Editing Bandai Visual

{{short description|Defunct Japanese anime and distribution company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Bandai Visual Co., Ltd.
| logo = File:Bandai Visual corporate logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_alt = The words "BANDAI VISUAL" in white letters against a red ellipse.
| image = File:Shinagawa seaside park tower rakuten tower 2009.JPG
| image_caption = Bandai Visual's former headquarters in [[Shinagawa]], Tokyo
| image_alt = A tall glass building.
| native_name = 株式会社バンダイビジュアル
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = [[Kabushiki gaisha]] Bandai Bijuaru
| former_name = {{ubl|AE Planning|<small>(1983–1989)</small>|Bandai Media|<small>(1988–1992)</small>}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1983|8|23}}
| successor = [[Bandai Namco Music Live]]
| defunct = {{End date|2018}} (as a company)
| fate = Merged with [[Lantis (company)|Lantis]]
| location = [[Ebisu, Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]], Japan
| num_employees = 167
| key_people = {{ubl|Kazumi Kawashiro|([[President (corporate title)|president]] and [[CEO]])}}
| industry = [[Anime]]
| parent = {{ubl|[[Bandai]]|<small>(1983–2008)</small>|[[Bandai Namco Holdings]]|<small>(2008–2018)</small>}}
| subsid = {{ubl|[[Actas]]|Bandai Entertainment|Beez Entertainment|Emotion|[[Lantis (company)|Lantis]]}}
| homepage = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20170925160712/https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/|bandaivisual.co.jp/}}
}}
{{Nihongo foot|'''Bandai Visual Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社バンダイビジュアル|[[Kabushiki gaisha]] Bandai Bijuaru|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a Japanese [[anime]], [[film production]], and distribution company, established by [[Bandai]] and a subsidiary of [[Bandai Namco Holdings]]. They focused mainly in international distribution of anime properties in North America.<ref name="bandaivisualcorporate">{{cite web|url=https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/e/ir/FY06%202Q.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126021839/http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/e/ir/FY06%202Q.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 26, 2005 |title=Bandai Visual |access-date=March 7, 2007  }}</ref><ref name="namcobandaiofficialsite">{{cite web|url=https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/about/group/index.html|title=NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. – Group Companies|access-date=March 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307203726/http://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/about/group/index.html|archive-date=March 7, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bandaivisual-bandaichannel">{{cite web|url=https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/e/ir/press_2006/epress060627-2.html|title=IR information : Press release Third Medium-Term Plan|access-date=March 7, 2007|archive-date=September 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165340/http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/e/ir/press_2006/epress060627-2.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most of the anime and films that have been distributed and licensed by Bandai Visual have been released under the Emotion label. After the reorganization of Bandai Namco Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual headed the group's Visual and Music Content [[Strategic Business Unit]]. Its subsidiaries included the Emotion Music Company, Ltd. (whose logos also include the [[Moai]] from Easter Island), and [[Lantis (company)|Lantis]] music publishing labels. Until 2012, it was involved in the production and distribution of several [[anime]] titles, including those it has directly produced itself and anime series produced by the anime studio [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]], an alternate anime studio subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. In September 2017, Bandai Visual acquired the anime studio [[Actas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bandai Visual Acquires ''Girls & Panzer'' Anime Studio Actas|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-09-04/bandai-visual-acquires-girls-and-panzer-anime-studio-actas/.120909|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=September 5, 2017}}</ref>

In February 2018, it was announced Bandai Visual would be merged with Lantis into a new branch of BNH, called [[Bandai Namco Arts]]. The reorganizing took effect as of April 1, 2018. Bandai Visual remains only as a label of the new company.<ref name="New Bandai Visual"/>

