Bandai Entertainment

Background

Bandai Entertainment was a subsidiary of Bandai America, formed in 1998. It originally released its titles under the AnimeVillage.com label, but eventually began using the Bandai Entertainment name in 1999. The company licensed various Japanese anime for an American release, as well as manga and American-made graphic novels. On January 2, 2012, it was announced that the company would stop manufacturing new releases. Later that year, Namco Bandai announced they would be shutting down Bandai Entertainment. Most of its titles have since been re-licensed by other companies.

1st Logo (1999-2005)

Visuals: Against a black background with a pattern of scrolling Bandai logos, a red laser in the center of the screen shoots out from both sides horizontally. The words "BANDAI" (in red), written in its corporate font, emerge from the top, and the words "entertainment" (also in red) emerge from the bottom simultaneously.

Variant: There are fullscreen and widescreen variants of this logo.

Technique: Computer effects.

Audio: A tubular bell strike followed by a three-note Japanese string tune. A loud whoosh/zapping sound plays as the laser forms.

Availability: Seen on some early Bandai releases such as Cowboy Bebop, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (the DVD release).

2nd Logo (2005-2013)

Visuals: The first element shown is some dark purplish clouds. As the clouds "open", a white line of light is placed near the left side and a "B" turns to us. 5 more white lines are placed next to it and the letters "A", "N", "D", "A", and "I" turn to face the camera, revealing the words "BANDAI" in its corporate font. Suddenly, it flashes, and the clouds turn into a black BG. The words are now in red and the logo shines. "entertainment" appears on the bottom.

Variants:

Sometimes, the URL would appear below the logo.
Like the last logo, widescreen and fullscreen versions of this logo exist.
A short version was seen on Code Geass on Adult Swim.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A dramatic orchestral piece.

Availability: Their releases have gone out of print since the company's closure and are, as a result, hard to find and/or quite expensive. Still, it can be seen on older North American prints of Bandai releases such as Code Geass, Gurren Lagann, K-On!, Lucky Star, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.