Anime Sales in Japan - 2011

[DiGiKerot]

Originally Posted by something

OVAs, Movies, Boxsets etc:
Heartcatch Precure Movie - 2,509 LE DVD, 638 RE DVD and... 2,106 BDs? Is this the first Precure anything to get a BD version? Or did some of the previous movies get one and just not rank? 5,253 total.

All-Stars DX2 got a BD release simultaneously with the DVD release (I've got a copy of that one lying around somewhere), and All-Stars DX1 was released released on BD a year or so after the fact (not too long after DX2, as I recall).

[something]

Originally Posted by DiGiKerot

All-Stars DX2 got a BD release simultaneously with the DVD release (I've got a copy of that one lying around somewhere), and All-Stars DX1 was released released on BD a year or so after the fact (not too long after DX2, as I recall).

Ah, interesting. I wonder when we'll see a TV series of Precure getting a BD release. It looks like Suite isn't solicited yet.

[Westlo]

lol all 9 volumes of steins;gate are in the top 28 for amazon.. with volume 1 @ #5 lets see its two cours so it will be in the rankings for half a year.. i predict 2,000,000 sales!

[Suzuku]

Originally Posted by Westlo

lol all 9 volumes of steins;gate are in the top 28 for amazon.. with volume 1 @ #5 lets see its two cours so it will be in the rankings for half a year.. i predict 2,000,000 sales!

It's two-cour yes, but the volumes (or at least vols 1-3) go on sale before the anime ends. This is extremely impressive though, especially for something that hasn't even aired yet. If White Fox can do this right then they'll have their first mega hit with only 3 series under their belts. For what it's worth, I'm confident that at least the visuals will be consistently good and even stunning given their work on Katanagatari and what we've seen from PVs, but it's up to the director's skill whether the atmosphere of STEINS;GATE will be portrayed well.

Here's the listing for those wondering btw.

***,**5位(***,*12pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年06月22日 STEINS;GATE Vol.1【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*16位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年07月27日 STEINS;GATE Vol.2【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*18位(***,**7pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年08月24日 STEINS;GATE Vol.3【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*21位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年09月21日 STEINS;GATE Vol.4【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*20位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年10月26日 STEINS;GATE Vol.5【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*22位(***,**7pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年11月25日 STEINS;GATE Vol.6【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*22位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2011年12月21日 STEINS;GATE Vol.7【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*24位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2012年01月25日 STEINS;GATE Vol.8【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]
***,*28位(***,**5pt) [*,**0予約] 2012年02月22日 STEINS;GATE Vol.9【初回限定版】 [Blu-ray]

[something]

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NOTICE: This post is now obsolete, see the new thread.
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I had been updating the old list sporadically but thought it better to update the format and get it current. I added ONAs this time (for Hetalia and Haruhi-chan) and took out two series that upon further inspection actually started airing in 1999 (Ryvius, Initial D 2nd). Not because I don't want to go earlier than 2000 but because data seems less complete back then. And 2000 is a nice round number!


2000-Present TV Anime Series Total Average Sales
[Updated for 12/19/2011 list]

