Official report declares anime biz in decline
Image via WikipediaYes, we’ve been hearing the reports for over a year now, but the first official numbers are in from the Association of Japanese Animations and it ain’t good. According to the AJA, sales of anime have dropped 6% since 2007, the first decline since the Association began tracking statistics five years ago.
Now, a five-year sample doesn’t sound like much, but based on all the other evidence, as well as the severity of the decline, I’d say it’s a solid indicator of the way things are headed, at least in the short term. The report singles out a decline in the amount of anime actually being produced, but I think there are other contributing factors, some of them originating here in the United States (fansubbing being the typical culprit). So what does this mean to you? Probably not much in the short term; but its’ clear the studios will have to get creative in how they market their product, in the same way the U.S. recording industry will have to turn things around.
A main reason for the shrinkage is a decline in TV anime broadcasting hours. Revenues from TV anime production fell from $515 million in 2006 to $441 million in 2007 — a drop of 16%. The number of Japanese TV toons produced likewise started dropping in 2007 and is expected to continue falling throughout 2008.
The industry also suffered declines in earnings from theatrical BO, video production and sales, royalties, character goods and overseas sales, while recording modest increases in music publishing and webcasting revenues.
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