Editing Bandai Visual (section)

=== Bandai Visual USA / Bandai Entertainment ===
'''Bandai Visual USA''' was established in 2005 in [[Cypress, California]] to license [[anime]] properties from various Japanese companies for North American distribution; most of those licenses coming from Bandai and its sister company [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]. The company also licensed [[manga]] series for release with English translation, and published American-made [[graphic novel]]s.<ref name="bei-manga">{{cite web |url=http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/manga.cfm |title=Bandai Entertainment |access-date=July 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717210717/http://www.bandai-ent.com/products/manga.cfm |archive-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Visual Establishes US Office|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-01-24/bandai-visual-establishes-us-office|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref> Bandai Visual USA's releases were of high quality and were aimed at collectors. Their titles were released under the Honnêamise label (named after their Bandai Visual's first production, [[Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise]]).  Bandai Visual USA's anime products were distributed in North America initially by [[Image Entertainment]] and later, [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan|Geneon Entertainment USA]] and in Europe by [[Beez Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Visual USA to Launch Honneamise Label|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-05/bandai-visual-usa-to-launch-honneamise-label|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Visual USA New Licenses and Distribution Label|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-03-05/bandai-visual-usa-new-licenses-and-distribution-deal|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=March 31, 2013}}</ref>  On May 23, 2008, Bandai Namco Holdings announced that Bandai Visual USA would be merged into the newly formed '''Bandai Entertainment''' which was consummated on July 1, 2008.<ref name="USAEnd">{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-23/bandai-visual-usa-to-be-liquidated-by-september |title=Bandai Visual USA to be Liquidated by September |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=May 23, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080525214216/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-23/bandai-visual-usa-to-be-liquidated-by-september| archive-date= May 25, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

The company confirmed on January 2, 2012, that they would stop offering new DVD, Blu-ray disc and manga releases by February, but would continue to produce their current library of content. Bandai Entertainment was restructured to focus on licensing anime to other companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-02/bandai-entertainment-to-stop-releasing-new-dvds-bds-manga|title=Bandai Entertainment to Stop Releasing New DVDs, BDs, Manga|date=January 2, 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=January 2, 2012}}</ref> On August 30, 2012, Bandai America announced that it will shut down Bandai Entertainment and discontinue distributing their home video and print catalog on March 1, 2013. They made their final shipment to retailers on November 30, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Entertainment to Discontinue Home Video, Manga, Novel Sales|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-08-31/bandai-entertainment-to-discontinue-home-video-manga-novel-sales|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref> Many former Bandai Entertainment titles have been re-licensed by other companies, including [[Funimation]], [[Crunchyroll]], [[Aniplex of America]], [[Discotek Media]], [[Media Blasters]], [[Right Stuf Inc.|Nozomi Entertainment]], [[Viz Media]], [[Section23 Films#Maiden Japan|Maiden Japan]] and [[Sentai Filmworks]].

Most of the notable titles that Bandai Entertainment held included ''[[K-On! (TV series)|K-On!]]'', ''[[The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' and ''[[Lucky Star (manga)|Lucky Star]]''.