Toei Animation has officially addressed recent reports regarding a proposed manga-themed park in France, clarifying that the studio has not entered into any licensing agreements for such a project. The statement serves as a direct rebuttal to claims that the park would feature the Dragon Ball franchise, a connection that had been widely circulated following an announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron in late August.
In its statement, Toei Animation highlighted that promotional materials, including concept art and video assets, currently being used to market the French proposal were originally developed for the Dragon Ball theme park project currently in development with the Qiddiya Investment Company in Saudi Arabia. The studio emphasized that these assets are entirely unrelated to any potential French development, effectively distancing the franchise from the European project.
While the French initiative is reportedly valued at 6 billion euros, the lack of official authorization from the primary rights holders remains a significant hurdle. Reports from outlets like Le Monde previously suggested that the project had yet to secure the necessary permissions, a concern now validated by Toei's formal denial. With Bird Studio and Shueisha remaining silent on the matter, it remains to be seen if the project will proceed without the backing of the series' intellectual property owners.
