Bandai Entertainment Acquires The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya; E-Store Launches

April 15, 2010 (Cypress, CA) – Bandai Entertainment, INC. announced today that it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the theatrical film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya from Kadokawa Pictures Inc.

The film, which is based on the novel of the same name by Nagaru Tanigawa and Noizi Ito, was made by Kyoto Animation and supervised by Chief Director Tatsuya Ishihara and Director Yasuhiro Takemoto. The story follows the two seasons of the anime series phenomenon The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and tells the story of Haruhi's sudden disappearance and her friend Kyon's attempt to untangle the mystery of why she's vanished. The film opened on February 6th, 2010 in Japan with 24 prints, and earned more than 670 Million Yen (Approximately $7.5 Million US) by the end of March.

An English subtitled print of the film will be shown theatrically at the Viz Cinema in San Francisco (www.vizcinema.com) staring on May 21st followed by a theatrical distribution in Hawaii in mid-June by Consolidated Theaters (http://www.consolidatedtheatres.com) and Artisan Gateway as part of their SPOTLIGHT ASIA FILMS Program. Hawaii dates and venues will be announced soon.

Subsequently, an English language version of the movie will be produced by Bandai Entertainment and Bang Zoom! Entertainment and released on DVD at a date soon to be determined.

Also, Bandai Entertainment announced that Bandai Entertainment-the STORE is now officially open for business. The new e-store at http://store.bandai-ent.com is making available DVDS, Mangas and other unique items at great discounts.

For more information on Bandai Entertainment visit:
www.bandai-ent.com
www.asosbrigade.com

For more information on the Theatrical release visit:
http://www.kadokawa-pictures.co.jp/
www.vizcinema.com (for San Francisco)
http://www.consolidatedtheatres.com (Hawaii)

About Bandai Entertainment, INC.
Bandai Entertainment, INC. is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc. and the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD and programming for television broadcast in North America. Titles include Gundam 00, Code Geass: Lelouch of Rebellion, Lucky Star, Gurren Lagann, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Escaflowne, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, My Otome, and many more.