Toei Animation Unveils Ambitious 10-Year Global Roadmap

Toei Animation's Global Ambitions

Toei Animation, the studio behind beloved titles like One Piece and Dragon Ball, has announced an ambitious 10-year roadmap aimed at transforming into a multi-billion-dollar global entity.

Vision for Growth

With the goal of becoming a 3.26 billion USD organization, Toei is focused on expanding its reach beyond Japan by producing original content tailored for international audiences. Their strategy seeks to redefine what anime can achieve on a global scale, investing significantly in technology and talent.

Studio Ecosystem Strengthening

A key aspect of the plan is enhancing the studio ecosystem. Toei aims to augment its flagship Oizumi Studio and hire hundreds of new staff to combat the ongoing animator shortage in the industry. Additionally, the studio intends to establish two to three new facilities across Asia within five years, expanding its production capabilities.

Emphasis on Digital Transformation

Toei Animation is set to embrace digital innovation, integrating advanced technologies like VR, AR, and AI to elevate production standards. This focus ensures that they maintain high-quality output without excessive labor demands on their team.

Fostering Creativity

The studio plans to create an environment where creators can thrive by introducing initiatives such as the “Pro, Pro, Pro!!” project to encourage original content pitches. This strategy aims to narrow the gap between creators’ aspirations and the production process.

Intellectual Property Development

Toei is investing approximately 70 billion yen in bolstering its intellectual properties (IPs) over the next five years. This includes increasing the number of new IPs and enhancing global awareness of established franchises like Dragon Ball and One Piece. The studio aims to triple its new IP creation efforts, targeting 40 new IPs predominantly from overseas markets.

Global Expansion Strategies

In line with its international focus, Toei plans to invest 20 billion yen across its overseas development. This move is essential for achieving 60% of its sales target from global markets by FY2031. The company is committed to establishing bases in regions such as the Middle East to harness growth opportunities directly.

Conclusion

Toei Animation’s ambitious plan not only aims for commercial success but also seeks to embrace inclusivity in storytelling for a broader audience. With a strategic focus on innovation and global outreach, Toei is poised to reshape the future of anime production.

Source: Anime Hunch