01)　　*78,671　　¥3,558m　　15 ep　　2009　　Shaft__________　　Aniplex______　　Bakemonogatari
02)　　*71,005　　¥3,067m　　12 ep　　2011　　Shaft__________　　Aniplex______　　Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
03)　　*68,734　　¥5,629m　　50 ep　　2004　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED Destiny
04)　　*58,589　　¥4,798m　　50 ep　　2002　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED
05)　　*50,551　　¥2,673m　　25 ep　　2006　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
06)　　*46,146　　¥2,705m　　25 ep　　2008　　Satelight______　　Bandai_______　　Macross Frontier
07)　　*43,883　　¥2,309m　　14 ep　　2009　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　K-ON!
08)　　*42,690　　¥2,370m　　25 ep　　2008　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2
09)　　*41,037　　¥2,091m　　14 ep　　2006　　Kyoto Animation　　Kadokawa_____　　Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
10)　　*39,385　　¥2,888m　　27 ep　　2010　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　K-ON!!
11)　　*39,352　　¥1,658m　　25 ep　　2007　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Kidou Senshi Gundam 00
12)　　*36,511　　¥2,754m　　51 ep　　2003　　Bones__________　　Aniplex______　　Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal Alchemist (first series, 2003)
13)　　*34,601　　¥1,281m　　25 ep　　2008　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Kidou Senshi Gundam 00 S2
14)　　*34,116　　¥1,415m　　14 ep　　2010　　PA Works_______　　Aniplex______　　Angel Beats!
15)　　*33,706　　¥1,493m　　12 ep　　2011　　8-bit__________　　Media Factory　　IS -Infinite Stratos-
16)　　*32,496　　¥*,351m　　25 ep　　2011　　AIC____________　　Aniplex______　　Persona 4 ★(2 vol)
17)　　*31,283　　¥1,199m　　11 ep　　2011　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
18)　　*29,146　　¥2,423m　　24 ep　　2007　　Kyoto Animation　　Kadokawa_____　　Lucky Star
19)　　*28,537　　¥1,905m　　24 ep　　2004　　Frontline______　　Avex Trax____　　Initial D 4th Stage
20)　　*27,514　　¥1,473m　　25 ep　　2011　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Tiger & Bunny ★(8 vols)
21)　　*26,058　　¥1,355m　　24 ep　　2006　　Studio Deen____　　Geneon_______　　Fate/Stay Night
22)　　*25,644　　¥1,057m　　26 ep　　2002　　JC Staff_______　　King Records_　　Azumanga Daiou
23)　　*24,808　　¥1,583m　　24 ep　　2007　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　Clannad
24)　　*24,494　　¥1,482m　　24 ep　　2009　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
25)　　*24,436　　¥*,876m　　13 ep　　2005　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　Air
26)　　*23,841　　¥1,360m　　16 ep　　2010　　AIC____________　　Aniplex______　　Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai
27)　　*23,496　　¥1,318m　　24 ep　　2000　　Xebec__________　　King Records_　　Love Hina (DVD+VHS)
28)　　*23,287　　¥*,938m　　52 ep　　2009　　Studio Deen____　　Media Factory　　Hetalia Axis Powers
29)　　*22,590　　¥1,243m　　26 ep　　2007　　Seven Arcs_____　　King Records_　　Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
30)　　*20,051　　¥1,091m　　27 ep　　2007　　Gainax_________　　Aniplex______　　Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
31)　　*19,883　　¥1,269m　　25 ep　　2008　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　Clannad ~After Story~
32)　　*19,639　　¥1,608m　　26 ep　　2004　　Production IG__　　Bandai_______　　Koukaku Kidoutai (Ghost in the Shell) 2nd GIG
33)　　*19,296　　¥1,060m　　25 ep　　2007　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Ookiku Furikabutte
34)　　*19,064　　¥*,940m　　14 ep　　2009　　Kyoto Animation　　Kadokawa_____　　Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (2009)
35)　　*18,310　　¥1,499m　　26 ep　　2010　　Brains Base____　　Aniplex______　　Durarara!!
36)　　*18,170　　¥*,915m　　24 ep　　2006　　Kyoto Animation　　Pony Canyon__　　Kanon (2006)
37)　　*17,695　　¥*,678m　　13 ep　　2010　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Working!!
38)　　*16,993　　¥1,033m　　24 ep　　2010　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　To Aru Majutsu no Index II
39)　　*16,558　　¥*,844m　　26 ep　　2005　　Xebec__________　　King Records_　　Mahou Sensei Negima!
40)　　*16,349　　¥*,*82m　　13 ep　　2011　　Sunrise________　　Bandai_______　　Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon ★(1 vol)
41)　　*16,108　　¥1,319m　　26 ep　　2002　　Production IG__　　Bandai_______　　Koukaku Kidoutai (Ghost in the Shell) SAC
42)　　*16,097　　¥*,915m　　25 ep　　2011　　White Fox______　　Media Factory　　Steins;Gate ★(7 vols)
43)　　*15,965　　¥*,416m　　13 ep　　2011　　A1 Pictures____　　King Records_　　Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% ★(4 vols)
