Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Why Some Anime Get New Seasons and Others Don’t

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
5 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Date A Live And Why Some Anime Get New Seasons 01

Did you ever wonder why some anime get new seasons while others don’t?

I started watching the currently-running third season of Date A Live, a silly-but-fun harem show about a future in which the Earth experiences “spacequakes” which cause spirits (who appear as cute anime girls, naturally) to enter our world from neighboring dimensions. In order to eliminate the threat to humanity, a mild-mannered high school boy named Itsuki must go on dates with the mysterious female spirits and make them fall in love with him. Because of anime.

One question I’m interested in is, why some anime get new seasons as well as gorgeous figures, while other shows which are just as worthy get only one season and no merchandise at all? J-List has had dozens of figures from Date A Live right now, while other series that fans loved just as much get table scraps if that.

There are many examples of this phenomenon. Why did The Familiar of Zero get four glorious seasons and a huge number of amazing figures, while Toradora!, arguably the same show but with fewer Harry Potter references, got like two figures? Why was Please Teacher! blessed with perhaps 50 gorgeous figure releases over 17 years, many of them fabulous 1/4 scale cast-off monstrosities, while AnoNatsu: Waiting in the Summer, the “sequel” to the Please-o-verse and arguably a better series, got almost none? Why did Nichijou get no merchandise at all, and why do Kyoto Animation nearly always go without figures or merchandise of any kind?

The answer to these questions is, it’s complex. Anime is usually created through the “production committee” system which brings together different companies to increase areas of competences and manage risk. A series might include creative companies like Dengeki Bunko or Mages, a merchandising expert like Bushiroad, a figure maker like Good Smile Company, a company to hassle YouTubers about copyright (*cought* Aniplex *cough*), plus broadcasters who’ll show the series on TV. While various groups contribute money into the newly created holding company, the animation studio (like SHAFT or J.C. Staff) is usually just hired to create the animation and receives only a flat fee. They also receive a percentage from Blu-ray sales, so if they’re poor, the animators will suffer.

When a series does or doesn’t get additional seasons, you can usually look at the Blu-ray sales for a clue as to why. Like many things in life, the popularity of anime seems to follow the 80/20 rule, which states that 80% of the benefit will be received by 20% of participants. Series like Love Live! Sunshine!! and Konosuba have phenomenal Blu-ray sales and get lots of figures and new seasons/movies, while shows that sell less than 1000 Blu-rays get forgotten. (Obviously throwing down $100 for a limited Blu-ray is not for every fan, but J-List does stock a lot of these for collectors.)

Other factors must come into place. For a series to get figures, it needs to have a figure company as part of its production committee, and having a competent company there can cause figure collectors to take note, leading to a virtuous circle of ongoing figure creation. If the connections aren’t in place, or the companies don’t want to take the risk of commissioning figures for a show, or if fans don’t buy the figures in high numbers, then the process can’t continue.

Did you enjoy reading about why some anime get new seasons, and others don’t? What shows would you like to see future seasons of? Tell us on Twitter!

J List English Visual Novel Package Sale 01

There’s nothing quite like collecting awesome eroge and visual novels, and seeing them displayed on your shelf is lots of fun. This week, J-List is having a very special sale on our uncensored English-translated visual novels, which are in stock in our warehouse in San Diego. It’s a great opportunity to pick up some classic games, like School Days or Shiny Days or Kana Okaeri, and save up to 40%! And best of all, if you need a download code for a package game, just contact us and we’ll send you one! See the J-List visual novel sale games here.

Tags: AnimeDate a LiveKurumi Tokisaki

More Posts Like This

Rent A Girlfriend Blog
Your Friend in Japan

5 Reasons I’m Done With Rent-a-Girlfriend!

by Peter Payne
4 weeks ago

If there's one anime guaranteed to bring out strong responses from fans, it's Rent-a-Girifriend. Whether it's debating who is "best...

Who Are The Best Silver Haired Anime Girls
Your Friend in Japan

Why Are Silver-Haired Anime Girls So Mysterious?

by Peter Payne
1 month ago

Whenever I ask a question on Twitter/X and get lots of replies from our followers, I know it's a subject...

How Do You Find Time To Watch Anime?

How Do You Find Time to Watch Anime? J-List Customers Reply!

1 month ago
What Are The Most Depressing Anime? Elfin Lied

Why is “Depressing Anime” Trending on Twitter?

1 month ago
Happy Birthday To Eri Kitamura Blog Post

Happy Birthday to Eri Kitamura? What Are Your Favorite Roles By Her?

1 month ago
What's The Worst Thing That Can Happen To Anime?

What’s the Worst Thing That Can Happen to an Anime?

1 month ago
Next Post
Dororo Anime review

The Dororo Anime Remake is an Instant Masterpiece

Trending Today

Tan Fighters List1 6
Featured

Lovely Tanned Fighters Who Need No Protection

1 day ago
Summer Heat Anime Fan Service
Your Friend in Japan

Summer Heat! What Were the Best Fan Service Moments This Season?

1 week ago
Neko Pako Fuck Paradise
Featured

J-List’s Top 11 Hentai Cosplay JAV Works

3 years ago
Bang Dream! It's My Go!!!!! Cgi Anime Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Is BanG Dream! Good Enough to Overcome Bad CGI Anime?

3 days ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Bang Dream! It's My Go!!!!! Cgi Anime Blog Post
Your Friend in Japan

Is BanG Dream! Good Enough to Overcome Bad CGI Anime?

by Peter Payne
September 22, 2023

Vending Machine Isekai Series Gets Second Season

Rurouni Kenshin, Episode 12: Rurouni vs. Okashira

Goblin Slayer II: Fall Premiere with New Studio

Blue Exorcist Returns With Shimane Illuminati Saga

My Tiny Senpai, Ep 10: Smol Contest for Big Dreams

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.