KADOKAWA shared details on their top-earning titles for the October through December 2023 financial period when they reported third-quarter results on February 8th, 2024.
In the category of videos/movies that brought in the most sales revenue, the anime series Oshi no Ko came out at number one.
It was followed by other popular anime titles like My Happy Marriage in second place, The Eminence in Shadow in third place, and Overlord after that to round out the top video titles.
For KADOKAWA’s publishing division, the light novel Mushoku Tensei was the best-selling title that generated the highest sales during the third quarter.
Most Profitable KADOKAWA Anime Shows In the Third Quarter of 2024
KADOKAWA provided a ranking of their top-earning video titles for the third quarter ranging from long-running anime series to recent 2023 shows. This list spans different broadcast years, covering both all-time favorites and hot new hits.
Taking the number one video spot was the anime Oshi no Ko which first aired in 2023. Following in second place was My Happy Marriage which debuted in 2023 as well. Third was the 2022 anime The Eminence In Shadow.
| Rank | Title | Started In |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshi no Ko | 2023 |
| 2 | My Happy Marriage | 2023 |
| 3 | The Eminence In Shadow | 2022 |
| 4 | Overlord | 2015 |
| 5 | Bungo Stray Dogs | 2016 |
| 6 | KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! | 2016 |
| 7 | Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World | 2016 |
| 8 | The Rising of the Shield Hero | 2019 |
| 9 | Gamera | 1965 |
| 10 | Spy Classroom | 2023 |
Long-running series also made the top ten list with Overlord, Bungo Stray Dogs, and KonoSuba securing fourth through sixth place – these series began in 2015, 2016, and 2016 respectively.
Additional top titles were Re:Zero from 2016, the rising anime hit The Rising of the Shield Hero from 2019, the classic Gamera films from 1965, and the new series Spy Classroom from 2023.
Most Profitable KADOKAWA Manga Series In the Third Quarter of 2024
Mushoku Tensei also came out on top as KADOKAWA’s most profitable manga series for the October-December 2023 period.
The series, which debuted in 2014, beat out several other long-running titles.
Coming in second place was the enduringly popular Sword Art Online manga, which premiered all the way back in 2009. Despite being 15 years old, it continued to drive strong sales.
| Rank | Title | Started In |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mushoku Tensei | 2014 |
| 2 | Sword Art Online | 2009 |
| 3 | Pan Dorobo | 2020 |
| 4 | My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 | 2020 |
| 5 | The Eminence in Shadow | 2018 |
| 6 | A Certain Scientific Railgun | 2007 |
| 7 | Bungo Stray Dogs | 2013 |
| 8 | Kadokawa Manga Gakushu Series | 2015 |
| 9 | Dungeon Meshi | 2015 |
| 10 | My Happy Marriage | 2019 |
Pan Dorobo, a relatively newer series from 2020 took third place.
The rest of the top ten manga list featured a mix of newer hits and veteran series. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 has seen only 4 years of publication but ranked fourth. The Eminence in Shadow from 2018 came in fifth.
Science fiction manga A Certain Scientific Railgun, first published in 2007, took sixth place.
Rounding out the list was the comedy manga Bungo Stray Dogs (2013), the educational Kadokawa Manga Gakushu Series (2015), the fantasy cooking series Dungeon Meshi (2015), and the 2019 title My Happy Marriage in Tenth.
KADOKAWA’s Total Net Sales Ranking Across Multimedia Platforms
In addition to breaking down top performers by video and publishing, KADOKAWA also shared a ranking of titles based on total cumulative net sales combining different business areas like anime, manga, light novels, and gaming.
The number one spot for total net sales was taken by the breakout anime hit Oshi no Ko.
Its sales all came from the anime itself, as depicted in light blue. Right behind it in second place for total cumulative earnings was The Eminence in Shadow, represented in part by dark blue showing revenue from publishing in addition to its anime success.
- Oshi no Ko
- The Eminence In Shadow
- Bungo Stray Dogs
- My Happy Marriage
- Overlord
- Re:Zero
- Mushoku Tensei
- KonoSuba
- Sword Art Online
- Pan Dorobo
Enduring manga and anime franchise Bungo Stray Dogs took third place, earning from publishing, gaming, and its anime adaptation.
