Delays from Bandai

[mike.motaku]

This just in from Robert's Anime Corner Store, as a head's up:

"Bandai gave us some rather disconcerting news this week. Both Ghost Slayers Part #1 and Clamp School Detectives have been bumped again, this time from early December all the way out to February 3rd. They also pushed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part #2 back one week from Dec 2nd to Dec 9th, and I don't think we'll be getting that one as early as we would have liked this year."

Apparently Bandai is shutting down their warehouse for 10 days between Nov 24th and Dec 3rd. Probably as a cost-cutting measure. They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

[animeforever'04]

This just in from Robert's Anime Corner Store, as a head's up:

"Bandai gave us some rather disconcerting news this week. Both Ghost Slayers Part #1 and Clamp School Detectives have been bumped again, this time from early December all the way out to February 3rd. They also pushed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part #2 back one week from Dec 2nd to Dec 9th, and I don't think we'll be getting that one as early as we would have liked this year."

Apparently Bandai is shutting down their warehouse for 10 days between Nov 24th and Dec 3rd. Probably as a cost-cutting measure. They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

this is really bad!

[geotrio]

They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

Not happy about this news one bit.

[WTK]

This was somewhat noted/buried yesterday with the solicitation thread (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1471925&postcount=166). That portion of the update (which includes ADV and importing) is just not really positive.

[Suwako Moriya]

They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

I don't know why, but something doesn't add up here. I can understand cutting back on prints run in order to be realistic. Which in some ways makes sense. However somehow I doubt the first print run for a given title will be its final print run.

Although who knows? Maybe that's the strategy they're going for. However if they really are planning a "First=Last" print run strategy it would make everything a Limited Edition by default.

Regardless if Bandai is smart they're not going to go for such an idea. The last thing they want is people thinking "What if I don't order soon enough? I might not get a copy at all. In that case I may as well not even bother buying this series".

[TheGreenMan]

They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

I don't know why, but something doesn't add up here. I can understand cutting back on prints run in order to be realistic. Which in some ways makes sense. However somehow I doubt the first print run for a given title will be its final print run.

Although who knows? Maybe that's the strategy they're going for. However if they really are planning a "First=Last" print run strategy it would make everything a Limited Edition by default.

Regardless if Bandai is smart they're not going to go for such an idea. The last thing they want is people thinking "What if I don't order soon enough? I might not get a copy at all. In that case I may as well not even bother buying this series".

Code Geass Part 2 for only $300 on Ebay right now! Lucky Star #5? Your arm please. Hayate? Better kidnap rich girl for ransom.



Limited print runs will only increase the resell value of the DVDs and make the resellers rich in the process.

[KudosForce]

Although who knows? Maybe that's the strategy they're going for. However if they really are planning a "First=Last" print run strategy it would make everything a Limited Edition by default.

Does this mean that Bandai Ent. will become the anime company equivalent of Atlus?

[Fencedude]

Code Geass Part 2 for only $300 on Ebay right now! Lucky Star #5? Your arm please. Hayate? Better kidnap rich girl for ransom.



Limited print runs will only increase the resell value of the DVDs and make the resellers rich in the process.

I don't think tehy are saying that that is the ONLY time they will print DVDs, but that there won't be as much excess from the first print run, so if you wait you may need to wait until a second printing is done, not that there will NEVER be a second printing.

[Tofurkey]

Well, they took a while on those Silent Mobius flicks, so I'm not sweating it too much.

[Draneor]

I don't think they are saying that that is the ONLY time they will print DVDs, but that there won't be as much excess from the first print run, so if you wait you may need to wait until a second printing is done, not that there will NEVER be a second printing.

That's how I interpret it as well. Rather than print and hold extra for the original print run so that retailers could order more if needed, Bandai is now only printing what retailers order. That doesn't mean there won't be a second print run if retailers put in enough orders to merit it--it just means retailers need to be be extra careful when deciding how many to order.

[band20]

I'm thinking this is just a way to limit expenses and that it doesn't mean that they won't do another print run after the first one. Honestly I think this is just a business strategy to help them weather the current economic conditions.

[Suwako Moriya]

Does this mean that Bandai Ent. will become the anime company equivalent of Atlus?

It should be noted that what I'm saying in regards to "first print=last print" shouldn't be taken as fact in any form. It's more of an "If they were to do X then the result would be Y" type of thing. The keyword being "If". One that was part of a larger point being made about how things don't make sense.

In general I highly doubt they're going to print once and then never print again. It's just that they're printing less the first time. So instead of for example 10,000 units the first time, they might print only 5,000 units instead. As for the second print run and beyond, it's hard to say what criteria they'd use. It could be a set number or based on demand.

[something]

I don't think they are saying that that is the ONLY time they will print DVDs, but that there won't be as much excess from the first print run, so if you wait you may need to wait until a second printing is done, not that there will NEVER be a second printing.That's how I interpret it as well.
Exactly.

This is nothing to panic over. I read it and shrugged and that was that.

