That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Success in Japan, Modest Performance Abroad

The popular isekai series That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime continues to dominate sales in Japan, but has not achieved the same success on the international market. Although it has taken first place in manga sales in Japan, the series has faced strong competition in other countries, being outsold by sports, mystery and other isekai franchises.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime dominates the Japanese market

According to recent data from PR Times, based on sales on the BookWalker e-book platform, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime topped the sales rankings in Japan in 2024. The series, which is published in the magazine Monthly Shonen Sirius, outsold popular titles such as Tokyo Revengers and The Saga of Tanya the Evil. The third season of the anime, which aired between April and September 2024 with 24 episodes, was also a big hit with Japanese viewers. The quick announcement of a fourth season and a new movie after the end of the third season further strengthens its popularity in the country.

Top 10 manga and novel sales in Japan (2024)

1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime(Manga)
2. Tokyo Revengers (Manga)
3. The Saga of Tanya the Evil (Manga)
4. Ascendance of a Bookworm(Light Novel)
5. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (Manga)
6. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody(Light Novel)
7. The Irregular at Magic High School (Light Novel)
8. Blue Lock (Manga)
9. Shangri-La Frontier (Manga)
10. Kingdom (Manga)

Modest international performance

Despite its overwhelming success in Japan, the performance of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime was not reflected in international markets such as the United States, Taiwan and Thailand. In BookWalker’s global rankings, the series did not appear in the top 10 bestsellers in any of these regions.

In international markets, other titles dominated sales. For example, the light novel Ascendance of a Bookworm, written by Miya Kazuki, was the best-selling title globally in 2024. In Taiwan, the sports manga Haikyu!!! topped the sales charts, while in Thailand the classic detective novel Detective Conan took first place.

Top 10 global sales (2024)

1. Ascendance of a Bookworm (Light Novel)
2. Attack on Titan (Manga)
3. Tokyo Revengers (Manga)
4. Trinity Seven: Seven Magical Book Masters (Manga)
5. Fire Force (Manga)
6. Invaders of the Rokujouma!? (Light Novel)
7. Fairy Tail (Manga)
8. The Seven Deadly Sins (Manga)
9. Chihayafuru (Manga)
10. Black Butler (Manga)

Factors influencing the international performance of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

The uneven success of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime across markets can be attributed to a number of factors:

• Cultural preferences: International audiences tend to have different tastes when it comes to Japanese content. While isekai is extremely popular in Japan, genres such as sports and mystery seem to have more appeal outside the country.
• Competition with Big Franchises: Titles like Attack on Titanwhich already have a consolidated global fan base and widely publicized anime adaptations, end up attracting more attention than series like Reincarnated as a Slime, which have a more specific niche.
• Distribution and Marketing: The way a series is promoted outside Japan also plays a crucial role in its international success. Some series receive more support in terms of marketing and global distribution, which may explain why certain titles dominate the lists outside Japan.

Conclusion

While That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime continues to be a phenomenon within Japan, its international impact is still limited when compared to other popular manga and light novel franchises. However, with a new season and a movie scheduled for release soon, there is potential for the series to expand its global audience in the coming years.

Source: PR Times

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