Global Anime Sales Down 7.4% in 2007

The Japan based Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) has reported that global anime sales in 2007 reached nearly 239.7 billion yen (about US $2.26 billion), a decline of 7.4% from 2006’s 258.7 billion yen (US $2.41 billion) earning. The 2007 decrease is the first decline in total international anime revenue since the AJA began tracking worldwide sales revenue in 2002. The biggest drop came from television anime, which earned 16% less in 2007 than it did in 2006. However, theatrical anime production, video production, licensing fees, video distribution, merchandising, and overseas sales all experienced sales declines compared to the previous year.

According to the AJA, video producers are being affected by a steady increase in number of anime titles produced with lowered profits per title. The number of TV anime productions made in Japan each year has been steadily increasing annually.

Source: Anime News Network