In the anime industry, each season
brings with it a wide variety of new series, and one genre that is never
lacking is that of “ isekai .” This
genre, which includes stories of characters who are transported to alternative
worlds, has gained constant popularity and remains a safe bet for production
companies. From the classic “reincarnation” narratives that begin with “one
day, suddenly, an accident happened” to the more 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 originate from 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
broadcasting their anime adaptations, demonstrating the publisher's ability to
bring works of the digital format 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 decreased 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 the adaptation of their works to anime.
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 multiplying the
profits of this sector twenty-fold by 2030. Currently,
six of its series are scheduled to be adapted into anime. Among them, “ 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
