FUNimation has been steadily gaining in market share recently as its competitors have faltered, according to a report in the recently released ICv2 Guide #59: Anime/Manga (see “ICv2 Releases ICv2 Guide #59: Anime/Manga”).  The market share info from VideoScan data showed FUNImation at 32.7% in the first half of 2008.  It’s worth noting that VideoScan numbers do not include Wal-Mart, which may sell as much as 30-40% of all anime in the U.S.  If Wal-Mart were included, it’s likely that FUNImation's market share would be larger than the number provided here due to the company's significant presence in the country's largest retailer. 

FUNimation’s share is only going up in the second half of 2008, as titles from ADV and Geneon are added to its portfolio (see “ADV, Geneon Worth $7-$10 Million”). 

Meanwhile in the manga space, sales appear to have been stable to up a little in the first half of 2008, although significant cuts in the number of new releases in the second half of the year may change that picture.  New series are doing well, with six new series in ICv2’s Top 50 Manga Properties for the early summer period, based on sales through all channels.