[Fudce]

Hayate? Better kidnap rich girl for ransom.

I'd prefer to kidnap a normal girl.

[Buckeye]

Let's just hope that what is going on is not what I think it is.

[Solid Slap]

Cost cutting measures. So far, no big deal, though hopefully this is the last time they push back Clamp.

[KudosForce]

Does this mean that Bandai Ent. will become the anime company equivalent of Atlus?

It should be noted that what I'm saying in regards to "first print=last print" shouldn't be taken as fact in any form. It's more of an "If they were to do X then the result would be Y" type of thing. The keyword being "If". One that was part of a larger point being made about how things don't make sense.

In general I highly doubt they're going to print once and then never print again. It's just that they're printing less the first time. So instead of for example 10,000 units the first time, they might print only 5,000 units instead. As for the second print run and beyond, it's hard to say what criteria they'd use. It could be a set number or based on demand.

Oh. Good enough, then.:relief:

[Suwako Moriya]

This is nothing to panic over. I read it and shrugged and that was that.

Seriously at worst it's going to possibly boil down to more waiting. Which is nothing new anyway. Sooner or later each of us is going to find scenarios where we have to wait for the next shipment. A scenario which I'm currently in the middle of, but that's another story.

[something]

Seriously at worst it's going to possibly boil down to more waiting. Which is nothing new anyway.
Yeah, I mean, hell I preorder everything anyway so shouldn't matter. All this might mean, if anything, is that I'm quicker to defect from TRSI to DVD Pacific on things that get solicited right after a TRSI Bandai Studio Sale (so as not to wait ~5 months after solicitation to order).

[Suwako Moriya]

Yeah, I mean, hell I preorder everything anyway so shouldn't matter.

In my case I'm more selective in regards to pre-ordering and in general order stuff closer to the date or in some cases way past the date. So I'm the type to be effected by this somewhat, but given my buying strategy it's a fact I have to accept.

[BigPants]

:(

Well, what I want to say is LKJFSKLFNSDFJNSDF NDS FLDSF ODSF DIF NSDFN FN

I want CLAMP Campus :(

[Damius]

Well again some not good news. Anyway, will see. Something they should cut out is LE versions (less volumes of a series should have them) and they should print less of them.

[The Great Bear]

:(

Well, what I want to say is LKJFSKLFNSDFJNSDF NDS FLDSF ODSF DIF NSDFN FN

I want CLAMP Campus :(

I would have thought you meant to say #@$% &* $%&* @^&%*(! $#&!, but maybe you're using another language :P

…

Seriously, these delays suck.

[GrateSaiyaman]

Does this mean the sky is falling again?

;)

[DeadlyMessiah]

What is happening to Bandai? None of their releases over the last few weeks seem to be carried in Best Buy stores.

[Damius]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

[nuaythebest]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

Mine has already been ship.

[The Great Bear]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

I have it already. So, it's out there in the retail pipeline, but it may vary from retailer to retailer.

[Damius]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

I have it already. So, it's out there in the retail pipeline, but it may vary from retailer to retailer.

ok nice to know.

[Soufriere]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?
FWIW, I picked it up in my local BB on Friday evening.

Lack of CSD = :cry:

[WTK]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

I have it already. So, it's out there in the retail pipeline, but it may vary from retailer to retailer.

ok nice to know.
The LE is the one that were shipping late. Mine copy didn't get reserved until the 18th.

[Sean_Connolly]

I've got to wonder if Bandai's release structure isn't part of the problem for them. I mean, they're releasing Code Geass in a multitude of SKUs for the same amount of content. You got singles, sets, and LE sets. Gurren Lagann is even more weird. They're even doing it with Toward the Terra (singles and sets) which is unknown as hell. Then comes the problems with bad discs.

Sooner or later it's going to catch up with them. I know fans love it, but they should probably nip it in the bud before it really bites them in the ass. Drop the singles (unless it's a huge, huge show or something) and stick with sets and probably limit the LEs to select shows.

[Damius]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

I have it already. So, it's out there in the retail pipeline, but it may vary from retailer to retailer.

ok nice to know.
The LE is the one that were shipping late. Mine copy didn't get reserved until the 18th.

Oh I see that's why then.

[WTK]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

I have it already. So, it's out there in the retail pipeline, but it may vary from retailer to retailer.

ok nice to know.
The LE is the one that were shipping late. Mine copy didn't get reserved until the 18th.

Oh I see that's why then.
One of the possible explanations of why it was delayed was posted here (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?p=1469270&postcount=66).

[Njr Scrawl]

After TTT part 3 arrives, that's it for my 2008 Bandai now.

[something]

Did anyone receive Lucky Star #4?

Long time ago.

[Suwako Moriya]

The LE is the one that were shipping late. Mine copy didn't get reserved until the 18th.

Mine was reserved around that time as well, maybe slightly later. The actual issue for me is the other two items on the order. One doesn't street until January and the other well apparently Bandai needs to send another batch of it to Rightstuf because there wasn't enough in the previous batch. So for me it's less a case of waiting for Lucky Star 4 LE, rather I'm apparently waiting for Galaxy Angel X...

