Anime DVD/BD Sales in Japan: Discussion

[edujude]

50,000+ from one Nisemonogatari volume...wow, those fans are seriously fierce! wait until that toothbrush episode comes out, though.

Originally Posted by eggplant

The problem with VHS/LD/VHD sales for older titles is the lack of individual data.
Oricon tabulated VHS sales from Feb 1984 to May 2005, LD sales from Feb 1984 to Jan 2001, and VHD sales from Feb 1984 to Nov 1989.

The problem is, they only announced actual sales figures on an annual basis (top 30 anime for VHS and top 100 comprehensive titles for LD) between 1985 and 1998, thus making it impossible to track titles which didn't make it into the yearly charts.

Weekly sales data did not appear until Aug 1998, whereas with the advent of DVD, sales figures of the LD and VHS charts were phased out in Jan 2000 and Mar 2002 respectively.

I could delve into the database archives and compile and post in the data sticky, but it will take time, and the results would only be a representative find of the myriad titles which were released during that period.

Oh. That's understandable of course. Well, whenever you feel like delving into the archives and posting relevant data from there for completion's sake, by all means, go ahead. Your efforts will be highly appreciated.

[Kunagisa]

OMG, the leak about AKB being cheap as hell back April 14th was true!!!!!



***,*47位/***,145位 ★ (***,**0 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/27 12/04 AKB0048 VOL.1 【初回特典有り】 [Blu-ray]

GO AKB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

EDIT:

Original leak post

2272 名前：売りスレ民＠転載禁止[sage] 投稿日：2012/04/14(土) 17:42:40 ID:k3i5JTsQ0
＞　AKB0048 Blu-ray Vol.1（限定版）
＞　\2,100
＞
＞　AKB0048 Blu-ray Vol.1（通常版）
＞　\1,050
＞
＞　AKB0048 Blu-ray Vol.1（劇場版）
＞　\2,100

If the regular version is at 1,050 then oh mannnnnnnnnnn; at the time, predictions of 100k first volume sale seems now totally reasonable!

[sa547]

I was like WTF when I saw the sales price, roughly the equivalent of two audio CD albums. I mean, it's very outrageous and it takes balls for someone higher up to decide such a price that insanely low.

[Arabesque]

I made a post about my theory already at the AKB0048 thread.

They are probably aiming to have as many fans of both demographics to get the release, hence why they had the price be this low.

Mind you, going by how cheap it is, I wouldn't be surprised if it does indeed become the best selling Anime of all time before the end of the year lol

[Last Sinner]

So...are they planning to sell that volume at a loss and hook enough people in for the long run for mass profit?

[Arabesque]

Either that or they are confident enough they will get enough fans from both sides to generate enough profits.

Maybe they are also looking for the ''Best selling anime'' fame to be attached to the show.

[totoum]

Originally Posted by Arabesque

I made a post about my theory already at the AKB0048 thread.

They are probably aiming to have as many fans of both demographics to get the release, hence why they had the price be this low.

Mind you, going by how cheap it is, I wouldn't be surprised if it does indeed become the best selling Anime of all time before the end of the year lol

It's the Ano Hana strategy,1 episode in a low price first volume and the back to normal for the rest

[sa547]

Historically the girl troupe's marketing staff (and even the top brass who approves them) are known to throw in some marketing gimmicks that allows them to sell more singles, albums and DVDs faster than anyone else in the industry with some extras (i.e. different versions of singles, handshake tickets, senbatsu election voting forms, collectible trading cards, etc.), and I think they're applying the same approach.

[Kunagisa]

I have no idea, but this is sure super fun to follow!!

From the wording of the placement title, you can see that they'll be having some specials along with the cheap price. People are saying if they throw in like an event/handshake ticket then the line just went from 100k to 300k hahahhahahahahahha. If 100k does happen on volume 1 and then 1k happen in the next 10 volumes then the average is still 10k per volumeeeeeeeeee (yeah I don't even know if this is 1 cour or 2).

And speaking of cheap pricing episode 1, look up Nana's sales and you'll be laughing like crazy too. Nana's first volume was 777 yen~~~

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by totoum

It's the Ano Hana strategy,1 episode in a low price first volume and the back to normal for the rest

Yup, this isn't an uncommon strategy. This is a special promotional price for the first episode only, and we should fully expect the remaining volumes to be priced at more normal levels. I was going to use the Nana 777 yen example too, but Kunagisa beat me to it.

[sa547]

I do remember something else: as this first volume has yet to be pressed and printed out, it's not yet final (and I think some of you know this already); I'm sure there would be some changes (including the number of discs) until it's done and ready to ship.

