Toei Animation Denies Reports of Dragon Ball Theme Park Being Built in France

Toei Animation has issued an official statement denying reports that a Dragon Ball theme park has been approved for construction in France.

The company published the statement on August 31, saying that neither Toei Animation nor the other relevant rights holders have granted any licenses for such a project. It added that it is not aware of any facts supporting the reports.

Toei Animation also addressed concept images and footage being circulated alongside the claims. According to the company, all of the material originated from the Dragon Ball theme park project announced with Qiddiya Investment Company on March 22, 2024.

Those visuals are for the planned Dragon Ball theme park at Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia and have no connection to the reports concerning France.

The company stated:

Recently, some media outlets have reported that ‘a Dragon Ball theme park is planned to be built in France.’ However, Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Katsuhiro Takagi) and the relevant rights holders have not granted any licenses regarding this matter, and we are not aware of any such fact.

Furthermore, all concept images and videos of the theme park used in these reports were originally used in the joint announcement made by our company and Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company on March 22, 2024, and relate to the theme park planned for construction in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia. These images and videos have no connection whatsoever to the reports in question.

The statement therefore does not indicate that a Dragon Ball theme park project in France is currently licensed or officially moving forward. The previously announced Saudi Arabian project remains separate from the claims addressed by Toei Animation.

The reports began circulating after French President Emmanuel Macron announced on August 24 that three manga-related theme parks were planned for Cergy-Pontoise, France. Macron said the projects would involve €6 billion in investment and create 22,000 jobs, with Qiddiya and Saudi Arabia involved. However, he did not name Dragon Ball or any other specific manga or anime franchise in his original announcement.

Source: Toei Animation Official Website
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