There’s been a decline in fans’ interest in digital copies.
The prices are too high; viewers don’t see the point in buying copies.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren) Season 1 finished a bit over a month ago, and since there hasn’t been a Season 2 announcement, the next exciting thing for the fandom is the digital release of the series.
The first three Blu-ray & DVD volumes were released earlier this year, but Volume 4 is a rather fresh thing, since it came out on April 17, 2024. The volume sold 6,765 copies during its first week, but it’s not this number exactly that fans are worried about, it’s other things.
This number of copies sold in one week is far from being bad, but it’s also nothing spectacular. For example, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Volume 7 sold 9,516 copies, and Spy x Family Season 2 Volume 3 sold 4,296 copies, which leaves Frieren somewhere in the middle of the success chart.
Prices Are Outrageous
Fans are more concerned about the prices of Blu-ray & DVD copies and how much sense it actually makes to support their favorite anime by buying them.
Each Frieren digital volume features just four episodes of the series, and yet they cost 13,200 Japanese yen, which is about $85 (for the Blu-ray version).
Of course, there’s some extra content in each of the volumes, such as illustrations and booklets, but the fact remains: you pay $85 for four episodes. Fans think the price is insane.
If all the upcoming digital volumes include 4 episodes as well, Frieren Season 1 will come in 7 digital volumes. By paying about $85 per each, you’re spending almost $600 just to have one season of your favorite anime. You have to really love the series to be ready to do this.
Fans admit that spending $100 or even a bit more on an entire season of an anime feels like not such a bad deal, but buying a single volume for that price seems too much.
End of Digital Copies
Digital copies sales numbers are decreasing more and more, and it’s not just a Frieren issue. A lot of fans just don’t see the point in spending this much money on a copy when they can purchase a streaming service subscription for a much lesser price. They can live without bonus booklets.
Right now it feels like only the most hardcore fans are ready to buy digital copies of an anime, and this should be worrisome for production companies. Fans are ready to legally support their favorite shows, but they just can’t always afford it.
There’s been a decline in fans’ interest in digital copies.
The prices are too high; viewers don’t see the point in buying copies.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren) Season 1 finished a bit over a month ago, and since there hasn’t been a Season 2 announcement, the next exciting thing for the fandom is the digital release of the series.
The first three Blu-ray & DVD volumes were released earlier this year, but Volume 4 is a rather fresh thing, since it came out on April 17, 2024. The volume sold 6,765 copies during its first week, but it’s not this number exactly that fans are worried about, it’s other things.
This number of copies sold in one week is far from being bad, but it’s also nothing spectacular. For example, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Volume 7 sold 9,516 copies, and Spy x Family Season 2 Volume 3 sold 4,296 copies, which leaves Frieren somewhere in the middle of the success chart.
Prices Are Outrageous
Fans are more concerned about the prices of Blu-ray & DVD copies and how much sense it actually makes to support their favorite anime by buying them.
Each Frieren digital volume features just four episodes of the series, and yet they cost 13,200 Japanese yen, which is about $85 (for the Blu-ray version).
Of course, there’s some extra content in each of the volumes, such as illustrations and booklets, but the fact remains: you pay $85 for four episodes. Fans think the price is insane.
If all the upcoming digital volumes include 4 episodes as well, Frieren Season 1 will come in 7 digital volumes. By paying about $85 per each, you’re spending almost $600 just to have one season of your favorite anime. You have to really love the series to be ready to do this.
Fans admit that spending $100 or even a bit more on an entire season of an anime feels like not such a bad deal, but buying a single volume for that price seems too much.
End of Digital Copies
Digital copies sales numbers are decreasing more and more, and it’s not just a Frieren issue. A lot of fans just don’t see the point in spending this much money on a copy when they can purchase a streaming service subscription for a much lesser price. They can live without bonus booklets.
Right now it feels like only the most hardcore fans are ready to buy digital copies of an anime, and this should be worrisome for production companies. Fans are ready to legally support their favorite shows, but they just can’t always afford it.
