Toon Zone Talkback - Top Ten Anime and Manga Properties For Q3 2007

[Classic Speedy]

This is the talkback thread for Top Ten Anime and Manga Properties For Q3 2007 (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=19422).

Hmm, interesting. I didn't buy any of those manga properties, but in terms of anime, I got Afro Samurai, Fullmetal Alchemist, Highlander, and Haruhi (glad to see that particular title is on the list).

Ouch at that 23% drop, though. Let's hope the market can recover, somehow. :(

[GWOtaku]

I'm also happy about Haruhi, looks like its not so niche after all. I'm glad it payed off for Bandai and that fans went for it, I was worried it'd be a victim of purist attitudes.

That drop is worrying, especially considering its a substantial increase from the decline last year. I hope it slows down or reverses soon, I really don't want to see any more Geneon-type incidents happen.

[Mr. Anime]

I am plesantly suprised that Dragonball Z is number 2 on the list. I guess it shows it still goning strong after all these years.

[Chris Wood]

How the heck did Guyver sneak onto the top ten list?? When was the last time that series had a new release?

[rubberchicken]

How the heck did Guyver sneak onto the top ten list?? When was the last time that series had a new release?

Maybe it's not that Guyver is doing especially well, but that everything else is doing that poorly. :gir:

[drakh]

How the heck did Guyver sneak onto the top ten list?? When was the last time that series had a new release?
It's presumably the 2005 TV series ADV is currently releasing.

Name recogintion obviously counts for a lot in the R1 DVD market. Makes me wonder how well Gunbuster/Gunbuster 2 would be doing if they had been given a proper release.

[TnAdct1]

How the heck did Guyver sneak onto the top ten list?? When was the last time that series had a new release? A new Guyver series aired on Japanese TV in recent years, with ADV releasing the series on R1 DVD this year.

[Chris Wood]

It's presumably the 2005 TV series ADV is currently releasing.


Ah, thanks. I guess I was out of the loop on that one. Funny, I don't remember anyone on TZ talking about that new series.

[silverfox1027]

I'm also happy about Haruhi, looks like its not so niche after all.

Haruhi will always be niche. It's just that American anime fans (who, when compared to the general population...are pretty small in number) tend to lean towards otaku-type shows. And American otaku, like Japanese otaku, will buy anything.

Yay for DBZ! :D LOL at Afro Samurai beating everything else.

[GWOtaku]

Haruhi will always be niche. It's just that American anime fans (who, when compared to the general population...are pretty small in number) tend to lean towards otaku-type shows. And American otaku, like Japanese otaku, will buy anything.

Sure, but at first it was seen as a niche within the niche that are anime fans. I don't think that can be fairly said anymore.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Haruhi will always be niche. It's just that American anime fans (who, when compared to the general population...are pretty small in number) tend to lean towards otaku-type shows. And American otaku, like Japanese otaku, will buy anything.

Yay for DBZ! :D LOL at Afro Samurai beating everything else.

I think you're missing the point. This list is made up of the best selling (or most widely distributed) products, and they usually end up being anime shows with mainstream appeal. Pokemon, Naruto, and all these other shounen shows tend to have the kids helping prop up the sales and demand numbers.

So it is surprising, a little, to see Haruhi end up on this list because it is clearly the odd one out, with the fewest mainstream appeal of them all, as it is not a shounen show or a show with good publicity (like Afro Samurai had with the Sam Jackson connection).

However, I am curious to know if this is actual sales--meaning, people buying them from stores--or if the numbers merely reflect the number of orders. Because I know Haruhi was widely ordered by many outlets, but that doesn't necessarily mean that people are BUYING as many of them from these stores.

[Karl Olson]

I think it reflects sales.

However, that 23% drop, while significant, isn't as damaging as one would think because this year doesn't have last year's Howl's Moving Castle, nor it's FF: Advent Children. Had anime sales maintained pace with last year, it would have meant the market had actually grown - as it stands, the baseline market is holding steady.

[silverfox1027]

I think you're missing the point. This list is made up of the best selling (or most widely distributed) products, and they usually end up being anime shows with mainstream appeal. Pokemon, Naruto, and all these other shounen shows tend to have the kids helping prop up the sales and demand numbers.

So it is surprising, a little, to see Haruhi end up on this list because it is clearly the odd one out, with the fewest mainstream appeal of them all, as it is not a shounen show or a show with good publicity (like Afro Samurai had with the Sam Jackson connection).

I'm quite aware of that, and I'm saying it's not that surprising to me. Die-hard fans are sometimes enough to push sales to compete with mainstream hits. It's the same reason why things like Veronica Mars end up in the top 10 of DVD sales lists, despite not being terribly mainstream.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I'm quite aware of that, and I'm saying it's not that surprising to me. Die-hard fans are sometimes enough to push sales to compete with mainstream hits. It's the same reason why things like Veronica Mars end up in the top 10 of DVD sales lists, despite not being terribly mainstream.

Ah, point taken. It does help that Bandai made Haruhi easily accessible, though. Many anime titles still never make it to Best Buy or HMV and the like, but Haruhi was easily accessible in these stores so the otaku had no trouble finding them.

[Chris Wood]

Anyway, I'm still surprised to see Guyver on the list, even with a new series. Can an MD Geist comeback be far behind?

[Duke]

Nevermind Guyver's inclusion, how the hell did Pokémon break the Top 10 in the manga section? You mean to tell me the fun Mystery Dungeon manga and those crappy "Best of" Pokémon Adventures books sold THAT well? If so...where's the other Pokémon manga?

The anime I can understand (I'm sure the Kanto boxset helped out a lot, as well as Movie 9), but the manga?

[D Dubbs]

Nevermind Guyver's inclusion, how the hell did Pokémon break the Top 10 in the manga section? You mean to tell me the fun Mystery Dungeon manga and those crappy "Best of" Pokémon Adventures books sold THAT well? If so...where's the other Pokémon manga?

The anime I can understand (I'm sure the Kanto boxset helped out a lot, as well as Movie 9), but the manga?

Yeah...that's really weird, actually. But hopefully this is the start of more Pokemon manga in the United States.

And PUSA better start releasing those Battle Frontier DVDs now.

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

Glad to see Hellsing Ultimate was doing well.