Im writing a proposal to create a cartoon. I need the following stats
How much$ cartoons generated in 2005, 2004,2003,2002,2001
TheTop ten Cartoons in 2005 rated 1 though 5
How successful are educational cartoons?
What the most successful cartoon of all time was

<Animation market.

Summary
2001 ?  $31.5 billion
2002 ?  $45 billion
2003 -  $50 billion
2004 - $50 billion
2005 ? $51.7 billion (estimated)
2007 - $70 billion (estimated)

References:
2001 ?  $31.5 billion
2002 ?  $45 billion
2005 (estimated) ? 51.7 billion.
The figures are also split in demand from entertainment sector and
demand for non-entertainment sector (see graph. Key forecasts for
animation.) (Source: Can animation etch India?s Image? Express
Computer.)
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20030519/focus1.shtml

The animation market was worth about $50 billion in 2003 and is
predicted to be worth $70 billion by 2007. (Source: Toon to Tango. 14
December 2003. Offshore-Developpement.com)
http://www.offshore-developpement.com/article.php3?id_article=83

2004 - $50 billion. (Source: RP animation industry to earn $40 million
in 2004. By Erwin Lemuel G. Oliva. October 11, 2003. inQ7.net.)
http://www.inq7.net/inf/2003/oct/12/inf_1-1.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Top ten 
In 2005, The Simpsons was voted the greatest cartoon ever.
The top ten was as follows:
1. The Simpsons
2. Tom and Jerry
3. South Park
4. Toy Story/Toy Story 2
5. Family Guy
6. Shrek/Shrek 2
7. The Lion King
8. Spirited Away
9. The Incredibles
10. Bugs Bunny (ANI)
http://www.keralanext.com/news/readnext,1.asp?id=131967&pg=2


MovieWeb lists the top 100 grossing films.
Shrek 2 is the top grossing cartoon with a lifetime gross of
$436,721,703. Figures were last updated on 8th March 2005.
The top 10 grossing cartoons are  as follows:
1. Shrek 2
2. Spider-Man
3. Spider-Man 2
4. Finding Nemo
5. The Lion King
6. Shrek
7. The Incredibles
8. Monsters Inc
9. Toy Story 2
10. Aladdin
http://movieweb.com/movies/box_office/alltime.php

-------------------------------------------------
Success of educational cartoons

BrainPOP is the leading producer of animated educational movies for
the preteen demographic. More than 2 million kids watch BrainPOP
movies every month. (Source: BrainPOP.)
http://new.brainpop.com/general/aboutus.weml

This article gives details of a number of studies that show watching
educational videos enhances learning. (Source: Gently Down the Stream.
03/08/2005. By Neal Starkman.)
http://www.thejournal.com/thefocus/featureprintversion.cfm?newsid=42>


<Additional links:>

<Children?s Television Programming: The FCC Gives Teeth to the
Children?s Television Act of 1990.>
<http://www.benton.org/publibrary/policy/TV/kidstv-sum.html>


<Search strategy;>

<"animation market" billion "in 2002">
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2004-31%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=%22animation+market%22+billion+%22in+2002%22>

<"animation market" 2004 billion>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22animation+market%22+2004+billion>

<"top ten cartoons">
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22top+ten+cartoons%22>

<"animated educational" million>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2004-31%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=%22animated+educational%22+million>


<Hope this helps.>

I thought the research was great, yet there could have been more, and
a nice touch would have been to give some case specific info that
spoke to my intentions as a screenwriter, cartoon creator. Execellent
job none the less.