Bandai Entertainment to End DVD Distribution, Shifts Focus to Licensing

[media-credit name=”Bandai Entertainment” align=”aligncenter” width=”450″][/media-credit]After 15 years in the US market as a home video distributor, Bandai Entertainment has decided to cease home video and licensing operations, with their current catalog remaining  in print until licenses expire. Releases scheduled in February will be canceled and are listed below:

[gn_quote style=”3″]Anime DVD/Blu-ray: Gosick Nichijou Turn A Gundam

Manga: Code Geass: Renya Gurren Lagann vol. 7 Kannagi vol. 4-6 Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo Mobile Suit Gundam 00I Tales of the Abyss: Jade’s Secret Memories vol. 1-2[/gn_quote]

All but two employees will remain, with the rest of their contract staff being terminated while titles such as Gundam Unicorn being unaffected due to Bandai Visual Japan handling that release. Bandai Entertainment shut down its online store last week after two years of operation. The distributor was a key partner in establishing Aniplex of America’s retail presence by releasing its first titles through Bandai Entertainment’s storefront in 2010.