Other top titles driving significant sales across business units were My Happy Marriage in fourth place; the long-running light novel and anime series Overlord and Re:Zero taking fifth and sixth place;
Mushoku Tensei in seventh, earning from its manga and anime; comedy favorite KonoSuba in eighth place; veteran light novel and anime Sword Art Online in ninth and another newer series Pan Dorobo rounding out the top ten.
1. Oshi no Ko
Gorou Amamiya was an obstetrician admiring pop idol Ai Hoshino. He helped deliver Ai’s twin babies, Aqua and Ruby, in secret. But Gorou was murdered by an obsessive fan on the night of the birth.
Gorou was reincarnated as Aqua, retaining memories of his past life. Ruby’s soul was reincarnated too. When the twins were 4, Ai was killed by the same fan who then committed suicide. Aqua wondered if their father assisted the murderer and vowed revenge.
12 years later, Aqua and Ruby were adopted by the owners of Ai’s talent agency. Ruby dreamed of being an idol like Ai and joined an idol group. Aqua returned to acting to find his father. Both began careers in entertainment.
Aqua discovered his co-star shared the same father who had died. But he learned his father may be actor Hikaru Kamiki, who is alive. Ruby found Gorou’s corpse and realized who truly killed him and Ai.
Their discoveries fueled their revenge motives. But they manipulated situations, losing trust in each other. Aqua leaked their relation to Ai.
Aqua wrote a film based on Ai to attract Hikaru. Ruby aggressively got the lead role. Confronting her past life’s mother made the twins realize each other’s true identities.
2. The Eminence In Shadow
In modern Japan, a boy named Minoru dreamed of exerting power from the shadows. He died in an accident and was reborn in a fantasy world as Cid. Cid decided to secretly nurture his dream while acting average.
Cid cured an ailing elven girl named Alpha. He lied that an evil Cult of Diablos controls the world, and he leads a group called Shadow Garden fighting them. Alpha eagerly joined Shadow Garden to help Cid.
Unbeknownst to Alpha, Cid’s made-up struggle reflected reality.
As his alias Shadow, Cid engaged in actual political conflicts and magical fights against forces he had pretended to exist.
Cid became entangled in the fantasy world’s real conflicts, with his fabricated story blurring with the truth. The aspiring mastermind now faced the challenges of living up to his created Shadow role and leading Shadow Garden against genuine threats like the Cult of Diablos.
3. Bungo Stray Dogs
The story follows Atsushi Nakajima, an orphan with the supernatural ability to transform into a white tiger. After being kicked out of his orphanage, Atsushi saves Detective Osamu Dazai from drowning.
Dazai recruits Atsushi to the Armed Detective Agency in Yokohama, a city filled with supernatural powers. There, Atsushi meets other gifted detectives and tackles cases while being targeted by mafia member Ryūnosuke Akutagawa for the bounty on his head.
Atsushi also encounters Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, leader of the Guild, who wants the reality-altering book linked to Atsushi’s tiger power. Fitzgerald tries destroying Yokohama for it but is defeated when Atsushi and Akutagawa team up.
Later, Fyodor Dostoyevsky orchestrates events to steal the book and erase all gifted people. However, true leader Natsume Soseki intervenes, while Atsushi and Akutagawa corner the virus’ originator. Dazai arrests Dostoyevsky but realizes he planned his capture to direct his followers.
The key elements are Atsushi’s special ability, joining the detectives, being targeted by the mafia, stopping destruction by the Guild, and ultimately confronting threats trying to erase gifted individuals.
4. My Happy Marriage
The story is set in an alternative Taishō era where spirits and magic exist but are declining. Miyo Saimori has no supernatural powers and is forced to serve her abusive stepmother.
When Miyo comes of age for marriage, she discovers her fiancé is Kiyoka Kudou, a supposedly cruel commander whose previous brides all fled quickly. With nowhere to go, Miyo resigns herself to her fate.
However, Miyo finds her pale yet handsome husband-to-be is not the monster she expected. As they open up to each other, Miyo and Kiyoka realize they have found true love and happiness in their arranged marriage.
The key points are the magical setting, Miyo’s difficult upbringing, and her initial dread regarding the engagement, followed by the discovery that Kiyoka is actually caring, leading to them building a loving relationship.
