Despite the global success of Solo Leveling, anime studio A-1 Pictures posted a net loss of approximately $1.24 million USD (¥178 million) for the fiscal year ending March 2025. The financial results were published in the June 30 edition of Japan’s Official Gazette (Kanpo), marking a reversal from the previous year’s $168,000 USD (¥24 million) net profit.
A-1 Pictures is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. During the reporting period, the studio was involved in the production or release of the following anime titles:
- Too Many Losing Heroines!
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (Second Cour)
- Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II
- Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow
- Goddess of Victory: NIKKE – OLD TALES Special Animation (Full Version)
You can see A-1 Pictures’ official balance sheet published in the Official Gazette on June 30, 2025, for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 below.
Solo Leveling was recently confirmed as Crunchyroll’s most-viewed anime of all time, proving its international popularity. However, A-1 Pictures’ financial statement did not disclose revenue or cost breakdowns, and no explanation for the deficit was provided. Aniplex has not issued a public comment on the matter. According to the filing, the company reported:
- Total assets: ¥2.7 billion (approx. $18.9 million USD)
- Liabilities: ¥2.02 billion (approx. $14.1 million USD)
- Net assets: ¥676 million (approx. $4.7 million USD)
The loss at A-1 Pictures comes as parent company Aniplex reported mixed results. While total revenue declined by 5.4% year-over-year to ¥72.4 billion (approx. $507 million USD), operating profit rose by 2.4% to ¥8.74 billion (approx. $61.2 million USD). The company cited reduced performance in both anime and game-related businesses.
Last month, Shunsuke Muramatsu, Sony Music Entertainment Japan President, Representative Director of the Board, and Group CEO, revealed that the company is working on developing AI coloring technology for use in anime production in collaboration with its subsidiary studios.
The studio also launched Psyde Kick Studio on July 1, a new internal animation label intended to serve as a new creative outlet within the company. It was created with “with the aim of pursuing freer and more original expression, based on the production knowledge and expertise A-1 Pictures has cultivated up to now.”
Source: Gamebiz
Featured image: © Solo Leveling Animation Partners
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