Bandai news non-news

[Chris Beveridge]

I'm seeing several posts over at AVS that Bandai is now a big deal for support for HD DVD. I'd reply but I've had my access killed there.

Bandai Visual (Japan) has been neutral for some time. They've made noise about releasing on HD DVD more than BD but it's a weird thing because there is practically no HD DVD support in Japan. The "format war" there in general is really messed up as very few announcements have been made since the PS3 launched, giving it a wait and see mentality. HD DVD hardware sales are Xbox sized though.

Bandai Visual has numerous subdivisions, something they cleaned up a bit after the deal with Namco last year. In the US, there are 3 subdivisions. Bandai America handles the toys, deals with the game division and so forth. They also handle areas like Power Rangers and other live action material that gets shuttled around for broadcast. Bandai Entertainment is where the anime division deals with things. A new company was also started last year called Bandai Visual USA and opted to use a specific label called Honneamise. This is a boutique publisher right now that is looking to try to do some potential theatrical stuff in the future while handling DVD movies and OVAs. Right now, they have two releases out for all of 2006 and one set for 2007. They all are gorgeous and top quality, essentially ports of the Japanese release. Hell, everything was authored and replicated in Japan.

The US anime industry in general is slowly - very slowly - coming out of the biggest downturn yet. Every company I've talked to at conventions, email and on the phone has said that they're sitting this out for awhile. There's no incentive on either side at the moment because of the very limited audience compared to Hollywood movies. It's all being watched and there is certainly interest because of the potential, but unlike DVD they don't intend to jump and there isn't the same incentive level. DVD was ideal because it removed two SKU's from their inventory (subtitled tapes and dubbed tapes) and moved it to just one.

The "news" of Bandai Visual Japan intending to bring out HD DVDs is just a repeat of the last CES where they showcased boxart of Ghost in the Shell TV but then never released anything

To date, anime releases in Japan are:

Brave Story - both (Warner)
Project Papo - both (Gonzo; HD DVD available directly only, BD via retail)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Blu-ray
Air TV Box Set - Blu-ray

Bandai Visual certainly has plenty of projects they can do on both, but like DVD, I would in no way expect to see things with subtitles or dubs. The dynamics simply don't work that way because of pricing, distribution, contracts and so forth.

I'm excited to see more anime in HD, but this is some of the biggest non-news of the show yet to me.

[Josh]

I hope you don't mind, I posted it for you

[Chris Beveridge]

Not a problem. It was one of the few times I've actually felt like replying there since I left (on my own, not because of any issues).

[capek]

Well, Bandai has officially announced 4 HD-DVD releases, Patlabor 1, Patlabor 2, Freedom, and The Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamise. What do you have to say about this press release:
http://www.google.com/translate?u=ht...&hl=en&ie=UTF8

I have to say, for your obvious love of anime and your professed excitement for anime in HD, your negativity on the subject of anime on HD-DVD is perplexing. And you know it's not just about this post either. It's a shame that you're letting your bias get in the way of promoting anime on HD optical media.

Further more, here is what Amir has to say on the subject of Bandai supporting HD-DVD:

"I know Bandai is very interested in US market for their titles, indeed more so than their home market where they already have a strong presence."

"As far as I know, they have not announced support for BD. Of course, we don't ask for exclusivity so they are free to publish in other formats. They are however, extremely interested in interactivity features of HD DVD including networking so that makes it hard for them to target BD."

"They are going to take advantage of network features to download additional content to the machine after you buy the disc and other advanced community type scenarios which we showed at CES."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...70#post9400970

It would be easy for someone with his own biases to dismiss his statements as themselves biased, but he's right in the thick of things, and from my experience he has seldom been wrong, or even barely misleading. So I'll take his word as someone who has direct contact with this company, and I think your feels on the subject will be proven be proven even more wrong then they already have by this early announcement.

[blitz6speed]

I have to question why BANDAI would release hd-dvd movies? The format is 100% DEAD in japan, which is the home of Anime. The format here in the states is primarily used by hardcore movie buffs who buy classics and new releases, and xbox 360 addon owners who are into western games and movies. In other words, HD-DVD's market is about the most UNLIKELY possible to support Bandai and their anime titles in anyway, shape or form.

Lets look at Blu-Ray. Took over japan like no other. PS3 in big numbers all over the world. US PS3 owners obviously like japanese games as that is their main supply and gaming history supports this. Why wouldnt they release on blu-ray? Obviously something under the table. Disappointing for sure, as i am a fan of anime bigtime. And there would be no way in all hell i would spend extra money for hardware just to watch bandai flicks. If anything, the horrible sales of hd-dvd anime will just wake up bandai. Pretty sad.

I just noticed who you are from AVS. I just have to laugh at taking anything Amir says at face value, he is an absolute spinner of everything possible. Hell, he announced during the Vs event that HIS JOB is to not let HD-DVD die, so obviously ANYTHING he says is pretty much meaningless.

