The isekai is still the 'gold mine' of anime

In the anime industry, each season brings with it a wide variety of new series, and one genre that is never missing is that of "isekai". This genre, which includes stories of characters who are transported to alternate worlds, has gained steady popularity and remains a safe bet for production companies. From classic "reincarnation" narratives that begin with "one day, suddenly, an accident happened" to the most recent and popular "villain" stories, isekai is present in many of the new series premiering this summer.

A notable feature of isekai is that many of these stories have their origins in online novel publishing sites, such as "Shousetsuka ni Narou", which has earned them the name "narou-kei". A key player in this phenomenon is the publishing house AlphaPolis.

AlphaPolis, founded in 2000 and listed on the growth market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has specialized in publishing popular works that emerged on the Internet. The company manages a web platform where any user can publish and register their novels or mangas. This strategy has allowed AlphaPolis to become a benchmark in the publication of online hits.

Currently, three of its franchises, "Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy (Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu)", "THE NEW GATE" and "Re:Monster", are streaming their anime adaptations, demonstrating the publisher's ability to bring works from digital to the mainstream.

In its 2023 financial report, AlphaPolis announced revenue growth for the seventh consecutive year and surpassed 10 billion yen in sales for the first time. Although operating profit declined due to increased production costs and changes in royalty rates, sales exceeded expectations with an increase of 11.3%. This growth is attributed to the increase in the number of publications, expansion strategies, and the effects of adapting their works to anime.

When breaking down revenue by media type, digital books accounted for approximately 80% of sales, far outpacing print media. For example, the "Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy" franchise has sold a total of 4.4 million copies, with a first print edition of 97,000 copies.

AlphaPolis plans to significantly increase its investment in anime production with the goal of increasing the profits of this sector by twenty times by 2030. Currently, six of its series are slated to be adapted into anime. These include "Isekai Yururi Kikou: Raising Children While Being an Adventurer," which will premiere in July on TV Tokyo, and "Good Bye, Dragon Life (Sayounara Ryuusei, Konnichiwa Jinsei)," which will air in October on TBS.

With these efforts, AlphaPolis aims to consolidate its position as a comprehensive publisher, discovering and producing hits that capture the attention of a global audience.

Source: Otaku Souken