This is bad news for those who like to hold what they own, as Bandai has thrown in the towel on physical media. Bandai has decided to focus it’s resources on digital distribution. But this means problems for those who just bought into some recent titles and or were planing on purchaing any of these titles because the following releases have been cancelled:
Anime DVD/Blu-ray Disc
Gosick
Nichijō
Turn A Gundam
Manga
Code Geass: Renya (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: Jade’s Secret Memories volumes 1 and 2
Bandai Entertainment, the subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) that handles anime and manga in North America, will stop offering new DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and manga releases next month. It will continue to distribute in its existing catalog lineup, but it will no longer produce and distribute new releases as of this February.
Well what does that mean? It means Bandai will not obtain new titles, but will continue to sell it’s inventory of existing titles. If I had to take a guess that means if Bandai purchases any new titles that will be digital only. This sort of reminds me of what happened to Tokyo PoP and ADV. I really don’t Bandai to go away, the industry is getting rather slim.
Kannagi volumes 4-6?
Must quote Pedro:
Nnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!