== History ==
=== Origins and expansion (1983–1996) ===
On August 23, 1983, Japanese toy manufacturer [[Bandai]] established AE Planning Co., Ltd. (Account Executive Planning), an animation and film distributor, in [[Kōjimachi]], [[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]].<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=Corporate History |url=https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/ir/history/ |website=www.bandaivisual.co.jp |publisher=Bandai Visual |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924160257/https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/ir/history/ |archive-date=September 24, 2017 |language=ja |date=September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Grant">{{cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Tina |title=International Directory of Company Histories |date=2003 |publisher=[[St. James Press]] |page=44 |edition=Volume 55 |url=https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0000unse_c8r0/page/n695/mode/2up |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref> Bandai created AE Planning following the success of Emotion, its film distribution division, in 1982, and was part of Bandai's corporate reorganization and alteration of its business strategies.<ref name="Nikkei BP">{{cite book |author1=Nikkei BP Technical Research Department |title=第三章 ビジネスの仕組みが変わる 一.版権ビジネスの体制を見直す ●作品発表の場として根付くOVA」『アニメ・ビジネスが変わる―アニメとキャラクター・ビジネスの真実 |trans-title=Chapter 3 — Business Structure Changes 1. Reviewing the Copyright Business System ● OVA Rooted as a Place to Present Works ”“ Animation Business Changes-The Truth About Anime and Character Business |date=June 17, 1999 |publisher=[[The Nikkei|Nikkei BP]] |isbn=4-8222-2550-X |pages=88–89 |language=ja}}</ref> AE Planning primarily distributed [[original video animations]] (OVAs) from other companies, most notably [[Pierrot (company)|Pierrot]]'s ''[[Dallos]]'' (1983).<ref name="Nikkei BP"/> Beginning in October 1984, it licensed and distributed [[laserdisc]] films in Japan.<ref name="History"/> After Bandai agreed to a business alliance with [[The Walt Disney Company]] in 1987, AE Planning became a distributor of Disney animated films across the country.<ref name="Grant"/>

In March 1989, AE Planning renamed itself Bandai Visual Sales and opened a second office in [[Shōwa-ku|Shōwa-ku, Nagoya]].<ref name="History"/> Alongside its publishing and distribution of [[VHS]] releases for television series such as ''[[Ultraman]]'' and ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', Visual Sales operated the Emotion Theater movie theater in Bandai's B-Club Shop in [[Takadanobaba]] until its closure in 1997. Bandai Visual Sales was renamed again to Bandai Visual Co., Ltd. in August 1991.<ref name="History"/> In the same year, it absorbed Bandai's Media Division as a means to unify the latter company's home video distribution businesses. The acquisition also gave Bandai Visual ownership of the Emotion label, which was used for its music, anime re-releases, and other products.<ref name="Grant"/><ref name="Nikkei BP"/> As the company continued generating profits, it began expanding its operations into other entertainment industries. In 1996, Bandai Visual began publishing video games under the Emotion Digital Software brand, releasing titles such as ''[[Return to Zork]]'', ''[[MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat|MechWarrior 2: Arcade Combat Edition]]'' and ''[[List of Macross video games|Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Ai Oboete Imasu ka]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=リターン・トゥ・ゾーク — RETURN TO ZORK |agency=Sega Saturn Magazine Japan |issue=13 |publisher=[[SoftBank Group]] |date=December 8, 1995 |page=4 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sega Saturn Soft Review - 超時空要塞マクロス 愛・おぼえていますか |trans-title=Sega Saturn Soft Review — Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Ai Oboete Imasu ka |agency=Sega Saturn Magazine Japan |publisher=[[SoftBank Group]] |date=June 20, 1997 |page=147 |language=ja}}</ref>

