Ten years ago, visual novels were one of the most prominent sources for anime adaptations. Today, the flood has slowed to a trickle, and Steins;Gate 0 seems like the last gasp of a dying breed. This panel looks at what went right and wrong with VN anime, and whether they might ever make a comeback.

1. Whatever Happened to Visual
Novel Anime?
@invalidname • Youmacon 2018

7. 2007 (15)
Clannad
D.C. II: Da Capo II
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien: Next Season
Kimikiss pure rouge
Koisuru Tenshi Angelique: Kagayaki no Ashita
Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo: Youkoso Tsugumi-ryou e
Myself;Yourself
Nanatsuiro Drops
Prism Ark
SHUFFLE! MEMORIES
School Days
Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica
Touka Gettan
ef -a tale of memories

8. 2017 (6)
ChaoS;Child
Code:Realize: Sousei no Himegimi
Dies Irae
Dynamic Chord
Kenka Banchou Otome: Girl Beats Boys
Rewrite 2nd Season

9. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
Clannad (2007) Rewrite S2 (2017)
1,253
32,115

10. A visual novel (ビジュアルノベル bijuaru noberu) is an interactive
game genre, which originated in Japan in the early 1990s,[1][2]
featuring mostly static graphics, most often using anime-style art or
occasionally live-action stills (and sometimes video footage).[3] As the
name might suggest, they resemble mixed-media novels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_novel

11. Visual Novels
• Interactive narrative format for PC, console, mobile.
• Draws from dating simulators, adventure games, RPGs.
• Typically uses character graphics and music. May also include voice acting
and video cut-scenes.
• Usually has a branching narrative (“Choose Your Own Adventure”).
• Player interaction is typically limited to advancing text and making choices.

15. By the Numbers:
The Rise and Fall of Visual Novel Anime

16. http://www.someanithing.com

17. http://www.someanithing.com

18. http://www.someanithing.com

19. Caveat #1
• Genre classification is in the eye of the beholder.

20. Caveat #2
• Sales data does not include hentai adaptations of eroge VNs.

21. Caveat #3
• My analysis of the someanithing data does not include movies.

22. Caveat #4
• Disc sales are not the end-all, be-all of anime popularity.
• International streaming has become a big source of revenue in recent
years.
• An anime that gets people to buy the VN or other products (music, merch)
may serve the production committee’s goals as much or more than disc
sales.

23. Number of Anime, by Source
0
22.5
45
67.5
90
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
manga original novel game visual novel pachinko live action stage play other doujinshi
drama CD comic book historical work stage play spin-off (live action) pachinko company mascot card game radio show news app
tabletop rpg
Manga
Original
Novel
Game
Visual Novel

24. VN Anime: 2001
• Comic Party – 4541

25. VN Anime: 2002
• Kanon — 8921

26. VN Anime: 2003
• D.C.: Da Capo — 16632
• Tsukihime — 14798
• Kimi ga Nozomu Eien — 9162
• Lime-iro Senkitan — 6381
• Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito — 4112
• Popotan — 1760
• Green Green — 1653

27. VN Anime: 2004
• Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou — 5138
• ToHeart: Remember My Memories — 3410
• Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary — 3295
• Final Approach — 3152
• Ginyuu Mokushiroku Meine Liebe — 2370
• Kakyuusei 2: Hitomi no Naka no Shoujotachi — 1781
• Wind -a breath of heart- — 863
• W Wish — 782
• Kita e.: Diamond Dust Drops — 0

28. VN Anime: 2005
• AIR — 25181
• AIR in Summer — 20248
• D.C. S.S.: Da Capo Second Season — 9364
• SHUFFLE! — 6979
• ToHeart2 — 3604
• Canvas 2: Niji-iro no Sketch — 2083
• Lamune — 1138
• Comic Party Revolution — 987
• Lime-iro Ryuukitan X — 869
• Magical Canan — 0