EDIT: As of 12:11 JST (based from the time/date of comment posted at Yaraon:

47位 ↑ **位　AKB0048 VOL.1 【初回特典有り】 [Blu-ray]
48位 ↓ 45位　エウレカセブンＡＯ 1 (初回限定版) [Blu-ray]
49位 ↓ 48位　氷菓 限定版 第1巻 [Blu-ray]
60位 ↓ 59位　這いよれ! ニャル子さん 1 (初回生産限定) [Blu-ray]
63位 ↓ 58位　アクセル・ワールド 1(初回限定版) [Blu-ray]

From Amazon (deleted, probable troll?):

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
#12 in DVD > アニメ
#18 in DVD > ブルーレイ

UPDATE:

■初回特典：全巻購入者対象連動特典｢イベン ト参加応募券｣
全巻収納ボックス(BDのみ？) 封入特典：ブックレット16P

AKB0048 VOL.01 [Blu-ray] 2100円(税込)
AKB0048 VOL.02 [Blu-ray] 7350円(税込)
AKB0048 VOL.03 [Blu-ray] 7350円(税込)
AKB0048 VOL.04 [Blu-ray] 7350円(税込)
AKB0048 VOL.05 [Blu-ray] 8400円(税込)

http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KIXA-198

Source:
http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-9308.html#more

[Marcus H.]

(***,**0 pt) [*,***予約] 12/06/27 12/04 AKB0048 VOL.1 [Blu-ray]
***,*51位/***,*50位 ★ (**1,760 pt) [*,*14予約] 12/06/29 12/04 Hyouka 1 [Blu-ray]
***,*58位/***,*61位 ★ (**5,070 pt) [*,348予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Haiyore! Nyaruko-san1 [Blu-ray]
***,*73位/***,*81位 ★ (**2,187 pt) [*,*42予約] 12/07/25 12/04 Accel World 1 [Blu-ray]
***,*87位/***,*67位 ★ (**2,541 pt) [*,*10予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Eureka Seven ＡＯ 1 [Blu-ray]
***,150位/***,121位 ★ (**1,074 pt) [*,*29予約] 12/06/20 12/04 Saki 1 [Blu-ray]
***,198位/***,223位 ◎ (***,*54 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/09/26 12/04 Space Brothers Blu-ray DISC BOX 1(Blu-ray Disc)
***,219位/***,375位 ★ (***,604 pt) [*,*13予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Dusk Maiden of Amnesia 1 [Blu-ray]
***,286位/***,272位 ★ (**1,407 pt) [*,*10予約] 12/05/25 12/04 Kore wa Zombie S2 [Blu-ray]
***,312位/***,253位 ★ (***,379 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Sakamichi no Apollon Blu-ray
***,318位/***,282位 ★ (***,786 pt) [*,*47予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Jormungand 1 [Blu-ray]
***,402位/***,338位 ★ (***,366 pt) [*,**2予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Kuroko no Basket 1 [Blu-ray]
***,428位/***,409位 ★ (***,581 pt) [*,**5予約] 12/06/29 12/04 Sankarea 1 [Blu-ray]
***,433位/***,358位 ★ (**1,151 pt) [*,**8予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Queens Blade Rebellion Vol.1 [Blu-ray]
***,464位/***,439位 ★ (***,382 pt) [*,*29予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Mysterious Girlfriend X 1(Blu-ray Disc)
***,556位/***,651位 ★ (***,390 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/06/06 12/04 Acchi Kochii 1 [Blu-ray]
***,624位/***,925位 ★ (***,179 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/08/24 12/04 Saint Seiya Omega 1 [Blu-ray]
***,657位/***,575位 ◎ (**3,856 pt) [*,101予約] 12/06/22 12/01 Black★Rock Shooter Blu-rayBOX

***,774位/***,706位 ★ (***,358 pt) [*,*20予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Upotte!! Blu-ray 1
**1,226位/***,933位 ★ (***,*83 pt) [*,**1予約] 12/06/06 12/04 Sengoku Collection Vol.01 [Blu-ray]
**1,664位/**1,744位 ★ (***,402 pt) [*,**6予約] 12/07/25 12/04 Medaka Box 1 [Blu-ray]
**1,678位/**2,794位 ★ (***,284 pt) [*,**3予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Hiiro no Kakera [Blu-ray]
**2,104位/**2,379位 ★ (***,442 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/06/22 12/04 「ZETMAN」Vol.1 Blu-ray
**3,106位/**4,507位 ★ (***,241 pt) [*,**2予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Shining Hearts [Blu-ray]
*14,565位/*12,076位 ★ (***,*79 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/22 12/01 Black★Rock Shooter Blu-ray 1
108,362位/108,086位 ★ (***,*14 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Kimi to Boku S2 1 [Blu-ray]
147,789位/147,537位 ★ (***,*10 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Natsuiro Kiseki 1 [Blu-ray]

Current discussion on /a/ Archive.