44)　　*15,447　　¥*,871m　　49 ep　　2006　　Sunrise________　　Aniplex______　　Gintama Season 1
45)　　*15,282　　¥*,931m　　51 ep　　2008　　Sunrise________　　Aniplex______　　Gintama Season 3
46)　　*15,171　　¥*,915m　　50 ep　　2007　　Sunrise________　　Aniplex______　　Gintama Season 2
47)　　*15,021　　¥*,763m　　37 ep　　2006　　Madhouse_______　　VAP Inc______　　Death Note
48)　　*14,939　　¥*,470m　　12 ep　　2010　　Studio Deen____　　Geneon_______　　Hakuouki
49)　　*14,641　　¥*,221m　　38 ep　　2009　　Kyoto Animation　　Kadokawa_____　　Suzumiya Haruhi-chan no Yuuutsu/Nyoro~n☆Churuya-san
50)　　*14,405　　¥*,240m　　13 ep　　2011　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Working'!! ★(3 vols)
51)　　*14,124　　¥*,444m　　12 ep　　2001　　Gainax_________　　Geneon_______　　Mahoromatic -Automatic Maiden-
52)　　*13,971　　¥*,751m　　24 ep　　2008　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Kuroshitsuji
53)　　*13,906　　¥*,621m　　12 ep　　2002　　Duame__________　　Bandai_______　　Onegai Teacher
54)　　*13,885　　¥*,744m　　12 ep　　2010　　AIC____________　　Kadokawa_____　　Strike Witches 2
55)　　*13,829　　¥*,435m　　12 ep　　2003　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　Tsukihime
56)　　*13,788　　¥*,677m　　21 ep　　2008　　Gonzo__________　　Kadokawa_____　　Strike Witches
57)　　*13,607　　¥*,580m　　12 ep　　2003　　Duame__________　　Bandai_______　　Onegai Twins
58)　　*13,572　　¥*,653m　　25 ep　　2011　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Ao no Exorcist ★(7 vols)
59)　　*13,491　　¥*,346m　　** ep　　2011　　Sunrise________　　Aniplex______　　Gintama' ★(6 vols)
60)　　*13,401　　¥*,551m　　26 ep　　2003　　Zexcs__________　　King Records_　　D.C. ~Da Capo~
61)　　*13,232　　¥*,407m　　10 ep　　2000　　TNK____________　　Geneon_______　　Hand Maid May
62)　　*13,200　　¥*,512m　　13 ep　　2008　　Hal Film Maker_　　Media Factory　　Aria the Origination
63)　　*12,951　　¥*,551m　　13 ep　　2010　　Production IG__　　Pony Canyon__　　Sengoku Basara 2
64)　　*12,878　　¥*,305m　　12 ep　　2007　　Toei Animation_　　Kadokawa_____　　Mononoke
65)　　*12,720　　¥*,775m　　51 ep　　2009　　Sunrise________　　Aniplex______　　Gintama Season 4
66)　　*12,633　　¥*,250m　　20 ep　　2004　　Studio Pierrot_　　Aniplex______　　Bleach - Shinigami Daikou-hen [#1]
67)　　*12,523　　¥*,258m　　22 ep　　2005　　Studio Pierrot_　　Aniplex______　　Bleach - Soul Society Kyuushutsu-hen [#3]
68)　　*12,327　　¥1,230m　　64 ep　　2009　　Bones__________　　Aniplex______　　Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal Alchemist (second series, 2009)
69)　　*12,290　　¥*,619m　　24 ep　　2002　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　Ai Yori Aoshi
70)　　*12,151　　¥*,625m　　16 ep　　2009　　Bones__________　　Aniplex______　　Darker Than Black -Ryuusei no Gemini-
71)　　*12,126　　¥*,713m　　24 ep　　2008　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　To Aru Majutsu no Index
72)　　*11,987　　¥*,314m　　10 ep　　2010　　Studio Deen____　　Geneon_______　　Hakuouki Hekketsuroku
73)　　*11,315　　¥*,227m　　21 ep　　2005　　Studio Pierrot_　　Aniplex______　　Bleach - Soul Society Sennyuu-hen [#2]
74)　　*11,292　　¥*,414m　　14 ep　　2002　　Gainax_________　　Geneon_______　　Mahoromatic Motto Utsukushii Mono
75)　　*11,243　　¥*,334m　　13 ep　　2007　　Duame__________　　King Records_　　Minami-ke
76)　　*11,039　　¥*,447m　　24 ep　　2005　　JC Staff_______　　Kadokawa_____　　Hachimitsu to Clover
77)　　*11,014　　¥*,485m　　14 ep　　2008　　A1 Pictures____　　Aniplex______　　Kannagi
78)　　*10,997　　¥*,554m　　26 ep　　2002　　Madhouse_______　　Geneon_______　　Chobits
79)　　*10,817　　¥*,352m　　13 ep　　2005　　Seven Arcs_____　　King Records_　　Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A's
80)　　*10,749　　¥*,627m　　25 ep　　2008　　JC Staff_______　　King Records_　　Toradora!
81)　　*10,618　　¥*,579m　　24 ep　　2005　　JC Staff_______　　Geneon_______　　Shakugan no Shana (first series)
82)　　*10,339　　¥*,419m　　12 ep　　2009　　Arms___________　　Media Factory　　Queen's Blade: Rurou no Senshi
83)　　*10,317　　¥*,415m　　48 ep　　2010　　Studio Deen____　　Media Factory　　Hetalia World Series
84)　　*10,315　　¥*,325m　　13 ep　　2009　　Brains Base____　　Aniplex______　　Zoku Natsume Yuujin-chou
85)　　*10,236　　¥*,324m　　13 ep　　2008　　Brains Base____　　Aniplex______　　Natsume Yuujin-chou
86)　　*10,108　　¥*,528m　　26 ep　　2001　　Studio Deen____　　King Records_　　Fruits Basket
87)　　*10,049　　¥*,510m　　26 ep　　2005　　Artland________　　Avex Trax____　　Mushishi
88)　　*10,046　　¥*,277m　　12 ep　　2008　　Production IG__　　Kadokawa_____　　Toshokan Sensou
89)　　*10,038　　¥*,335m　　13 ep　　2011　　Brains Base____　　Aniplex______　　Natsume Yuujin-chou San
90)　　*10,025　　¥*,325m　　13 ep　　2005　　Hal Film Maker_　　Media Factory　　ARIA the Animation