29. VN Anime: 2006
• Fate/stay night — 35483
• Kanon (2006) — 22217
• Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru — 10514
• Utawarerumono — 8622
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni — 8020
• Kin-iro no Corda: primo passo — 4638
• Yoake Mae Yori Ruri-iro na – Crescent Love — 3999
• Gakuen Heaven — 3246
• Kishin Houkou Demonbane — 3012
• Happiness! — 2147
• Tsuyokiss Cool x Sweet — 1678
• Koisuru Tenshi Angelique: Kokoro no Mezameru Toki — 1263
• Tokimeki Memorial Only Love — 1190
• Ginyuu Mokushiroku Meine Liebe Wieder — 1119
• Gift: eternal rainbow — 1045
• Soul Link — 755
• Marginal Prince -Gekkeiju no Oujitachi- — 497
• Utawarerumono (2009 re-release) — 251

30. VN Anime: 2007
• Clannad — 32115
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai — 10071
• ef -a tale of memories — 7586
• School Days — 4856
• D.C. II: Da Capo II — 4563
• Kimi ga Nozomu Eien: Next Season — 4252
• SHUFFLE! MEMORIES — 3217
• Nanatsuiro Drops — 2539
• Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica — 2397
• Kimikiss pure rouge — 1753
• Prism Ark — 1425
• Touka Gettan — 1007
• Koisuru Tenshi Angelique: Kagayaki no Ashita — 891
• Myself;Yourself — 846
• Kono Aozora ni Yakusoku wo: Youkoso Tsugumi-ryou e — 631

31. VN Anime: 2008
• Clannad: After Story — 27562
• True Tears — 6428
• Koihime Musou — 4702
• D.C.II S.S.: Da Capo II Second Season — 4327
• Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka — 3705
• ef -a tale of melodies — 3506
• Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de — 2886
• Neo Angelique Abyss — 1998
• Neo Angelique Abyss -Second Age- — 1733
• Chaos;HEAd — 1490
• H2O: Footprints in the Sand — 1078
• Ayakashi (アヤカシ) — 469

32. VN Anime: 2009
• Princess Lover! — 5962
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei — 5954
• Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka OVA — 4940
• Canaan — 4647
• Utawarerumono OVA — 4575
• Shin Koihime Musou — 3356
• Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity- — 2043
• Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom — 1885
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni — 1712
• Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica Crimson S — 1577
• White Album — 1470
• White Album (S2) — 1014
• 11eyes — 656

33. VN Anime: 2010
• Hakuouki — 16600
• Hakuouki Hekketsuroku — 13521
• Yosuga no Sora — 9116
• Amagami SS — 8061
• Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Tairan — 2498
• Fortune Arterial -Akai Yakusoku- — 2238
• Shukufuku no Campanella OVA — 1977
• Shukufuku no Campanella — 1491
• Ookamikakushi — 330

34. VN Anime: 2011
• Steins;Gate — 30551
• Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 1000% — 18010
• Hakuouki Sekkaroku — 14858
• Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!! — 3652
• Mashiro-iro Symphony — 3649
• Starry Sky — 3430
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira — 3373
• Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai — 1395
• Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi — 1264

35. VN Anime: 2012
• Little Busters! — 11167
• Amagami SS+ plus — 6735
• Hakuouki Reimeiroku — 5606
• Muv Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse — 5451
• Arcana Famiglia — 2316
• Hiiro no Kakera — 2237
• Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate — 2003
• Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru: Futari no Elder — 1609
• Hiiro no Kakera season 2 — 1576
• Robotics;Notes — 1182
• Taishou Mebiusline: Chicchai-san — 0

36. VN Anime: 2013
• Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love 2000% — 33776
• Little Busters!: Refrain — 9948
• Amnesia — 3651
• White Album 2 — 3363
• D.C. III: Da Capo III — 2457
• Walkure Romanze — 2392
• Photokano — 2127

37. VN Anime: 2014
• Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works — 39283
• Grisaia no Kajitsu — 4535
• Kamigami no Asobi — 4396
• DRAMAtical Murder — 2187
• Kin-iro no Corda Blue Sky — 1582
• Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai — 890
• Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete — 395