=== Mainstream success and Bandai Entertainment (1996–2005) ===
In April 1996, Bandai Visual published ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing]]'', the sixth mainline installment in the ''[[Gundam]]'' media franchise. Though it was a moderate success in Japan, ''Gundam Wing'' was especially popular in the United States, being credited for single-handedly popularizing the ''Gundam'' franchise for Western audiences. Following the show's success, Bandai established a subsidiary named Bandai Entertainment Inc. in [[Cypress, California]] as a subsidiary of its United States division, Bandai America. Though Bandai Visual did not have any direct control over Bandai Entertainment, the latter company often licensed many of Visual's anime series for publishing and distribution in North America, such as ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'', ''[[The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'', and multiple ''Gundam'' sequels.<ref name="CBR">{{cite web |last1=Gramuglia |first1=Anthony |title=From Bandai to 4Kids, the Anime Distributors That Didn't Survive |url=https://www.cbr.com/bandai-4kids-dead-anime-distributors/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |publisher=Valnet |access-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027083035/https://www.cbr.com/bandai-4kids-dead-anime-distributors/ |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |date=October 21, 2020}}</ref> Bandai Entertainment also published English-translated [[manga]] series and American [[graphic novels]],<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> in addition to offering a "fan support" program to facilitate public screenings of licensed content at [[anime club]]s and [[anime convention]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-12-02/bandai-announces-anime-club-support-progam|title=Bandai announces anime club support program|publisher=Anime News Network|date=December 2, 2002|access-date=January 2, 2012}}</ref>

Bandai Visual was listed on [[JASDAQ Securities Exchange|JASDAQ]] market in November 2001; by that time, the company was worth over {{yen}}2.1 billion (US$20 million).<ref name="History"/><ref name="Masuda">{{cite book |last1=Masuda |first1=Hiromichi |title=アニメビジネスがわかる |trans-title=Understanding The Anime Business |date=July 25, 2007 |publisher=NTT Publishing |isbn=9784757122000 |page=206}}</ref> In January 2003, the company acquired Emotion Music and made it a wholly owned subsidiary, as a means to further expand into the music industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=バンダイＶ、著作権事業開始…エモーションＭを子会社化 |trans-title=Bandai Visual starts copyright business ... Makes Emotion Music a subsidiary |url=http://news.braina.com/2003/0130/enter_20030130_002_0010___.html |website=Braina News |publisher=Braina |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060327041721/http://news.braina.com/2003/0130/enter_20030130_002_0010___.html |archive-date=March 27, 2006 |language=ja |date=January 30, 2003}}</ref> Bandai Visual also began supplying content for broadband distribution networks, such as the [[Bandai Channel]] television station.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ann Wright |first1=Jean |title=Animation Writing and Development - From Script Development to Pitch |date=July 18, 2013 |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |isbn=9781136144059 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ito |first1=Daichi |title=BBコンテンツの雄「バンダイチャンネル」の戦略 ～ブロードバンドオリジナルの作品が来年にも登場～ |url=https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/special/5210.html |website=BB Watch |publisher=Impress Group |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908221855/https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/special/5210.html |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |language=ja |date=May 12, 2001}}</ref>

=== Namco Bandai takeover and merge with Lantis (2005–2018) ===
Bandai Visual was a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/industries/significant?industryCode=53215&categoryId=207|title=NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. to Fully Acquire Bandai Visual Co., Ltd. and Bandai Networks Co., Ltd.|work=Reuters  |date=January 15, 2008|access-date=January 19, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080213055059/https://www.reuters.com/finance/industries/significant?industryCode=53215&categoryId=207| archive-date= February 13, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="bizweek">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=5556744|title=Bandai Visual Co. Ltd.: Private Company Information|work=BusinessWeek |date=January 19, 2008|access-date=January 20, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080222192827/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=5556744| archive-date= February 22, 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> Namco Bandai announced on November 8, 2007, that it would buy the voting shares it did not own between that date and December 10, 2007, and turn the company into a wholly owned subsidiary.<ref name="variety">{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2007/biz/news/bandai-namco-buys-up-subsidiaries-1117977875/|title=Bandai Namco buys up subsidiaries|work=Variety  | first=Mark|last=Schilling |author-link=Mark Schilling |date=December 17, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2007/biz/news/bandai-taking-over-subsidiaries-1117975604/|title=Bandai taking over subsidiaries |work=Variety | first=Mark |last=Schilling |author-link=Mark Schilling |date=November 8, 2007}}</ref> On December 18, 2007, Namco Bandai announced that it had owned 93.63%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katanaxtreme.com/anime_news/details.aspx?id=ETsFjgzchU65OknwxiRimw|title=NAMCO BANDAI Holdings announces complete takeover of BANDAI VISUAL|publisher=KatanaXtreme.com|access-date=December 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713140501/http://www.katanaxtreme.com/anime_news/details.aspx?id=ETsFjgzchU65OknwxiRimw|archive-date=July 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> of Bandai Visual's shares since the end of November.<ref name="variety"/> The remaining shares were delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on February 15, 2008, after Namco Bandai acquired the remaining 10% of the shares.