The closest to 10k would be My-HiME by Sunrise, at 9,994. So close.

★ indicates an ongoing with the number of volumes released.
Note: Air is 23,761 if you include Air in Summer. I tend not to add specials if not released in the same volume as core series episodes, though these did air on TV. Could go either way.

Breakdown by studio:
Sunrise - 13
Kyoto Animation - 10
JC Staff - 9
A1 Pictures - 8
Studio Deen - 6
Production IG - 4
Brains Base - 4
Bones - 3
Duame - 3
Gainax - 3
Studio Pierrot - 3
AIC - 3
Hal Film Maker - 2
Madhouse - 2
Seven Arcs - 2
Shaft - 2
Xebec - 2
PA Works - 1
8-bit - 1
Arms - 1
Artland - 1
Frontline - 1
Gonzo - 1
Satelight - 1
TNK - 1
Toei Animation - 1
White Fox - 1
Zexcs - 1


Breakdown by year:
2000 - 2
2001 - 2
2002 - 7
2003 - 4
2004 - 4
2005 - 9
2006 - 6
2007 - 9
2008 - 13
2009 - 11
2010 - 11
2011 - 12


Breakdown by Distributor:
Aniplex - 28
Geneon - 13
Bandai - 13
King Records - 10
Kadokawa - 9
Media Factory - 7
Pony Canyon - 7
Avex Trax - 2
VAP Inc - 1


Updates and corrections:
2011/12/27: New Entry - Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon
2011/11/29: New Entry - Persona 4
2011/11/08: New Entry - Working'!!
2011/10/03: New Entry - Natsume Yuujin-chou San
2011/09/27: Feature added - Distributors added to list and breakdown.
2011/09/27: New Entry - Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000%
2011/09/10: Correction - Love Hina's average revised; VHS numbers were misread, DVD numbers initially used from incorrectly calculated source. New average is DVD-only, 23,497.
2011/08/02: New Entry - Gintama'
2011/07/05: New Entry - Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
2011/06/28: Dropped out - Star Driver Kagayaki no Takuto
2011/06/28: New Entry - Ao no Exorcist
2011/06/28: New Entry - Steins;Gate
2011/06/05: Correction - Chobits (10,998 DVD) was missing.
2011/06/05: Correction - Love Hina's average (20,584 DVD + 2,970 VHS) revised to include VHS.
2011/06/04: Correction - Toshokan Sensou (10,046 DVD) was missing.
2011/06/02: New Entry - Tiger & Bunny
2011/05/12: New Entry - Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
2011/04/07: New Entry - Infinite Stratos

[Suzuku]

Originally Posted by something

The number of high selling shows is also increasing, quite significantly and consistently. 5 or less through 2004 and then every year from 2005 on has double or more except for 2006. 2008 holds the record though, and 4 of the top 10.

2011 looks set to start with 2 in Winter (Madoka, IS) so we'll see if it can get another 2-3 each remaining season and keep up around the 10 mark. For spring, Nichijou, Hanasaku, Steins;Gate and Denpa Onna, perhaps?