[dragonrider_cody]

Bandai cutting production runs really isn't that suprising. I can say that they've been overshipping to many retailers lately, and their releases always make up the bulk of our anime returns (even outdoing Funi.) In fact, I'm thinking ADV cut theirs back earlier this year, during the whole Sojitz debacle. Remember how hard some of their discs were to find, if you didn't grab them right away?

Also, I don't think many retailers are happy with the multitude of sku's. It's much harder to fit two or three different versions of one title on a shelf. Gurren Lagan is the most notable example. Not to mention the return issues for that title, because some early buyers didn't realize the initial release didn't have dub.

But production cutbacks are not necessarily a bad thing. It puts their output more inline with demand, and helps scale back costs. It will probably be a good thing down the line, though we may have to wait longer to get some of their series.

[Chris Beveridge]

This just in from Robert's Anime Corner Store, as a head's up:

"Bandai gave us some rather disconcerting news this week. Both Ghost Slayers Part #1 and Clamp School Detectives have been bumped again, this time from early December all the way out to February 3rd. They also pushed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part #2 back one week from Dec 2nd to Dec 9th, and I don't think we'll be getting that one as early as we would have liked this year."

Apparently Bandai is shutting down their warehouse for 10 days between Nov 24th and Dec 3rd. Probably as a cost-cutting measure. They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

This was actually covered way back on 11/12:

http://www.mania.com/bandai-entertainment-delays-numerous-releases_article_111148.html

:)

[mike.motaku]

Sorry. I just read the forum and not all of that.

[Fudce]

Sorry. I just read the forum and not all of that.

I can't recall the post, but it was reported on the forums too. Probably the Clamp school detectives post in the coverart forum.

[TheGreenMan]

Code Geass Part 2 for only $300 on Ebay right now! Lucky Star #5? Your arm please. Hayate? Better kidnap rich girl for ransom.



Limited print runs will only increase the resell value of the DVDs and make the resellers rich in the process.

I don't think tehy are saying that that is the ONLY time they will print DVDs, but that there won't be as much excess from the first print run, so if you wait you may need to wait until a second printing is done, not that there will NEVER be a second printing.

I hope so. Sometimes, I don't get around to getting the DVDs the first time they're out, so I hope Bandai means that there will be more print runs.

[dragoon]

So when will there be some positive Bandai news for a change?

Seems like there's bumps in the road one after another in recent times. :(

[Ty]

Does this mean the sky is falling again?

;)

Around here I think it would just be easier to carry it around on your back.

[Danime]

The last thing they want is people thinking "What if I don't order soon enough? I might not get a copy at all. In that case I may as well not even bother buying this series".

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I'm not buying the Code Geass LE's until the exchange rate has gone up a bit, but now I feel like I'll be forced to buy them now or never, so I just don't think I can commit the money at this point in time. Likewise with Gurren Lagann and Ghost Slayers Ayashi, etc.

[mike.motaku]

Sorry. I just read the forum and not all of that.

I can't recall the post, but it was reported on the forums too. Probably the Clamp school detectives post in the coverart forum.

That would fall into the category of "and not all of that".

Regardless, I do think it's better that some info not be buried in a post about some other topic that mostly casual readers may miss. We all know how a thread can undergo strange mutations and come out at the other end bearing no relation to the original topic, and following the meandering thread along it's merry way can be, um, daunting at best.

[neosupersonic]

This just in from Robert's Anime Corner Store, as a head's up:

"Bandai gave us some rather disconcerting news this week. Both Ghost Slayers Part #1 and Clamp School Detectives have been bumped again, this time from early December all the way out to February 3rd. They also pushed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Part #2 back one week from Dec 2nd to Dec 9th, and I don't think we'll be getting that one as early as we would have liked this year."

Apparently Bandai is shutting down their warehouse for 10 days between Nov 24th and Dec 3rd. Probably as a cost-cutting measure. They are also cutting print runs on dvds so what hits the market on the first go-round may be the only chance to get new releases from them.

this is really bad!

It may not be as bad as it seems. They could just be shutting down for the better part of the holiday weekend. It does make sense that they are cutting costs by slimming down their manufacturing.

[grgspunk]

I can't imagine them getting enough revenue to make up for their costs with just one print run, either.

[Zalis]

Speaking of Bandai delays, has there been any word or rumors on Di Gi Charat Nyo 10? It should've been out sometime in November, based on previous release patterns, but neither 10 nor any future volumes have shown up in any future solicitations.

[Faris Kalin]

Speaking of Bandai delays, has there been any word or rumors on Di Gi Charat Nyo 10? It should've been out sometime in November, based on previous release patterns, but neither 10 nor any future volumes have shown up in any future solicitations.

I actually sent them an email about this. They said that DGC was one of the releases that got pushed back and to expect it in "early 2009".

That's fine with me. I don't mind waiting just as long as it does eventually come out.