Bandai Entertainment To Downsize, Cease New Releases

The anime distributor Bandai Entertainment will undergo a restructuring next month that will lay off three of its five fulltime staff and refocus its priorities on licensing merchandising, digital distribution and broadcast rights to other companies. Though the company will also continue to produce and distribute its existing properties, all new releases have been cancelled.

In particular, planned DVD releases for Gosick, Nichijou and Turn A Gundam have been cancelled. Bandai will also not go forward with publishing assorted manga titles such as Code Geass: Renya of the Darkness, volume 7 of Gurren Lagann, volumes 4-6 of Kannagi, Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo, Mobile Suit Gundam 00I, and Tales of the Abyss: Jade's Secret Memories.

Bandai had previously solicitied the following titles for January and February 2012. No plans to change these releases have been announced.

January 2012

• Star Driver Part 2 will be released on 1/17/12 on DVD ($39.98) and Blu-Ray ($49.98). Running time 300 minutes, with English subtitles
• Tales of the Abyss Part 2 will be released on 1/3/12 for $29.98 ($34.98 for the limited edition with volume 2 of Tales of the Abyss: Asch the blood). Running time 175 minutes, with with English subtitles
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Space Volume 4 will be released on 1/17/12 for $29.98. Running time 150 minutes, with English subtitles

February 2012

The following titles are all currently solicited for 2/7/12:

• Akira on DVD for $19.98, running time 124 minutes
• Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Collection 2 for $49.98, running time 500 minutes
• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn part 2 on DVD, running time 120 minutes
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Season 1 and 2 for $49.98 each, running time 625 minutes for both
• Tales of the Abyss part 3 and 4, both $29.98 each. Running time 150 minutes for both
• Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Collection for $49.98, running time 625 minutes

[source: Anime News Network]