In consequtive events that would do Tsutsuji Baba proud, Beez seems to be closing its doors in Europe, as Bandai Entertainment exits physical distribution in America. I say “seems” because it is unconfirmed sorta kinda. Both entities will be releasing Sorakake Girl to its completion.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Space, just what is it???
Joking aside, you wonder if the two moves are related to Bandai’s ultimate goals.
I probably shouldn’t have, but I skimmed the ANN forum threads (since Chris B’s forum is still not fully recovered and the old Mania forum just doesn’t have the same…capitalist intensity that the it used to have since the split) and it was pretty much the usual face-palm as you’d expect. But it was pretty amusing. So here I made a bingo chart. Click for full version (I think).
Call list:
- releasing singles killed bandai
- k-on killed bandai
- hating on bandai visual
- hating on japanese businessmen
- suits keeping the common man down
- whining about aniplex pricing
- whining about lack of dubs
- hating on bandai quitting
- cheering on bandai quitting
- sadface for fewer dub jobs
- sadface for turn-a gundam
- sadface for k-on
- sadface for code geass manga
- pointless semantics argument
- pointless discussion about economics
- whining about japanese paying more for video
- thinking japanese people are suckers for paying more
- propose to boycott someone
- ironic statement about boycotting
- sub versus dub argument
- whining about BD audio problems
- whining about moe
- whining about otaku living in parents’ basements
- fearmonger for cartoon network shows
January 4th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I dread the moments they draw 22.
January 4th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Lots of ANNers typically do just in the course of insulting the anime they don’t like.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Bandai’s hardly dead, they’re just withdrawing from the physical distribution business. If anything it strikes me as a move with some foresight – digital distribution would seem to be the way of the future after all.
And for the larger Bandai group in particular, their entertainment divisions have always essentially promoters for their other physical goods; neither of which are going away. But perhaps that’s getting too close to bingo square #15…
January 5th, 2012 at 10:03 am
Well, I eagerly await their next move.
January 5th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
It’s “sora” (“sky”) kakeru, not “sore” (“here”) kakeru. King Author strikes again.
January 5th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Is this the right time to say “sore sore”?
January 5th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
I can e-mail you small corrections if you prefer not to have comments polluted.
January 6th, 2012 at 12:26 am
Either way is fine by me.
January 10th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
and the old Mania forum just doesn’t have the same…capitalist intensity that the it used to have since the split
That made me laugh.
It took me like three days to even notice that Bandai was shutting down like that.