Year-End 2009 Sales For “DC Universe Animated Original Movie” Animated Feature Titles

Debuting three new titles this year, the DC Universe Animated Original Movie direct-to-video animated feature line from Warner Home Video moved nearly one million DVD units in 2009. Over 900,000 of those units came from the three new DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles that debuted this year – Wonder Woman, Green Lantern: First Flight and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies – and those numbers are expected to grow during the December 2009 holiday season.

Among the three new DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles, the September 2009 Superman/Batman: Public Enemies animated feature made the biggest splash of this years releases, moving an estimated 342,000 DVD units since hitting shelves. Home video retail outlets are expecting the title to finish with at least a total 350,000 of units sold by the end of 2009. The direct-to-video Superman/Batman: Public Enemies animated feature debuted to an estimated 198,000 DVD copies sold in its first week of sales, during the week ending October 4th, 2009.

The second DC Universe Animated Original Movie title released this year, released during the summer sales season, the direct-to-video Green Lantern: First Flight animated feature has sold an estimated 286,000 copies since its mid-year debut. The direct-to-video Green Lantern: First Flight animated feature debuted to an estimated 160,000 DVD copies sold in its first week of sales, during the week ending August 2nd, 2009. The Annie Award nominated feature is expected to finish 2009 with at least a total of 295,000 DVD units moved according to home video retail outlets.

Lastly, the first 2009 release under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie banner, Wonder Woman has moved an estimated 292,000 DVD copies since premiering during the first quarter of the year. The release has boasted consistently stable sales throughout the year despite having the lowest debut week of all the DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles to date. Wonder Woman debuted with 107,000 in DVD sales in its first week, the week ending March 8th, 2009, though sales quickly leveled off after the standard second week plunge. The critically-acclaimed direct-to-video animated feature is also expected to finish out 2009 with a projected estimate of 295,000 DVDs unit sold according to home video retail outlets.

Please note the above sales numbers do not take into account rental numbers, OnDemand numbers, legal download numbers, or high-definition release sales.

Additionally, though not under the DC Universe Animated Original Movie line, Warner Home Video and Warner Premiere also debuted the direct-to-video animated tie-in feature Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter, tying into the live-action Watchmen Spring 2009 theatrical release. While the home video premiere title stumbled out of the gate with 42,000 in DVD sales for its first week, the week of March 29th, 2009, the title has since moved an estimated 198,000 copies since its debut, and will likely top out with a respectable 200,000 DVD units moved by the end of 2009.

A co-production of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation, the DC Universe Animated Original Movie line is expected to release between two three new direct-to-video animated features in 2010, with the next title, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, set to debut February 23rd, 2010 on DVD and Blu-ray disc. Two additional direct-to-video animated features are set to follow later in the year.

Stay tuned for updates on current and upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie titles here at The Worlds Finest, including exclusive content and more. More details on the entire DC Universe Animated Original Movie can be found here at The World’s Finest special dedicated subsite.

2009 Sales information for Planet Hulk, the Marvel Animated Features production from Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment, is available at Marvel Animation Age. Click here for more details.

Discuss this in The DC Animation Forum!

Note: The staff of The Worlds Finest would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year. Additionally, the staff here at The Worlds Finest will be taking a break from regular news updates for the next week, from December 28th, 2009 to January 1st, 2010. Regular news updates will return January 4th, 2010. However, keep checking The World’s Finest and The DC Animation Forum daily for special updates and breaking news.