>>46586144pokemon seemed to be culturally and physically in decline prior to Pokemon GO revitalizing the company.
Games sales were steady but nothing like the early ones. Trading cards were once the lifeblood for the anime and had since gone well out of vogue.
Interest dropped off and revenue for anything non-game related got backburned. The subsequent rise of Naruto during that time probably had a lot to do with it if I had to make a wager. Yesterday's pkmn kids were today's edgy Naruto headband-wearing tween weeb.
