Anime Home Video Sales Plummet 31 Percent in 2025
The 34 percent sales decline marks the fastest drop in at least 25 years, confirming that the home video market has become a secondary revenue stream as streaming dominates anime consumption.
Reporting from 1 sources: Animenomics.
Japan's domestic anime home video market fell 31 percent in 2025 to ¥18.7 billion ($118 million), according to the Japan Video Software Association's annual survey. Sales revenue dropped 34 percent to ¥16.3 billion ($103 million), the fastest rate of decline in at least 25 years excluding a 2022 post-pandemic correction. Unit sales fell more than 36 percent to 2.3 million discs, about half the volume sold in 2020. Rental revenue posted its first gain in nearly 20 years, rising 7.8 percent to ¥2.35 billion ($14.8 million). Streaming revenue among JVA members increased 48 percent from 2024 and is now 2.4 times the 2021 figure. The JVA reorganized its animation home video categories starting with the 2025 edition, shifting from target age demographics to original medium categories such as television, direct-to-video, or film. Anime home video revenue is now less than one-fifth of its 2005 peak. The report also notes that manufacturers are packing more episodes per release, pushing the average sales price per unit up 35 percent over the last decade.
The Japan Video Software Association's annual survey covers sales and rental data from its member companies. The 31 percent overall market decline includes a 34 percent drop in sales revenue and a 36 percent drop in unit sales. The rental segment, which had been in long-term decline, saw its first increase in nearly 20 years. Streaming revenue among JVA members grew 48 percent year-over-year and is now 2.4 times the 2021 figure. The JVA also changed its category structure for the 2025 edition, moving from age-based demographics to categories based on original medium. The report notes that manufacturers are including more episodes per release, raising the average sales price per unit by 35 percent over the past decade. Anime home video revenue is now less than one-fifth of its peak in 2005, before the DVD bubble burst.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.