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Bandai Entertainment to Stop Production and Distribution of New Releases

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Jan 2, 2012 11:18 AM
#1

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According to their official site, Bandai Entertainment's online store closed on December 29, and now the subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings will be ceasing production and distribution of new products. Starting in February, Bandai Entertainment will no longer offer new DVD, Blu-ray, and manga releases.

While there will be no new products emerging, Bandai Entertainment will continue to offer existing releases from its catalog after February and plans to produce new stock if needed until licenses expire. Below is a list of cancelled releases:

Anime:
Gosick
Nichijou
Turn a Gundam

Manga:
Code Geass: Shikkoku no Renya
Gurren Lagann volume 7
Kannagi volumes 4-6
Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo (spinoff by Eretto)
Mobile Suit Gundam 00I
Tales of the Abyss: Tsuioku no Jade volumes 1 and 2

Sources: Bandai Entertainment Online Store, ANN

Story by Setsuna200
FloreteJan 2, 2012 11:23 AM
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Jan 2, 2012 11:20 AM
#2

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WHAT! No Gosick!?!

Man, that friggen' sucks... At least that's the only one I planned on getting....
Jan 2, 2012 11:21 AM
#3

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I reported this story and I.am pissed
Jan 2, 2012 11:23 AM
#4

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Jan 2010
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I'll just buy the Japanese BD box of Turn A when they (finally) release it.
KimuraJan 2, 2012 11:57 AM
Ok™
Jan 2, 2012 11:24 AM
#5

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I was looking forward to Kannagi.
Jan 2, 2012 11:28 AM
#6

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wonder what's going to happen to the new Eureka Seven anime?
My Blog: Oasis Crossing ~The Book of Friends~

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Jan 2, 2012 11:31 AM
#7

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What?! Why, what happened to Bandai!
Jan 2, 2012 11:45 AM
#8

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god damn it no more Gundam 00 Blu Ray??

what about Gundam Unicorn???
Jan 2, 2012 11:50 AM
#9

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: <
Jan 2, 2012 11:54 AM

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..what??Why?! :(
Jan 2, 2012 11:55 AM

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Didn't Tales Studio just merge with Bandai...? This does not look good.
Jan 2, 2012 11:56 AM

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The writing has been on the wall for some time but all the same its incredibly sad to see a company that has been around for 14 years suddenly leave a gaping hole in the North American market. I expect this will be worse than when Geneon died and will have revelations for many months to come.

Bandai Entertainment introduced me to anime via Outlaw Star. For others, it could have been Cowboy Bebop, Planetes, a Gundam series or something else altogether. Despite all the bad that is said about them and there is plenty of that, they brought so many excellent shows to North American audiences.

Rest in peace, sweet prince.
Jan 2, 2012 12:00 PM
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2nd half of the statement from ANN is missing,here it is

"Instead, Bandai Entertainment will focus on licensing rights to other companies, particularly in digital distribution, broadcast, and merchandising. The company will be restructured as a result, and most of its contractors and three of its five fulltime staff members will be laid off. ANN will publish an interview with Bandai Entertainment President and CEO Ken Iyadomi on Tuesday."

It looks like they are going the same route as VIZ.
Jan 2, 2012 12:04 PM

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May 2011
1133
Dammit, why? ;_;

I was looking forward to Nichijou...Why?? T_T
Jan 2, 2012 12:12 PM

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Osianilist said:

It looks like they are going the same route as VIZ.


Not really. I took it as they'll keep on trucking and just slowly melt away as all the current licenses expire or get rescued. Same route as Geneon just a significant amount slower.
Jan 2, 2012 12:14 PM

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Jun 2011
2943
Well damn, this sucks big time.
Jan 2, 2012 12:20 PM

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208
Wasn't the fact that Japan sold anime rights to Hollywood part of the cause as well?
Jan 2, 2012 12:23 PM

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Nov 2008
3339
some of them r not even worth seeing
Jan 2, 2012 12:44 PM

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Jun 2008
59
Dear anime licensors,

Pick up Nichijou. Name your price. Take my money.

Regards,
Rakuen
Jan 2, 2012 12:48 PM

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Nov 2011
5
What?! Why? Who is responsible for this sorcery??
Jan 2, 2012 12:50 PM
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Apr 2011
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As long as Funimation & Sentai filmworks are still rocking I'm straight...
Jan 2, 2012 12:51 PM
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Doesn't surprise me that much. By comparison to FUNimation and Sentai Filmworks, BANDAI barely had a pulse when it came to licensing and releasing anime within this past year or so.

RandyW88 said:
As long as Funimation & Sentai filmworks are still rocking I'm straight...

^Right on~
Jan 2, 2012 1:15 PM

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Rakuen42 said:
Dear anime licensors,

Pick up Nichijou. Name your price. Take my money.

Regards,
Rakuen


Most likely, Bandai will keep the license. They aren't going bankrupt or folding... and they still are doing digital distribution, so they'll probably have it on Itunes or something.

Jan 2, 2012 1:24 PM

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59
*sigh* That's what I was afraid of. I actually like to have my series though.
Jan 2, 2012 1:27 PM

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I knew that Bandai was hurting, but I am very disappointed that this is happening. They have been a very solid distributor for so many years, and less anime in america will always be a bad thing. I hate digital distro also... if I am paying I want something in return.

I figured something was up recently when I bought the Lucky Star special editions (and special edition of FLAG) for $4 each.

I wonder if this affects thier Namco game releases too..
Jan 2, 2012 1:29 PM

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May 2008
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Goddammit! I was gonna buy Turn A Gundam. ;_______; I guess if it ever comes out on BD in Japan with English subs I'll just have to buy that for like five hundred dollars.