I've always found this amusing because so many people say "the industry is dying" blahblah but when you actually go through the years, you see that there are more and more anime selling extremely well. The only difference is that the gap between things that do sale and things that don't is getting bigger, which should just push the industry to come up with better ideas and more interesting properties, and it seems like they're headed in that direction.

As for this season, I'd put Ao no Exorcist and Gintama as definites to sale over 10,000 in that list. For dark horse hits, I'd put my money on Dog Days, Hidan no Aria, A Channel, and Ano Hana. Actually, this season has a lot of potential to have multiple +10,000 hitters, but that's to be expected with over 40 shows being produced.

[Suwako Moriya]

Originally Posted by Westlo

lol all 9 volumes of steins;gate are in the top 28 for amazon.. with volume 1 @ #5 lets see its two cours so it will be in the rankings for half a year.. i predict 2,000,000 sales!

Wow. The source material must be rather popular. Actually, it's stuff like this that makes me wonder how many series have their fate decided before they even air.

Especially in the case of "failures". Figure it this way. If people are expecting a show to be A+ material, there's a good chance they'll try it out to confirm one way or the other if is or not.

Yet it's probably a lot harder for people to motivate themselves to try out a show they were expecting to be F- material.

[something]

Originally Posted by Suzuku

The only difference is that the gap between things that do sale and things that don't is getting bigger

In terms of the best sellers getting higher, yes. In terms of the low sellers getting lower, if that's what you meant, this actually isn't the case. I looked into this a couple months ago, and while it's the common perception, the data suggests things are pretty consistent. [Side note: looking at that post reminded me I left Queen's Blade out of the list by accident! Will fix.]

I checked 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. The mean and median sales numbers are very similar in all four periods. The percentage of shows selling 3-9k was also consistent, between 21 and 27% of shows except for 2005 which saw only 16%.

From 2003 to 2007, roughly 1/3rd of non-children's anime did not rank each time. In 2009, only 5% did not rank - because we had better reporting thanks to the lower thresholds of the BD rankings.

So just as many shows sold badly earlier in the decade as now, it's just that they didn't get reported. If you knocked out all 2009 shows with an average of 1k and below (general threshold in the DVD-only years), not ranking would be closer to 25%, which is pretty similar. Or slightly better.

But this is all moot if all you meant is that the big sellers get bigger while the average show stays in the same ballpark. That's totally true and I agree.

As for this season, I'd put Ao no Exorcist and Gintama as definites to sale over 10,000 in that list.

Ah yes, Gintama of course. It's consistently done over 10k so that's probably a given.

[Suwako Moriya]

Originally Posted by Suzuku

For dark horse hits, I'd put my money on Dog Days, Hidan no Aria, A Channel, and Ano Hana.

I'd be happy if A-Channel manages around the 5,000 range. Not that 5,000 is super amazing or anything, but it's far better than doing around say 1,000. Also, I'm trying to be half-realistic.

Originally Posted by Suzuku

Actually, this season has a lot of potential to have multiple +10,000 hitters, but that's to be expected with over 40 shows being produced.

Perhaps, but I have to wonder about that. On one hand, more choices means more chances for people to find series they feel are worth supporting by purchasing.

On the other hand, there's the idea of the following. If a person can only afford say four series a season then going from say sixteen shows to twenty shows would just mean the following. Instead of skipping twelve shows, the person is skipping sixteen shows.

[Westlo]

Hmm for 10k+ sellers this season...

Definate
Steins;gate (Look @ the preorders!)
Nichijou (KyoAni is pretty much 100% to sell over 10k these days.. unless it's Munto related)

Confident

Hidan no Aria (Novels were slightly less popular than IS, airing in the same slot, good chance)
Gintama (Past history says it should)

Slight chance

Ao no Exorcist (Could it do a Full Metal Alchemist?)
Denpa Onna (I think this is either 20k+ or a big flop)
Hanasaku (Looks the goods.. but its not like True Tears sold well and that was excellent...)
Dog Days (No promo's released at all so far... I wonder what's up with this.. another swerve coming up perhaps..?)

Ignoring sales and talking strictly quality.. I think 2011 is going to be the best year for anime since 2006-2007... Spring 2007 is imo the best season ever for anime.. and Summer 2007 was hands down the best minor season.. and had no contender until Winter 2011 came along. You also see that the amount of anime shows are on the rise for Spring 2011 after becoming less and less in the last few years.

Good to see.