5. Overlord
In 2126, an advanced VR game called YGGDRASIL was shutting down after a 12-year run. One of its top guilds, Ainz Ooal Gown, once had 41 members, but most quit. Only the guild leader Momonga remains at the end.
When the servers are to shut down, Momonga finds the game world hasn’t disappeared. Instead, Nazarick and its NPCs seem to have become real. Momonga is trapped as his skeletal mage avatar is unable to log out.
With no other options, Momonga, now using his guild name Ainz Ooal Gown, decides to explore this new real world to find other players and figure out what happened. He aims to ensure Nazarick’s safety too.
In-game mechanics seem to modify Ainz’s behavior, removing ethical concerns and qualms about killing. The story examines the psychology of a near-omnipotent being unrestrained by morals.
The key details are the advanced game, Momonga remaining to the forced shutdown, the game world becoming real, him using his guild name to find others, and the mechanics altering his morality as he gains power.
6. Re:Zero
Subaru Natsuki is suddenly transported from his ordinary life to a fantasy world. There, he is quickly attacked by thugs and beaten. A beautiful girl named Satella, chasing the thief of her insignia, happens upon Subaru and saves him.
To thank her, Subaru helps search for her stolen insignia and manages to locate it. But mysteriously, they are then brutally murdered.
Subaru then shockingly reawakens to the same chain of events happening again – meeting the thugs and Satella. History is repeating itself unexplainably.
The key points are the transportation to a fantasy world, getting saved by Satella, helping find her insignia but then being killed, only to reawaken with events repeating. The core mystery is the unexplained time loop occurring to Subaru.
7. Mushoku Tensei
An unnamed 34-year old obese Japanese shut-in dies saving teenagers from a truck and reincarnates as Rudeus in a fantasy world. He resolves to be successful in his new life, becoming a gifted mage.
Rudeus trains under magician Roxy and befriends demihuman Sylphiette and noble Eris. Finally feeling at home, a catastrophe teleports many away, causing deaths.
Stranded far from home with Eris, Rudeus decides to escort her back aided by warrior Ruijerd. On the arduous journey, a mysterious spirit gives Rudeus questionable advice.
After years of struggle and losing to mighty warrior Orsted, Rudeus succeeds taking Eris back, but politics and a misunderstanding heartbreakingly separate them.
The key points are his rebirth after sacrifice, becoming a talented mage, the disaster killing many, the long escort of Eris home, defeat by Orsted, and the bittersweet end with Eris.
8. KonoSuba
After an embarrassing death, Japanese shut-in NEET Kazuma Satou meets goddess Aqua.
She offers to reincarnate him in an RPG fantasy world where he can battle monsters. Despite options for powers, Kazuma picks Aqua to join him but finds her absent-mindedness unhelpful.
Unable to return until the Devil King is defeated, Kazuma and Aqua form a dysfunctional party by recruiting explosion-mage Megumin and masochistic crusader Darkness.
Due to his party’s ineffective abilities, Kazuma gives up on defeating the Devil King and tries living comfortably. However, circumstances keep forcing encounters with the Devil King’s generals.
The key points are – his rebirth offer from Aqua, forming a dysfunctional party, giving up defeating the Devil King because of the party’s quirks, and continuing to unwillingly battle generals.
9. Sword Art Online
In 2022, a revolutionary VR game called Sword Art Online (SAO) traps 10,000 players inside. The creator forces them to beat all 100 floors or die in real life if they die in-game or try logging out. A tester named Kirito takes advantage of his experience while playing solo as a “beater.”
He befriends and later marries a girl named Asuna in-game. After discovering the game creator’s secret identity as a guild leader, they defeat him, freeing themselves and the surviving players.
In the real world, Kirito finds out that 300 players including Asuna remain trapped in VR headsets. Visiting Asuna’s hospital, he meets her father and a man named Sugou who reveals plans to marry Asuna against her wishes.
Months later, Kirito entered another VR game called Alfheim Online after hearing Asuna was spotted there. Aided by his sister and an AI ally, he learns Sugou is experimenting on trapped player minds for control and profit. Kirito foils Sugou’s plans and rescues Asuna and the remaining 300 SAO players.
Before Kirito leaves, the uploaded mind of SAO’s creator gives him a program to create VR worlds. He reunites with Asuna in reality, stops Sugou’s attack, and releases the program online, reviving Aincrad as more VR games thrive.
