In a surprising twist, the anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc” sold 8,794 copies of its first Blu-ray/DVD in the first week. While it was an impressive number, it wasn't enough to surpass “Girl Band Cry”an original musical anime for high school girls that took the Spring 2024 season (April-June) by storm. “Girl Band Cry” managed to sell 12,226 copies of its first Blu-ray/DVD in its first week, setting a new record for the season.

Historically, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” dominated Blu-ray/DVD sales during the seasons in which its series aired, establishing itself as one of the most popular and successful titles. However, it seems that the trend has changed, now favoring high school girl gang series.

“Girl Band Cry” captured audiences' attention with its combination of music, drama, and captivating characters, which led to its remarkable sales success. This shift in audience preferences suggests an evolution in the tastes of anime fans, who are now seeking new experiences and new genres.

With these results, it is clear that the competition in the anime industry is more competitive than ever, and even the most established franchises must innovate and adapt to maintain their market position. It will be interesting to see how “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” and other popular series respond to this challenge in the coming seasons.

• «Kimetsu no Yaiba will have a guaranteed victory with the Infinite Castle arc film. So everything is fine. I think that's part of the plan. A failure in the film trilogy is practically impossible.».
• «It's hard to imagine that the next installments of Girls Band Cry will drop significantly in sales. While there are discounts, Blu-ray buyers these days are happy to do so for a small price difference.».
• «Was there anything in the fourth season of Kimetsu no Yaiba that could surpass ten thousand copies? The final part of the Blacksmith Village Arc didn't reach that number upon its release.».
• «It's more or less expected that Kimetsu no Yaiba won't sell more than ten thousand copies. Without streaming, it won't be successful. Furthermore, it lacks elements that appeal to children.».
• «Finally, the Kimetsu no Yaiba TV series ended with the final season».
• «Has Kimetsu no Yaiba lost about three thousand copies since the third season? Is it too early to declare Girls Band Cry the champion of the year?».
• «Everyone sees it because others see it. Movies will go viral this way.».
• «These days, otakus who buy Blu-rays always seem to be hoping for the "dark horse" of each season.».
• «The difference with Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete is 4,000 copies».
• «Kimetsu no Yaiba stopped including event tickets after the Blacksmith Village Arc, so they've probably reached their Blu-ray sales target. While I don't think they'll return to television, they might make an edited version like Infinity Train.».
• «Unless Girls Band Cry dominates as much as Lycoris Recoil or Bocchi the Rock!, selling 15,000 copies isn't enough. It wouldn't be surprising if it lost its spot in the second half of the year.».
• «While it's not the best-selling series, surpassing ten thousand copies is enough. Initially, no one expected it to sell so much. CD sales are also going well, so it's been a huge success.».

Source: Yaraon!