Anime BD sales down 22.1%, DVD sales down 34.8%

The Japan Video Software Association (JVA) released on Wednesday its 12-month statistical report on home video sales in Japan from January to December 2018.

The report stated that domestic anime DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales for general audiences, excluding rental releases, amounted to 32.557 billion yen (about US$292.2 million), a 24.2% decrease from 2017's 42.931 billion yen. (This category includes anime aimed at teenagers or older viewers, and excludes overseas animation and animation aimed at children.)

Of these sales, Blu-ray Disc sales were down 21.1%, and DVD sales were down 34.8%. Blu-ray Disc sales made up 80.7% of the sales, and DVD sales made up 19.3% of the sales. General audience anime sales made up 22.9% of the overall home video sales market.

Domestic children's anime home video sales fell 28.6% from 2017 to 1.436 billion yen (about US$12.8 million). These sales represented 1% of the overall market.

Domestic anime DVD and Blu-ray Disc rentals for general audiences fell 16.5% in 2018 to 5.675 billion yen (about US$50.9 million), and domestic children's anime home video rentals fell 19.3% to 1.437 billion yen (about US$12.9 million).

Overall, the home video market was down 5.1% to 178.084 billion yen (about US$1.598 billion) compared to 2017. DVD sales were down 7.3%, and Blu-ray Disc sales were down 2.7%. DVD sales made up 51.8% of the market, and Blu-ray Disc sales made up 48.2% of the market.

Domestic anime DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales for general audiences, excluding rental releases, in 2017 saw a 2.6% increase from 2016, bolstered by sales of hits such as your name. and In This Corner of the World . The 2016 market saw a 15.8% decrease from 2015.

2017 was the first year since 1987 that the overall home video market was less than 200 billion yen. Home video revenue in Japan has gradually declined since 2005. Sales hit their peak in 2004, with a revenue of 375.3 billion yen.