[AbZeroNow]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

(***,**0 pt) [*,***予約] 12/06/27 12/04 AKB0048 VOL.1 [Blu-ray]
***,*51位/***,*50位 ★ (**1,760 pt) [*,*14予約] 12/06/29 12/04 Hyouka 1 [Blu-ray]
***,*58位/***,*61位 ★ (**5,070 pt) [*,348予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Haiyore! Nyaruko-san1 [Blu-ray]
***,*73位/***,*81位 ★ (**2,187 pt) [*,*42予約] 12/07/25 12/04 Accel World 1 [Blu-ray]
***,*87位/***,*67位 ★ (**2,541 pt) [*,*10予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Eureka Seven ＡＯ 1 [Blu-ray]
***,150位/***,121位 ★ (**1,074 pt) [*,*29予約] 12/06/20 12/04 Saki 1 [Blu-ray]
***,198位/***,223位 ◎ (***,*54 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/09/26 12/04 Space Brothers Blu-ray DISC BOX 1(Blu-ray Disc)
***,219位/***,375位 ★ (***,604 pt) [*,*13予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Dusk Maiden of Amnesia 1 [Blu-ray]
***,286位/***,272位 ★ (**1,407 pt) [*,*10予約] 12/05/25 12/04 Kore wa Zombie S2 [Blu-ray]
***,312位/***,253位 ★ (***,379 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Sakamichi no Apollon Blu-ray
***,318位/***,282位 ★ (***,786 pt) [*,*47予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Jormungand 1 [Blu-ray]
***,402位/***,338位 ★ (***,366 pt) [*,**2予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Kuroko no Basket 1 [Blu-ray]
***,428位/***,409位 ★ (***,581 pt) [*,**5予約] 12/06/29 12/04 Sankarea 1 [Blu-ray]
***,433位/***,358位 ★ (**1,151 pt) [*,**8予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Queens Blade Rebellion Vol.1 [Blu-ray]
***,464位/***,439位 ★ (***,382 pt) [*,*29予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Mysterious Girlfriend X 1(Blu-ray Disc)
***,556位/***,651位 ★ (***,390 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/06/06 12/04 Acchi Kochii 1 [Blu-ray]
***,624位/***,925位 ★ (***,179 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/08/24 12/04 Saint Seiya Omega 1 [Blu-ray]
***,657位/***,575位 ◎ (**3,856 pt) [*,101予約] 12/06/22 12/01 Black★Rock Shooter Blu-rayBOX

***,774位/***,706位 ★ (***,358 pt) [*,*20予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Upotte!! Blu-ray 1
**1,226位/***,933位 ★ (***,*83 pt) [*,**1予約] 12/06/06 12/04 Sengoku Collection Vol.01 [Blu-ray]
**1,664位/**1,744位 ★ (***,402 pt) [*,**6予約] 12/07/25 12/04 Medaka Box 1 [Blu-ray]
**1,678位/**2,794位 ★ (***,284 pt) [*,**3予約] 12/06/22 12/04 Hiiro no Kakera [Blu-ray]
**2,104位/**2,379位 ★ (***,442 pt) [*,**4予約] 12/06/22 12/04 「ZETMAN」Vol.1 Blu-ray
**3,106位/**4,507位 ★ (***,241 pt) [*,**2予約] 12/07/27 12/04 Shining Hearts [Blu-ray]
*14,565位/*12,076位 ★ (***,*79 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/22 12/01 Black★Rock Shooter Blu-ray 1
108,362位/108,086位 ★ (***,*14 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Kimi to Boku S2 1 [Blu-ray]
147,789位/147,537位 ★ (***,*10 pt) [*,**0予約] 12/06/27 12/04 Natsuiro Kiseki 1 [Blu-ray]

Current discussion on /a/ Archive.

Reading /a/'s reaction is pretty hilarious. Loving that Nyaruko-san is leading by such a wide margin in stalker points.

Based on the stalker points(and excluding Fate/Zero and AKB0048 which will both do well), it looks like the biggest sellers from the Spring season will be: Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, Eureka Seven AO, Accel World and Hyouka.

