Were the rating so bad for Birdy the Mighty: Decode ...

[Garrett Jax]

That there's no hope of getting a third season?

I just recently watched the series and was looking forward to seeing more of it but, alas, I read elsewhere that there are no plans for another season.

[Draneor]

That there's no hope of getting a third season?

It averaged 977 units in Japan, with no data for three weeks. So I doubt it. Perhaps if it sold really well here and FUNi decided to pay for it.

[Fencedude]

For shows like Birdy, ratings are meaningless. Late night Otaku shows pay the stations for the timeslots to air the shows. What is important is disc sales, and to an extent, other merchandise.

I honestly do not know off the top of my head the sales for Birdy, though I believe they were on the low side of mediocre, but I wasn't paying a huge amount of attention at the time.

I would say that the chances of a third season are quite slim, but then again, who would have expected them to make a Birdy TV series after all this time?

[Fencedude]

That there's no hope of getting a third season?

It averaged 977 units in Japan, with no data for three weeks. So I doubt it.

Ouch, I was being generous. Thats the low side of absolutely atrocious.

[DeadlyMessiah]

What does 977 units even mean? Sorry, I don't get the whole ratings business when they only cover a small percentage of people, and do not take recordings into consideration.

Anyway, how many episodes is Birdy?

[HitokiriShadow]

What does 977 units even mean?

Units (discs) sold. Those are sales numbers, not ratings numbers.

[Jimmie M]

Anyway, how many episodes is Birdy?

25 total episodes (13-Season 1 & 12-Season 2).

[Draneor]

Sorry, I don't get the whole ratings business when they only cover a small percentage of people, and do not take recordings into consideration.

If only statisticians would have thought of a way to sample the population without getting data from every member... And I'm sure recordings have never, ever crossed their mind.

[MelancholicMariya]

I think those low sales and ratings may explain the random fan service in 02.

It's a shame because I was watching Birdy last night and it's really amazing.

[LordGeo]

So I doubt it. Perhaps if it sold really well here and FUNi decided to pay for it.

And even that is unlikely, as FUNi has already said that any co-productions they do would be based more on non-Japanese titles than mangas. Birdy would have to be an asolutely amazing seller over here to make FUNi want more of it.

[Garrett Jax]

A shame. I truly enjoyed this series.

I think those low sales and ratings may explain the random fan service in 02.

It's a shame because I was watching Birdy last night and it's really amazing.

I felt the same way. It's one of the few series that (for me at least) bring the elements of drama, comedy, sci-fi, and romance together in an enjoyable equality that just made everything sort of ... click. I think the only other anime that did that for me was Full Metal Panic. Now there's an anime that needs to be continued as well!

Oh well ... on to something new I suppose.

Thanks for the info, guys.

[ZenErik]

I loved Decode. Was not expecting to, but it was really great. Except the animation in the last episode of season 2... And a few other times. :P

[Shiroi Hane]

And even that is unlikely, as FUNi has already said that any co-productions they do would be based more on non-Japanese titles than mangas. Birdy would have to be an asolutely amazing seller over here to make FUNi want more of it.
They did campaign for more Fruits Basket - but that was a while back, for a pretty popular title, and we don't know if there was any actual money backing it.

[ndm]

What does 977 units even mean?

Units (discs) sold. Those are sales numbers, not ratings numbers.

And for reference, the break even point seems to be around 3000 sales. Series that sell 5000 units were profitable, ones that sell 10000 are successes, ones that sell 20-30000 are major successes (and likely to get more seasons!) and ones that sell over 50000 are rare and did brilliantly.

[something]

And for reference, the break even point seems to be around 3000 sales. Series that sell 5000 units were profitable, ones that sell 10000 are successes, ones that sell 20-30000 are major successes (and likely to get more seasons!) and ones that sell over 50000 are rare and did brilliantly.
Yep, pretty much. Although each category after the first could probably be lowered a bit. Even 5k is solid sequel territory for a lot of properties, if the title wasn't excessively expensive to make. Once you hit 7-8k I almost expect a sequel. I know once I saw ~8k units for Ikamusume, I started thinking more was quite likely. Dependent on source material and interest from the creators in making more of course.

10k I'd put as a major success, 20-30k as a runaway, top tier success (only a couple shows per year reach 20k) and 50k is... well, only 4 shows since 2000 have achieved that level, and only 5 more have passed 40k, plus 4 more over 30k. So yes, very rare. And of those 13 (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1887055&postcount=111), 4 are sequels of shows also in the 13 (SEED/D, K-ON!/!!, Geass/R2, Gundam00/S2) so we're down to 9 unique shows. Definitely a level reserved not just for successes, but for real phenomena.

[ndm]

Yep, pretty much. Although each category after the first could probably be lowered a bit. Even 5k is solid sequel territory for a lot of properties, if the title wasn't excessively expensive to make. Once you hit 7-8k I almost expect a sequel. I know once I saw ~8k units for Ikamusume, I started thinking more was quite likely. Dependent on source material and interest from the creators in making more of course.

10k I'd put as a major success, 20-30k as a runaway, top tier success (only a couple shows per year reach 20k) and 50k is... well, only 4 shows since 2000 have achieved that level, and only 5 more have passed 40k, plus 4 more over 30k. So yes, very rare. And of those 13 (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1887055&postcount=111), 4 are sequels of shows also in the 13 (SEED/D, K-ON!/!!, Geass/R2, Gundam00/S2) so we're down to 9 unique shows. Definitely a level reserved not just for successes, but for real phenomena.

Yeah, the numbers I made up were a bit high. I guess the real key is just that anything over 3k-ish broke even, and the more units it sold over that the more profitable it was.

[something]

Yeah, the numbers I made up were a bit high. I guess the real key is just that anything over 3k-ish broke even, and the more units it sold over that the more profitable it was.
Yeah, Manabi line and all that (or well, a little over). But at the risk of nitpicking, I'll just add that this is going to be very dependent on production costs. Which you know, but which should be emphasized for those who don't. 3k is probably fine for, I dunno, Asobi ni Iku yo!, but it would almost certainly have been an utter financial disaster for Gundam 00, which surely cost far more to animate (even ignoring the difference in length and going per-episode). Not to mention market and all that.