IC Entertainment Controversy Goes Public

The financial troubles of manga publisher IC Entertainment over the past several months have been the domestic anime community’s least well kept secret. Following a number of announcements from IC Entertainment at last weekend’s AnimeNEXT convention, Anime News Network has published an extensive interview with three former IC Entertainment employees.

According to a first hand report of the IC Entertainment AnimeNEXT panel published to the Anime on DVD Forum, IC Entertainment is in financial straits resulting in much of its staff being volunteers; has announced that several of its regular titles are being placed on indefinite hiatus; and even appears to be uncertain of the company’s name. IC blames the problems on an un-named former employee. IC maintains that several anticipated upcoming releases including Di-Gi-Charat: Dejiko’s Champion Cup Theatre & Hanaukyo Maid Team will still be released as scheduled.

Anime News Network’s interview is a detailed account of IC Entertainment founder and president Steve Bennett defrauding and taking advantage of employees’ and business associates’ good faith. According to the article, IC Entertainment has refused to discuss the accusations or respond to inquiries at all.