38. VN Anime: 2015
• Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works Part II — 36004
• Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love Revolutions — 35973
• Grisaia no Rakuen — 4200
• Grisaia no Meikyuu — 3792
• Utawarerumono Itsuwari no Kamen — 3558

39. VN Anime: 2016
• Uta no Prince-sama Maji Love Legend Star — 29615
• planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume — 5469
• Rewrite — 1894
• Hakuouki Otogisoushi — 1697
• Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm — 1257
• Schwarzesmarken — 1220
• Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu — 383
• Ozmafia!! — 0
• Wagamama High Spec — 0

40. VN Anime: 2017
• Rewrite 2nd Season — 1253
• Code:Realize: Sousei no Himegimi — 1163
• Kenka Banchou Otome: Girl Beats Boys — 688
• Dies Irae — 665
• Dynamic Chord — 573
• ChaoS;Child — 333

41. Sales of Anime, by Source
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
manga original novel game visual novel stage play other live action doujinshi drama CD comic book
historical work stage play spin-off (live action) pachinko company mascot card game radio show news app tabletop rpg
Manga
Original
Game
Novel
Visual Novel

42. Sales of Anime, by Source
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
manga original novel game visual novel stage play other live action doujinshi drama CD comic book
historical work stage play spin-off (live action) pachinko company mascot card game radio show news app tabletop rpg
Manga
Original
Game
Novel
Visual Novel
Frame Arms Girl

43. Hey, don’t they also make a lot
more anime now than they used to?

44. % of All Anime Sales, by Source
0%
15%
30%
45%
60%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
manga original novel game visual novel stage play other live action doujinshi drama CD
comic book historical work stage play spin-off (live action) pachinko company mascot card game radio show news app tabletop rpg
Manga
Original
Game
Novel
Visual Novel

45. Prose and Cons
What works and doesn’t work in visual novel anime

46. Endings
Visual novel anime have them!

47. Genres
Science Fiction Fantasy Mecha
Horror Comedy Metafiction

48. Popular Source Material

49. Digipaint

50. Digipaint

51. Digipaint

52. Digipaint

53. Digipaint

54. Digipaint

55. Bland Self-Insert Protagonists

56. 1st Person Perspective

57. 1st Person Perspective

58. 1st Person Perspective

59. Ero… or not?

60. Branching Narratives
TV doesn’t have save points
(or does it?)

61. “Kinetic Novels”

62. “Kinetic Novels”

63. The Branching Route Problem

64. The Branching Route Problem
Common
Route

65. The Branching Route Problem
Common
Route
Bad
End
Early
End

66. The Branching Route Problem
Common
Route

67. The Branching Route Problem
Common
Route

68. Show Each Route in Order
1-3 Common route
3-9 Fuuko route
10-14 Kotomi route
15-16 Mei (common route?)
17-18 Tomoyo route
19-22 Nagisa route
Clannad
1 N/A
3-4 Mei (common route?)
5-6 Misae flashback
7-8 Yukine route
9-22 After Story (Nagisa)
Clannad After Story

69. Show Each Route in Order
1-4 Common route
5-10 Makoto route
11-15 Mai route
16-18 Shiori route
19-25 Ayu route
Kanon

70. Side Routes as “What If”s
Clannad OAV:
Another World: Tomoyo Chapter
Clannad After Story OAV:
Kyou Arc

71. Side Routes as “What If”s

72. Routes with Reset Buttons

73. Routes with Reset Buttons
1-4 Haruka route
5-8 Kaoru route
9-12 Sae route
13-16 Ai route
17-20 Rihoko route
21-24 Tsukasa route
Amagami SS

74. Actually Branch the Show

75. Actually Branch the Show

76. Actually Branch the Show

77. Actually Branch the Show

78. Actually Branch the Show
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

79. Actually Branch the Show
1
2
3 4
5 6
7
8 9
10 11 12
Kazuha
Akira
Nao
Sora

80. Actually Branch the Show

81. Actually Branch the Show
Kazuha Arc,
part 3

82. Actually Branch the Show

83. Actually Branch the Show
Sora Arc,
part 5

84. Ditch the Protagonist

85. Ditch the Protagonist

86. Ditch the Protagonist
1-2 Atsuko’s story
3-4 Karin’s story
5-6 Kyoko’s story
7+OAV Suomi’s story
8-9 Shoko’s story
10-11 Akari’s story
12 “All Stars” (finale)
Diamond Daydreams

