While it is true that Blu-ray/DVD sales are no longer an indicator of success for an anime production, The fact that a series has fans willing to invest money in buying this type of product definitely indicates popularity and a promising future.. That’s why Japanese fans still hold the Blu-ray/DVD sales numbers in high regard, and even keep an eye on the reservation rankings.
That is what brings us together today, since nearing the end of the season of Summer-2023 (June-September) and before the release of the first Blu-ray/DVD of the streaming anime, it is the perfect time to review which are the series with the highest number of physical discs reserved so far on Amazon Japan. To the surprise of few and coinciding with the streaming rankings, the second season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation dominates the list in the first position.
This is followed by Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror in the second position, a spin-off series of Love Live! Sunshine!!; and then Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season in the third position. We can realize that the TOP 3 is occupied by nothing more than continuations or spin-offs of other animes, which is why some infer that the new series released during this season did not have much acceptance.
If you are interested in the “new series” that managed to sneak into this list of reservations, then Dekiru Neko wa Kyou mo Yuuutsu (The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today) has the fourth position; Ayakashi Triangle has the fifth position; Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon (My Happy Marriage) has the seventh position; and Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout The Animation complete the TOP 10 in tenth position.
Of course, this listing attracted a variety of comments on opinion forums in Japan:
- «Even as a spin-off of Love Live!, it was able to get a fair amount of bookings.».
- «I don’t know what happens with the physical discs, but they are sold less and less».
- «Although it’s been a pretty bad season, I’m surprised there are still Blu-ray/DVD sales».
- «In the end, only sequels like Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation succeed, no new series managed to catch the eye of the majority.».
- «Last year, Lycoris Recoil revived the Blu-ray/DVD market, and last year Lycoris Recoil and Bocchi the Rock! did, but it looks like neither will be able to do it this year.».
- «Today, a second season is defined by streaming success, not Blu-ray/DVD sales. Unfortunately, that has led to many series that are not popular in Japan but get a sequel just because many people from abroad watched it.».
Fountain: nijipoi
