In a recent disclosure, Kadokawa unveiled a list spotlighting the top ten franchises bolstering their revenue, as part of their financial report for the third fiscal quarter (spanning October to December 2023). Topping this list, the “Oshi no Ko” series clinched the premier spot.
While Kadokawa had a hand in the production of this project (contributing to the production committee, hence budgeting and distribution), it’s noteworthy that “Oshi no Ko” is not a brainchild of their company, but of Shueisha. Thus, the revenue stream from “Oshi no Ko” for Kadokawa does not stem from manga sales or similar avenues, yet it still soared to the apex of their internal revenue chart.
Following in the revenue rankings, franchises such as “The Eminence in Shadow,” “Bungo Stray Dogs,” “My Happy Marriage,” and “Overlord” rounded out the top five. From the sixth spot onwards, in sequence, the list featured “Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-,” “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation,” “KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!,” “Sword Art Online,” and “Bandorobou (バンどろぼう).”
- In light blue, earnings from anime; in dark blue, earnings from printed publications (manga, novels, etc); in grey, earnings from video games and other media.
Contrasting with “Oshi no Ko,” the “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” franchise dominated the earnings chart for printed publications (namely, novel and manga sales), and managed to infiltrate Kadokawa’s overall earnings ranking without considering anime adaptation revenues.
And certainly, this data did not go unnoticed:
- “Undoubtedly, Oshi no Ko is a marvel.”
- “I reckon Oshi no Ko will continue to branch out into various media now that other companies are privy to this data.”
- “While the second season of Oshi no Ko is yet to be announced, I surmise they’ll bet on the already revealed live-actions first.”
- “Though Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation still has potential in anime, Sword Art Online hasn’t had anything new lately, yet it still appears in the earnings ranking!”
- “The influence of Oshi no Ko is now undeniable, capable of boosting profits even for companies not directly involved with it.”
- “It’s heartening to see Mushoku Tensei rank high in printed publication earnings, yet competing against the Oshi no Ko phenomenon is an uphill battle.”
- “It’s intriguing to see The Eminence in Shadow take second place, while Mushoku Tensei slips to seventh.”
- “I just started reading Oshi no Ko. Anticipated a romantic comedy, but it unfolded into a tale of reincarnation and mystery, quite captivating.”
- “The character interactions and reactions are deeply engaging, I fully grasp its success.”
- “It’s the opening effect. Even I, who haven’t watched the anime, am aware of the theme.”
- “I wonder if they’ll replicate the formula for the second season.”
As the curtain falls on this story, one can’t help but marvel at the dynamic landscape of media franchises. The rise of “Oshi no Ko” serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of success, transcending traditional boundaries and influencing revenue streams in unexpected ways. Share these revelations with your peers and let the discourse flourish.
Source: Yaraon!