[capek]

Riiiight. But see, you are without a doubt completely and utterly biased, to the point where someone would have more luck talking about HD optical media with a rock.

I'll wait to see what Chris has to say. He at least runs a great site for which I have much respect. You on the otherhand...well, I'll just say you're not worth my time.

[Blue]

Unlike OTHER forums we try and let everyone have a fair say. One thing that is demanded is more than name calling please back any argument with a fact. Name calling is not a fact.

"But see, you are without a doubt completely and utterly biased, to the point where someone would have more luck talking about HD optical media with a rock."

One question though if not worthy of your time why did you waste it?

I normally send warnings privately via PM however MY time is valuable. You have been warned ANY more behavior like that and you are HISTORY. You are welcome to participate in the debate, as long as you debate the issue.

If you are at all uncertain on the meaning of fact or debate please look up the dictionary.

[capek]

Originally Posted by Blue

Unlike OTHER forums we try and let everyone have a fair say. One thing that is demanded is more than name calling please back any argument with a fact. Name calling is not a fact.

"But see, you are without a doubt completely and utterly biased, to the point where someone would have more luck talking about HD optical media with a rock."

One question though if not worthy of your time why did you waste it?

I normally send warnings privately via PM however MY time is valuable. You have been warned ANY more behavior like that and you are HISTORY. You are welcome to participate in the debate, as long as you debate the issue.

If you are at all uncertain on the meaning of fact or debate please look up the dictionary.

Oh oh, do I get to insult you back, or do I just have to sit back and take it from the big bad scary biased mod?

Seriously though, do tell where are the facts in blitz's post that I'm supposed to debate.

Anyways, something about not casting pearls before swine comes to mind. Mainly I just wanted to correct Chris's post with the newer, correct information, and see what he thought about these releases. I wouldn't want incorrect information to persist on a fine, upstanding forum like this.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by capek

I wouldn't want incorrect information to persist on a fine, upstanding forum like this.

And BD-50 is not technically possible.

You obviously only came here for one thing and Blue just warned you. Cya!

[Chris Beveridge]

The easiest reason why Bandai is going this way in Japan comes down to their ownership stake in Memory-Tech. You know, the company that's tapped to do the HD DVD variant work for Chinese HD DVD? They're also quite a big replicator/authoring group in Japan. So they're not exactly inclined to go for the required effort for the new lines.

In regards to biases, I've made it plainly clear in the past on my site but I have not mis-reported (to my knowledge) HD DVD on the news page or in relation to talking about releases. I keep it clean there, but when it comes to opinion areas such as forums (my site and others) I clearly express my opinions.

When it comes to format wars and the like, my belief is that if you aren't taking side you don't belong in the game. And yes, I apply that to format neutral studios too since they're just making it drag out even more. I've made my choice and I throw my support (time and money) behind it. I don't trash the competition. I report on it when it's relevant to my readers and almost always without commentary in terms of the actual news item.

[Blue]

post now irrelevant

[Deciazulado]

What is it with AVSers and bacon???

[Blackraven]

So what happens now???

Will Bandai leave the BDA and join the dark side to join MS and Memorex and create the evil optical format triumvirate :O???

Or does this just mean that they will still release on Blu-ray (just that they are neutral)???

I puke at the idea of Ghost in the Shell SAC being released on HD-DUD ........or the whole Ghost in the Shell franchise for that matter. That would just sicken me.

Although it's good that I sense Blood+ being on Blu-ray next year (all 50 episodes of it ), GITS is still Production IG's cream-of-the-crop and internationally, GITS>Blood+

Any scenario of GITS being an HD-DVD exclusive or perhaps any Bandai title being an HD-DVD exclusive just makes my stomach turn bad.

I do hope that the death sentence of HD-DVD in Japan would come faster so that Bandai would drop their HD-DVD ambitions and go as a Blu-ray exclusive.

Also, getting Geneon and ADV International as well as Funimation to release for Blu-ray would mean that I won't be affected by complex DVD region coding (stupid region 3).

But at least, I pray that Bandai won't support the ambitions of the dark side.....I can only hope

[Rolo]

It's curious to see Bandai releasing older titles on HD DVD. I love the Patlabor movies (got the remastered SD DVD) and Wings of Honneamise, but I figured it would be better to release something that would generally sell better like Cowboy Bebop IMO.

I'd rather not spend an arm and a leg to get BD anime from Japan (only 4 titles) but I think it will take a little time for anime to show up in BD domestically. It took a while for anime to show up on DVD here in the states so I think it will probably be the same way for BD.

Just hopin' Disney/Ghibli will release one BD within the year to keep me happy (and it better be Mononoke Hime).

[Blackraven]

I know they're releasing Rahxephon the Movie in HD-DVD this March but I don't care.

Just hope that doesn't mean ADV would release on the dark format. :P

Btw, has anyone seen the news on ANN and AOD?

Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society would be released on Blu-ray (USA region A) this 3rd Quarter of the year........almost.

[Knight-Errant]

LOL @ "the dark format"