Toei Animation to Open Office in Italy, More to Follow

The ‘Dragon Ball’ and ‘One Piece’ studio may soon also set up shop in Latin America and India to increase international production and take advantage of lucrative markets.

Japanese studio Toei Animation, responsible for the hit animated franchises One Piece, Dragon Ball, and many others, is set to open an office in Italy to take advantage of the lucrative European market, according to Variety. The studio already has offices in Asia, Australasia, the Americas, Europe-Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with the intent to also set up shop in Latin America and India.

Speaking at the three-day rights market TIFFCOM, senior executive Shinohara Satoshi said, “At times, this has been a contrarian approach. We value the responsiveness and speed that you get with local offices.” Satoshi also alluded to the bump in sales that offices in India and Mexico would provide.

The company’s international revenue climbed by more than 60% in 2021. “The bigger the addressable market, the bigger the potential for content investment,” added Shinohara. Toei earned a net income of $157 million last year.

Current Toei international film projects in progress include Le College Noir, an untitled project with Studio N in South Korea, and Hana no Ko Lunlun, a Chinese production with Tencent Video, as well as Philippines-produced Solemn Vow.