The Unfortunate Downfall of Shaman King - PART 3

In PART 1 of our series, we discussed the reasons why Shaman King had a downfall due to the working conditions of the manga industry, and it's cultural impact in the mainstream. In PART 2, we looked at some reasons that the community offered on the topic. 

One aspect that wasn't touched on in either of these sections however was the role that anime plays in the success of a manga series. 

Having an anime adaptation can significantly affect the sales of a manga series. In many cases, the anime adaptation can lead to a surge in manga sales, as people who watch the anime become interested in reading the manga. This is especially true for popular anime series, such as Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia.

There are a few reasons why an anime adaptation can boost manga sales. First, the anime can help to introduce the manga to a wider audience. People who might not have otherwise heard of the manga may be interested in checking it out after watching the anime. Second, the anime can help to promote the manga. The anime can generate buzz and excitement for the manga, which can lead to increased sales. Third, the anime can help to improve the manga's visuals. The anime can bring the manga's characters and world to life in a way that the manga cannot, which can make the manga more appealing to readers.

 

 

Of course, not every anime adaptation leads to increased manga sales. There are a number of factors that can affect whether or not an anime adaptation is successful, such as the quality of the anime, the popularity of the source material, and the marketing campaign. However, in general, having an anime adaptation is a good way to boost the sales of a manga series.

Here are some examples of manga series that saw a significant increase in sales after they received an anime adaptation:

• Demon Slayer (2019): The manga's sales increased by over 200% after the anime adaptation aired.
• Attack on Titan (2013): The manga's sales increased by over 100% after the anime adaptation aired.
• My Hero Academia (2016): The manga's sales increased by over 50% after the anime adaptation aired.

 

Reddit user Reggiegrease states:

I think the anime needs to be considered very heavily as well. For a more modern example we can all have seen with our own eyes, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen were not big names anywhere in the anime or manga games until their anime came out. Hell, American fans didn’t even enjoy the series enough for them to continue publishing in American WSJ back when that was a thing. Even Chainsaw man wasn’t talked about much outside of diehard manga forums. Now look at where all these series are now.

Almost all big manga series got their huge boom from a successful anime. And the fact of the matter is that both of Shaman King’s anime series kinda suck. From the early English anime getting the 4kids treatment and suffering the same fate as early American One Piece. To an abridged series level Netflix adaptation.

Shaman King didn’t have a good anime to give the manga the push it needed to find that huge success. Especially at a time when WSJ was at arguably one of the greatest peaks of all time, with series like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, and Death Note. It’s hard for Shaman King to standout among these giants.

 

All in all, Shaman King was definitely a hit at one point, and was able to garner a massive fan base. Selling over 40 million is no easy feat and with the new 3-in-1 volume sets that are currently being sold, maybe Shaman King will have ANOTHER resurgence where it may get the popularity that it's creator wanted.