I wonder if Nyaruko-san will approach 20k in sales or whether it will just break 10k(although 10k for that would be absolutely wonderful)

Interesting also how a lot of the hyped manga adaptations are not doing that well: Medaka Box, Tasogare Otome X Amnesia, Sankarea.

And to no one's surprise, it looks like Sengoku Collection is gonna bomb.

[ahelo]

Looks like Kyoani's back on track after Nichijou. I do hope so since Hyouka is pretty good.

[cyth]

Hyouka's outlook only strengthens my belief that you can come up with a boring show, and if it's well animated, otaku will pig that shit up, no worries.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Originally Posted by cyth

Hyouka's outlook only strengthens my belief that you can come up with a boring show, and if it's well animated, otaku will pig that shit up, no worries.

There's a little more to it than that, but from what I've been able to figure it's not much. You also need to have a somewhat recognized "big name" involved in the project (it can be the title itself, a director, a writer, a composer, or even the studio or best of all for your chances all of the above) and you also need to work the moe apsect of the show or whatever your hook is in a way which is deemed acceptable by the proper crowds and then you're looking to do well. I've found that it also helps if you manage to gain the attention of the niconico MAD making crowd. If they're making MAD's of your show it basically means you've "made it" so to speak and are probably looking to do well.

It's kind of why I point to the futility of this whole topic because while you get the odd outlier it's usually pretty easy to predict what's going to do well in this category versus what won't based on just a few key factors. The only real surprise is finding out the difference. For this reason while the whole sales chat topic is of mild interest to me I don't take it nearly as seriously as others do as it's no real measure of the quality of a show by any means nor is there terribly much to learn from it all that often.

That said I would be hugely curious to see how a show based off a best selling moe light novel directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, written by Gen Urobuchi & Mari Okada, composed by Yuki Kaijura & Yoko Kanno, animated by Kyoto Animation with input from Shaft and which has some sort of tie to Dragon Quest would do in the sales category. Best selling anime for all time?

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Kaioshin Sama

That said I would be hugely curious to see how a show based off a best selling moe light novel directed by Akiyuki Shinbo, written by Gen Urobuchi & Mari Okada, composed by Yuki Kaijura & Yoko Kanno, animated by Kyoto Animation with input from Shaft and which has some sort of tie to Dragon Quest would do in the sales category. Best selling anime for all time?

if it was written by Gen (the Butcher) Urobuchi it would be Moe Horror.

there will be bets early in the season to see which character gets the ax (literally)...I like it.

[0utf0xZer0]

Originally Posted by Kaioshin Sama

There's a little more to it than that, but from what I've been able to figure it's not much. You also need to have a somewhat recognized "big name" involved in the project (it can be the title itself, a director, a writer, a composer, or even the studio or best of all for your chances all of the above) and you also need to work the moe apsect of the show or whatever your hook is in a way which is deemed acceptable by the proper crowds and then you're looking to do well. I've found that it also helps if you manage to gain the attention of the niconico MAD making crowd. If they're making MAD's of your show it basically means you've "made it" so to speak and are probably looking to do well.

So what does Hyouka have that Nichijou did not?

Course, if I'm reading the numbers right (which I very well might not be since I'm not that familiar with stalker points), they don't suggest a return to K-On!/Lucky Star/Clannad/Haruhi S1 type numbers, just a big rebound from Nichijou level. Seems reasonable to me given how each show stacks up against other moe shows airing at the same time. Nyarlko-san's popularity is the one that actually has me shaking my head.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by cyth

Hyouka's outlook only strengthens my belief that you can come up with a boring show, and if it's well animated, otaku will pig that shit up, no worries.

Other than the flamebait tone (really...?), most anime is considered disposable entertainment, and within Japan it's quite possible to rent or watch in other ways. If you're going to buy something to keep in Blu-Ray format at these prices, it has to be something that you think you'd want to re-watch. Having nice animation is certainly one of the factors that might compel someone to want to own a show on Blu-Ray (as opposed to just contenting themselves with whatever other lower quality way they could watch it again). That said, it's based on an older novel series, and many people may also be familiar with how the show goes going forward. The early episodes aren't necessarily an indicator of a show's future tone or plot.

(If the formula's really that simple, you'd think there wouldn't be so many perceived flops. I think it's a lot more complicated and nuanced than that.)

[TJR]

Hyouka looks to dispel the notion that Kadokawa's pricing strategy killed Nichijou. The 13 volume plan may have been a contributing factor (so those who were on the fence or who were only marginally impressed with the show chose not to buy even a single volume), but we've seen other series succeed despite grumblings about price.

Pitching 11+ volumes is a harder sell, but if fans think the show is worth it, they'll open their wallets.