I was disappointed by the cancelation of Bandai Visual USA's panel - apparently, all the representatives had to be recalled to Japan for corporate matters - but thankfully, Bandai Entertainment was still present with their presentation, albeit marred by technical difficulties. The biggest news they had to offer is their licensing of Rocket Girls, a 12 episode comedy about a girl pressed to become an astronaut while searching for her father. The anime was produced in conjunction with JAXA, the Japanese equivalent of NASA, except more open to the development of real-life giant robots in space. Well, I would hope, at least. I sure wish NASA would get on that.

In addition, Bandai reaffirmed that Madhouse's The Girl Who Leapt through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo) will be getting a theatrical release this summer before a DVD release in the fall. Instead of choosing between a dub or sub version, Bandai will be sending out both versions to theaters. While I question whether a dub version is necessary for what will sadly be a niche film in US theaters, the option of a subtitled version will certainly help mobilize fans to see it when it comes out. I'm just curious how theaters will determine which version to screen.