bandai visual usa was established in 2005 to distribute and market bandai visual's productions in north america. unlike bandai entertainment, bandai visual usa's releases were of high quality and were aimed at collectors. their titles were released under the honnêamise label (named after their bandai visual's first production, ). bandai visual usa's anime products were distributed in north america initially by image entertainment and later, geneon entertainment usa and in europe by beez entertainment. on may 23, 2008, bandai namco holdings announced that bandai visual usa would be merged into bandai entertainment. bandai visual usa was dissolved on july 1, 2008.