They'd better release the second half of First Gundam or I'm gonna have to choke a bitch.
Jan 2, 2012 1:29 PM

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Dec 2010
1769
I'm completely heartbroken. Honest. Bandai Namco was just so awesome the way they distributed goods to the rest of the world while never outsourcing and making faulty translations.

I'm being sarcastic obviously. All I care about is whether or not this'll affect Armored Core V. Bamco and From Software teamed up on Dark Souls so I don't know. Hopefully this time the translation won't be as bad as Segas, urgh.
Jan 2, 2012 1:39 PM

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Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Bamco and Bandai Entertainment are the same thing.

Of course it doesn't help that there are like 25 different "Bandai"s.
Jan 2, 2012 1:49 PM

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Saw this coming. Bandai sucks at releasing anime in a decent format. They stuck to overpriced single sets and it became their downfall.
How to Watch Naruto Without Filler (Complete): http://bit.ly/LncQif
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Jan 2, 2012 2:02 PM

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Wow. .__. That's all I can say.
Jan 2, 2012 2:25 PM

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Dec 2008
185
FUCK. What about Star Driver? They have one volume out in Blu-ray, are they going to complete the series or leave it fucking hanging?
Jan 2, 2012 2:37 PM

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I'm sad about it but it is what it is. I would imagine they are doing this because they aren't making money on DVD sales which is kind of their own fault. Don't release something in 7 parts (Gundam 00) and maybe people will buy it. Adapt or die, that's the way business works.

It is going to leave a big hole in the market which is where any of my sadness is, don't care about Bandai itself, but hope other companies are able to pick up whatever they can. Afraid a lot of stuff might just get lost in the void like what happened with Geneon, though.
Jan 2, 2012 2:50 PM

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WHAT THE HELL?!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! D:


"Can you feel that hybrid rainbow?"
Jan 2, 2012 2:51 PM

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Fortunately Star Driver managed to get finished on blu ray and the Gundam 00 set is coming.

I hope they dish out Sacred Seven to someone and someone picks up Gundam AGE, my favorite Gundam :(
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Jan 2, 2012 3:20 PM

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Okay stardriver is still being released cause aniplex is releasing like blue exorcist. Looks like they will release Gosick but on itunes or other online parties. Or Funimation might get it like they got Love Hina and Vandred.
Jan 2, 2012 4:00 PM
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I knew bandai was in trouble for the past 3 years.
Jan 2, 2012 4:09 PM

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Kipcha said:
WHAT! No Gosick!?!

Man, that friggen' sucks... At least that's the only one I planned on getting....


That about sums up my feelings on this.

It is certainly a shame. I have bought a number of titles from them in the past and was really looking forward to Gosick.
Jan 2, 2012 4:16 PM

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Jun 2010
291
It's sad but we will probably see even more companies head this route in the future with the lack of sufficient profits.
Jan 2, 2012 4:43 PM

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Jan 2010
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Yeah I heard about this, this is sad and not a good start to the new year. Looks like Bandai may face a similar fate like ADV and Geneon.
Jan 2, 2012 4:43 PM

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FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU--

iMad
Jan 2, 2012 4:53 PM

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I'm always assuming piracy was involved. At least that what Steve Blum and Christina Vee's tweets said.
Jan 2, 2012 4:55 PM

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BANZAI!!! BANZAI!!! BANZAI!!!
Jan 2, 2012 4:59 PM

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It's really ridiculous that all these companies are picking up licenses and then dropping them. I have so many manga series that are not complete from various companies and will never - or not in the near future be completed.

I was going to pick up the entire manga series of Ichigo 100% after reading the 1st 2 volumes, then I realized they stopped after volume 14/18 and there's no plans to finish it, like seriously?

Shana was also discontinued along with Asu no Yoichi, there's 3 series I will never be able to complete my collection of.
Jan 2, 2012 5:32 PM

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24605
WHAT?
No D:
Jan 2, 2012 5:35 PM

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So I won't be able to buy K-ON!! S2 in English? ;__;
Jan 2, 2012 5:41 PM

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May 2009
615
Awww.... I wanted to buy Gosick :(..... maybe somebody else will pick it up........ atleast they still have their old titles ...
Jan 2, 2012 5:57 PM

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blue-y said:
What?! Why, what happened to Bandai!
They were losing money like everybody here is. The situation of anime in America has been crap for years, especially now.
[url]http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-15/america-2009-anime-market-pegged-at-us$2.741-billion[/url]
Jan 2, 2012 5:59 PM
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This is looking REALLY bad. I grew up on Bandai Entertainment. I look forward to reading tomorrow's article on this topic.
Jan 2, 2012 6:04 PM

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rpn101 said:
Awww.... I wanted to buy Gosick :(..... maybe somebody else will pick it up........ atleast they still have their old titles ...
For now. They'll only keep printing the titles they have until the licenses expire, so you best go buy anything you want that Bandai has now as who knows when the licenses will expire.

I gotta hurry up and buy many things from them, sucks that I don't have a part-time job still.:(
Jan 2, 2012 6:21 PM

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6759
Damn there goes my favorite American company. Well time to try and get all the Gundam series now and Code Geass.

Now who will handle and release Gundam here in the states? As long it isn't those faggots from NIS America I don't care who gets them from now on. T_T

Good thing Code Geass Knights finished releasing and I'll be getting the books in a couple weeks.
"What has two arms, two legs, and is alive? Not your favorite character lol! xD"
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