. The latest "Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin," has earned $32 million since its release on July 19th.

In the past, money from the ludicrously lucrative Pokémon franchise has been put into the "P Fund", a massive pot of money to be used to fund other, less famous games in development.