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My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer become rivals for the title of best-selling manga in 2021, but the champion belongs to another series.
My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer stand as two of the most successful manga of the past year. These two iconic series have sold millions of copies, with fans expecting them to dominate the sales charts in 2021. However, a rising star, Jujutsu Kaisen, emerges as the ultimate champion.
Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayer began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014. While the manga concluded last year, it continues to enjoy staggering revenue figures.
This success is attributed not only to Demon Slayer's growing popularity over the past two years but also to the release of the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train anime film. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train became the highest-grossing anime in Japan and internationally, surpassing Spirited Away, which previously held the top spot.
On the other hand, My Hero Academia, also starting its serialization the same year as Demon Slayer, remains ongoing. It has consistently maintained its position as one of the top anime/manga series in Japan and internationally. In the race to become the best-selling manga of 2021, Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia were formidable opponents, but the ultimate victory goes to another manga.
Shonen Jump News announces the manga sales figures for the year, with Jujutsu Kaisen leading, followed by Demon Slayer, and Tokyo Revengers securing the third spot.
Despite fluctuations in revenue among anime series in recent months, Jujutsu Kaisen maintains its position as the top manga, supported by various factors.
Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2018, continues its success with 17 volumes and 166 chapters. It revolves around the protagonist Yuji Itadori, deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Few know it's a sequel to Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, also known as Jujustu Kaisen #0.
Jujutsu Kaisen ranks among the top 50 best-selling manga of all time, despite facing temporary setbacks earlier this year. With continued revenue growth, it could break into the top 20 alongside manga like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, and Bleach.
This year, Crunchyroll awarded Jujutsu Kaisen the title of 'Anime of the Year'. Despite not having the same widespread recognition as many manga, it continues to develop and may achieve even greater success in the years to come. It has already surpassed the previous champions of 2019 and 2020, Demon Slayer.
There's a possibility that Demon Slayer will reclaim its position as one of the top-selling manga of 2022, although it would require remarkable feats. My Hero Academia was overshadowed by One Piece for several years before Demon Slayer took the lead.
The manga sales for the next year are sure to be intriguing: will My Hero Academia finally clinch the top spot, or will Jujutsu Kaisen continue to prove itself as a 'backbone series' for Shonen Jump, following in the footsteps of Demon Slayer's success?