87. Side Routes as “C Plots”

88. Side Routes as “C Plots”

89. Side Routes as “C Plots”

90. Have Multiple Protagonists

91. Have Multiple Protagonists
Part 1 Hiro + Miyako’s story
Part 2 Kyousuke + Kei’s story
ef - the first tale
Part 1 Renji + Chihiro’s story
Part 2 Kuze + Mizuki’s story
ef - the latter tale

92. Have Multiple Protagonists
1-12
Hiro + Miyako’s story
intercut with
Renji + Chihiro’s story
ef - a tale of memories
1-12
Kuze + Mizuki’s story
intercut with
Yuu + Yuuko’s story (flashback)
ef - a tale of melodies

93. Repeatedly Re-Adapt the Same Material
(As long as fans are still willing to watch and pay for it…)

94. Waiting…
! VN ! Anime " VN " Anime
Clannad 2004 2007 2015 2010
ef 2006 2007 2012 2012
Steins;Gate 2009 2011 2014 2011
Dies Irae 2007 2017 2017 2017
Fate/Stay Night 2004 2005 N/A 2007

95. Still Waiting…
• Type-Moon: Fate/Stay Night, Tsukihime
• Key Visual/Art’s: Air, Kanon, Rewrite, Angel Beats! 1st Beat
• âge: Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (Rumbling Hearts), Total Eclipse,
Schwarzesmarken
• Leaf: White Album 2
Notable titles whose anime are available in English but whose VNs are not

96. The Decline of the VN

102. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ZgU7viM4o

106. VNDB Top 50 Titles (2015-)
• #18: Sakura no Uta -Sakura no Mori no Ue o Mau-
• #31: Utawarerumono: Futari no Hakuoro
• #35: Steins;Gate 0

107. The New VN Everyone’s Talking About

108. The New VN Everyone’s Talking About

109. The New VN Everyone’s Talking About

110. The New VN Everyone’s Talking About

111. Goin’ Mobile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxvKmbQUch0

114. https://curiouscat.me/somekindofthing/post/540472006

115. https://curiouscat.me/somekindofthing/post/540472006
“I just know that anecdotally everything I've
heard about the VN market has been about its
inexorable decline for years now. Like non-
mobile gaming as a whole it's probably just
being eaten alive by mobage.”

116. After the Gold Rush…

117. 0
10
20
30
40
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
novel game visual novel
Novel
Game
Visual Novel

121. VNs Go Mobage?

122. VNs Go Mobage?

123. VNs Go Mobage?

124. VNs Go Mobage?

125. VNs Go Mobage?

126. …or not.

127. …or not.

128. …or not.

129. …or not.

130. …or not.

131. …or not.

132. …or not.

133. …or not.

134. …or not.

135. …or not.

136. VNs go LN?

137. Moving Away from VNs

138. Moving Away from VNs

139. Moving Away from VNs

140. Moving Away from VNs

141. Moving Away from VNs

142. Moving Away from VNs

143. The Last Gasp?

144. The Last Gasp?

145. The Last Gasp?

146. The Last Gasp?

147. The Last Gasp?
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
Steins;Gate
(including re-releases)
Steins;Gate 0
(as of Sept. 10, 2018)
2,628
30,551

154. So whatever did happen to VN anime?

155. So whatever did happen to VN anime?
• VNs’ defining traits are hard to adapt to anime.
• Branching vs. linear narrative.
• 1st vs. 3rd person perspective.
• VNs declined as a popular source medium for adaptation.
• Fans moved on to light novels and games, especially mobage.

159. Something of Value Was Lost

160. Endings

161. Endings

162. Options

163. Genre Diversity

164. Whatever Happened to Visual
Novel Anime?
@invalidname • Youmacon 2018