The anime industry has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, marking a phenomenal upswing in its global revenue. In 2023, the sector amassed nearly $20 billion, setting the stage for an even more ambitious year in 2024, with major releases from beloved franchises. Recently, a comprehensive report emerged detailing the highest-grossing intellectual properties (IPs) of the past year, revealing some surprising entries that fans might not expect.
The findings from this report shed light on sales figures related to physical media for 2024, including a mix of anticipated franchises paired with a few unpredicted newcomers. While some franchises were notably absent from the top 30, potentially indicating a decline in their popularity, only a select few titles managed to rise above the competition in terms of revenue, amid a landscape rich with celebrated releases.
Big Releases Drive Significant Earnings in 2024
According to the report, Jujutsu Kaisen has emerged as the top-selling anime and manga franchise in Japan for 2024. This ongoing success can be attributed to its highly popular anime adaptation and the wrap-up of its manga series, allowing it to surpass other heavyweights like One Piece and Haikyu!!. A strong contender, The Apothecary Diaries, followed closely behind, largely benefiting from the buzz surrounding its first season’s anime adaptation and its light novel and manga counterparts.
One of the most unexpected inclusions on the list is Slam Dunk, ranking at eighth. Despite the original manga by Takehiko Inoue concluding nearly three decades ago, it saw a resurgence in earnings primarily due to the anime film, The First Slam Dunk, which debuted on Blu-ray in Japan in February 2024. Additionally, Frieren experienced significant growth following its anime adaptation’s successful premiere. Classic franchises like Spy x Family and My Hero Academia continued to perform steadily, securing positions in the middle of the rankings.
Prominent Franchises Miss the Mark
While some well-known franchises performed predictably, a few high-profile IPs surprisingly missed the top 30. Notably, Demon Slayer, despite its ongoing popularity stemming from its anime, struggled to replicate expected revenue levels, perhaps due to mixed reactions to its latest season that premiered in May. Another absence that raised eyebrows is Dragon Ball, whose omission is somewhat understandable given the manga’s extended hiatus.
In conclusion, 2024 shaped up to be a notable year for anime and manga, with many beloved shows experiencing soaring viewership while iconic manga series reached their conclusions. Looking ahead, 2025 appears poised to deliver a blockbuster lineup, featuring anticipated releases like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, promising to draw massive audiences to their premieres. If fans are pleased with their favorite franchises’ performances in 2024, they should eagerly anticipate what the upcoming year holds in store.
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