A-1 Pictures Suffers Major Loss Despite Solo Leveling Success

In a surprising financial report, A-1 Pictures — the renowned anime studio behind Solo Leveling — recorded a net loss of 178 million yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025. This marks a dramatic downturn compared to the 24 million yen net profit they reported the previous year.

It's because most of the profit went to Aniplex and A1 pictures received only a few percent of it... 

The news has left fans puzzled, especially considering the widespread popularity and apparent commercial success of Solo Leveling. Many speculate that despite the anime’s buzz, the studio may not be reaping the financial rewards directly, possibly due to revenue distribution favoring parent company Aniplex or high production and licensing costs eating into profits.

The original Japanese article by Gamebiz confirms the loss and highlights A-1’s ongoing financial challenges. This situation serves as a reminder that even with global hits, anime studios don't always see immediate financial benefits — especially when larger production committees and corporate structures control the flow of revenue.

Is Solo Leveling’s success just smoke and mirrors for A-1’s finances? Only time (and next year’s report) will tell.