In a new report, the public learned that the third Blu-ray/DVD of the anime "Solo Leveling" failed to sell well in Japan. The DVD version sold only 91 copies, while the Blu-ray version did not reach the required number to enter the Oricon weekly ranking.
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To give fans an idea, the last place is held by "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really…", with 591 copies, indicating that "Solo Leveling" sold less. This result reinforces the negative trend in physical sales of "Solo Leveling" in Japan, where its releases have consistently ranked near the bottom of the charts.
However, several factors may be contributing to this performance. One of them is the proliferation of streaming services, which has significantly displaced Blu-ray/DVD consumption. Therefore, it's important to highlight that other franchises still manage to sell tens of thousands of units in this market, suggesting that "Solo Leveling" faces additional challenges.
South Korean origin of "Solo Leveling." The franchise may be affected by the historical and cultural rivalry between Japanese and South Koreans, which could explain the lack of support in Japan. In this context, Rahul Purini , CEO of Crunchyroll, stated that the production of the "Solo Leveling" series was commissioned with the goal of reaching a global audience, not necessarily a Japanese one.
Finally, the phenomenon highlights the importance of launch strategies adapted to the specificities of each region, especially in a market as competitive and diverse as the Japanese one.
Furthermore, the anime premiered on January 7, 2024, by A-1 Pictures, a studio known for anime such as Sword Art Online, among many others.
Source: X (Twitter)