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Bandai Entertainment to Restructure with Staff Layoffs

The North American anime distributor Bandai Entertainment has confirmed that it is re-evaluating its operations due to the worsening economy and will reduce its full-time staff. The company is currently finalizing its strategy for the next three years, and more details will be available when this process is complete. When asked about how many people would be laid off, President Ken Iyadomi said, "Those details are not final yet." The company currently has 19 full-time staffers, and the layoffs will affect production and other departments. However, many of those laid off will remain on board as contracted consultants to finish their current projects.

Bandai Entertainment will finish its ongoing releases and does not plan on introducing any new delays to its current release schedule. The company plans to continue licensing and releasing "strong titles." However, there "could be fewer titles" released in the future than the company has released in the past.

When asked what situation brought about this restructuring, Iyadomi answered, "The downturn in the DVD market sell through."

Funimation, ADV Films, and Tokyopop have laid off employees within the past 18 months. Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. laid off much of its sales and marketing teams in September 2007 before ceasing in-house sales and distribution of its licenses later that same month.