On September 18, the Japan Video Software Association announced its survey results on Japanese video software sales from January to June of 2011.
The overall market, which includes DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BDs) but not UMDs, amounted to 125.640 billion yen (about US$1.6434 billion). That represented a 5.3% increases from the same period last year. This was the first such increase during the January-June timeframe in five years. Sales had dropped in the first half of 2009, but the decline for all of 2009 was smaller than previous years as the market showed signs of reaching its bottom.
Much of the growth came from the Blu-ray market, as overall Blu-ray sales grew 38.3% from the same period last year to 24.405 billion yen (US$319.22 million). However, DVD sales dropped again 0.5% to 101.235 billion yen (US$1.32415 billion). The ratio of DVD to Blu-ray sales was 81:19.
The penetration of the Blu-ray format has been increasing in the animation segments. Blu-ray made up 38.6% of all animation sales. In particular, Blu-ray made up 44% of the sales in Japanese animation for young adults and adults. (This segment includes most late-night television anime.)
The four animation segments — Japanese animation for young adults and adults, overseas animation for young adults and adults, Japanese animation for children, and overseas animation for children — totaled 38.094 billion yen (US$498.27 million). This represents a year-to-year increase of 8.6%. 86% of that total was sales of Japanese animation for young adults and adults.
Japanese animation for young adults and adults rose 7.6% to 32.746 billion yen (US$428.32 million). Overseas animation for young adults and adults, Japanese animation for children, and overseas animation for children totaled 1.261 billion yen (US$16.49 million), 3.331 billion yen (US$43.57 million), and 756 million yen (US$9.89 million), respectively.
Japanese animation for young adults and adults continues to make up the largest segment of the overall retail market. Its share of the market actually increased 3.7% year-to-year to 29.5%. On the other hand, it is the second largest segment of the rental market at 18.3%. (Foreign films make up the largest at 18.8%.)
Source: ANN