{{anchor|Bandai Namco Arts}}

{{For|current company|Bandai Namco Arts}}
 
In February 2018, it was announced Bandai Visual would be merged with Lantis into a new branch of BNH, called [[Bandai Namco Arts]]. The reorganizing took effect as of April 1, 2018. Bandai Visual remains only as a label of the new company.<ref name="New Bandai Visual">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-09/bandai-namco-holdings-merges-lantis-with-bandai-visual-launches-new-subsidiaries/.127609|title=Bandai Namco Holdings Merges Lantis With Bandai Visual, Launches New Subsidiaries|publisher=Anime News Network|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref>

== Subsidiaries  ==
=== 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]]''.

=== Beez Entertainment ===
Beez Entertainment was the European branch of Bandai Entertainment that also distributed anime and music and were also owned by Bandai Namco Holdings.<ref name="About">{{cite web | url=http://www.beez.fr/company.php?&lng=en | title=About Beez: Company Profile | publisher=Beez Entertainment | access-date=December 28, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512001416/http://www.beez.fr/company.php?&lng=en | archive-date=May 12, 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The name is an acronym for Bandai Entertainment European Zone. Following the discontinuation of Bandai Entertainment, Beez has also stopped releasing anime in the European market.<ref name="animenewsnetwork.com">[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-05/france-beez-entertainment-stops-releasing-new-anime France's Beez Entertainment Stops Releasing New Anime - News]. Anime News Network (January 5, 2012). Retrieved on 2014-05-12.</ref> Their anime releases were licensed in North America by Bandai Entertainment and Bandai Visual USA.

=== Honnêamise ===
Honnêamise was Bandai Visual USA's boutique label that distributed deluxe editions of anime and artsier products. The label's namesake comes from ''[[Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise]]''. The label was shut down on July 1, 2008, when Bandai Visual USA was absorbed into Bandai Entertainment. The label's releases were distributed by [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan#Geneon USA|Geneon Entertainment USA]] and [[Image Entertainment]].

== Music ==
In August 2009, Bandai Visual had their first music release on US iTunes with Lantis Sounds. In September 2009, Bandai Visual teamed up with [[Namco Bandai Games]] for their periodic release of game sounds (classic and new) to iTunes USA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/news/music-entertainment-news/bandai-visuals-new-project-game-sounds-on-itunes/ |title=Bandai Visual's new project – game sounds on iTunes |publisher=[[J!-ENT]] |access-date=September 2, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Bandai Visual and Namco Games partner up for Game Sounds |url=https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/pdf/2009/pr090902.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926225409/http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/pdf/2009/pr090902.pdf |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |language=ja |publisher=Bandai Visual |access-date=September 2, 2009 }}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Url|https://web.archive.org/web/20170925160712/https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/|Official website}} {{In lang|ja}}
* {{Ann|company|18}}

{{Bandai Namco Holdings}}
{{Japanese animation studios}}

[[Category:Bandai Visual| ]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Anime companies]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Film distributors of Japan]]
[[Category:Former Bandai Namco Holdings subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Manga distributors]]
[[Category:Mass media companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Bandai Namco Filmworks]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]