Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO) released a report of the Japanese content business in North America. The report showed a steep shrinkage of the anime market in US between 2003 and 2007 (See the chart in the spoiler).
The anime market in US mostly consists of the sales of the character goods and it is strongly affected by the popularity of Pocket Monster series. The drop between 2003 and 2004 and the slight increase in 2007 reflected the business status of Pokemon. JETRO concluded that US anime market won't expand without the appearance of another big hit title comparable to Pokemon.
Ref1. US Anime DVD Sales Ranking For 2006 (The relative indexes are calculated assuming the sales of the top title as 100)
*1, 100 Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children
*2, *86 Howl's Moving Castle
*3, *31 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala
*4, *23 Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
*5, *22 Dragon Ball Z Movie 12: Fusion Reborn
*6, *20 My Neighbor Totoro
*7, *19 Inu Yasha: Guren no Houraijima
*8, *19 Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Complete Collection
*9, *18 Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Wrath of the Dragon
10, *17 Spirited Away
11, *16 Princess Mononoke
12, *11 Karas
13, *10 Whisper of the Heart
14, **9 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
15, **9 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.7
16, **9 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.9
17, **8 Samurai Champloo vol.7
18, **8 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.8
19, **8 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala Limited Edition
20, **8 Escaflowne Complete Collection
21, **7 Outlaw Star Complete Edition
22, **7 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.13
23, **7 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.11
24, **7 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.12
25, **6 Naruto Uncut Box Set vol.1
26, **6 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.10
27, **6 Fullmetal Alchemist vol.1
28. **6 Naruto vol.1
29. **5 Dragon Ball Z Movie 11: Bio-Broly
30, **5 Street Fighter II: The Movie Uncut Edition
Ref2. US Anime DVD Sales Ranking For 2007 (The relative indexes are calculated assuming the sales of the top title as 100)
*1, 100 Robotech Protoculture Collection
*2, 100 Dragon Ball Z Vegeta Saga Season 1
*3, *59 Dragon Ball Z Season 2
*4, *59 Dragon Ball Z Season 3
*5, *49 Howl's Moving Castle
*6, *48 Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
*7, *45 Afro Samurai Director's Cut
*8, *41 Pokemon Advanced Generation: The Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the Blue Waters
*9, *40 Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles
10, *40 Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children Limited Edition
11, *38 Pokemon 10th Anniversary
12, *32 Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Complete Collection
13, *32 Spirited Away
14, *31 Afro Samurai
15, *31 Elfen Lied Complete Box
16, *30 Naruto Uncut Box Set vol.3
17. *30 Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children
18, *27 Naruto: Dai Katsugeki!! Yuki Hime Shinobu Houjou Dattebayo!
19, *25 Dragon Ball Z Broly Triple Threat 3PK
20, *24 Naruto Uncut Box Set vol.4
21, *24 Hellsing Complete Collection
22. *23 Naruto Uncut Box Set vol.1
23, *23 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala Limited Edition
24, *22 My Neighbor Totoro
25, *22 Outlaw Star Complete Edition
26, *22 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shambala
27, *20 Princess Mononoke
28, *20 Naruto Uncut Box Set vol.2
29, *19 Hellsing Ultimate vol.2 Limited Edition
30, *19 Escaflowne Complete Collection
