Toei Animation
Toei Animation is a Japanese animation studio producing flagship anime franchises such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Precure, monetized through global licensing, streaming distribution, theatrical release, merchandise, and brand collaborations with partners including Netflix and Crunchyroll.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersNakano, Japan
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Toei Animation does
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (東映アニメーション株式会社) is a Japanese animation studio founded in 1956 and headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market (ticker 4816.T, OTCMKTS: TOEAF). It operates one of the world's largest anime content libraries, with 269 theatrical films, 238 TV series, and approximately 13,900 episodes produced as of June 2024. Flagship franchises include One Piece (continuous broadcast on Fuji TV since 1999), Dragon Ball, Pretty Cure / Precure, Digimon Adventure, World Trigger, and Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken, alongside newer productions such as the Japan-U.S. co-produced feature Monkey Quest and the Ojamajo Doremi spinoff. The company runs the Toei Animation Museum at its Oizumi Studio complex.
Toei Animation generates revenue through four segments: (i) Animation Production and Sales — TV anime, theatrical films, Blu-ray/DVD, and smart-device distribution, primarily B2B to broadcasters and platforms; (ii) Rights and Licensing — character IP licensing to toy, game, apparel, food, and stationery manufacturers globally, which has historically been the largest revenue contributor (FY2020 segment revenue of ¥297.51B vs. ¥199.25B for Video Production); (iii) Product Sales — direct merchandise sales via character shops and e-commerce; and (iv) Event Operations — character shows, musicals, and curated fan experiences such as One Piece Fest. Distribution routes include streaming simulcast deals with Crunchyroll and Netflix, broadcast partnerships with Fuji TV and other regional networks, theatrical film release, and a global licensee network.
The company is in the middle of an offensive international expansion. The Vision 2030 plan announced November 2025 commits approximately ¥20 billion over five years to triple new IP creation and establish overseas studios. Concrete 2025–2026 moves include a strategic investment in Gaudiy Group for digital IP (April 2026), new anime partnerships with WIT Studio and Netflix (live-action One Piece Season 3 in 2027), a Thailand alliance with Studio Porta and Japan's Atik Co., a Philippines production subsidiary, brand collaborations with Popeyes and the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Universal Studios Hollywood theme-park activation, entry into the video game market announced April 2026, and integration of third-party generative AI tools (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion) into production workflows. Toei's largest shareholder is Toei Co., Ltd. at 33.6%, with TV Asahi Corporation (19.6%) and Fuji Media Holdings (8.2%) as other significant holders — a broadcast-and-film consortium structure typical of legacy Japanese anime studios.
Toei Animation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Toei Animation
- Legal name
- Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (東映アニメーション株式会社)
- Website
- https://corp.toei-anim.co.jp
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Toei Animation is a Japanese animation studio producing flagship anime franchises such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Precure, monetized through global licensing, streaming distribution, theatrical release, merchandise, and brand collaborations with partners including Netflix and Crunchyroll.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Toei Animation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anime Production and Licensing
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Anime Production (MPADACAF)
Keywords
Where Toei Animation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nakano
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Toei Animation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Animation Production and Sales (映像製作・販売事業): Television anime and theatrical anime production distributed through TV, theaters, DVD, Blu-ray, and smart devices. Major titles include One Piece, Digimon, Precure, and Dragon Ball series.
- Rights and Licensing (版権事業): Licensing of character rights to manufacturers for toys, games, clothing, stationery, and food products. Domestic and international licensing operations for major franchises.
- Product Sales (商品販売事業): Direct development and sale of merchandise products, including character shops and e-commerce sales.
- Event Operations (その他事業): Planning and operation of events, character shows, and musicals.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Toei Animation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio that produces television anime series and theatrical anime films (including flagship franchises One Piece, Dragon Ball, Precure, Digimon, and Sailor Moon), licenses character rights to manufacturers for toys, games, apparel, stationery, and food products, sells character merchandise directly, and operates character shows, musicals, and the Toei Animation Museum.
Product overview
Toei Animation is a Japanese animation studio producing a broad portfolio of anime franchises across multiple genres and target demographics. Its core products include long-running TV anime series (One Piece, Dragon Ball, Precure, Digimon, World Trigger, Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken, Oshiri Tantei), theatrical films (including the Japan-U.S. co-produced Monkey Quest), and catalog library titles (e.g., the 4K restoration of Frankenstein: Legend of Terror). Beyond production, the studio operates a global character licensing and merchandising business, a theme park/attraction division (including a new Saudi Arabia theme park project), and is expanding into video games starting 2026. Partnerships with Netflix, Crunchyroll, and various merchandise manufacturers (YuMe Toys, Premium Bandai, Bioworld) distribute content globally, while KessCo and Popeyes collaborations extend the IP into tabletop gaming and fast-food merchandise. The studio's own museum (Toei Animation Museum) rounds out its consumer-facing operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PERO'S STATION: Shareholder newsletter brand name for investor communications
Products and services
- One Piece Anime The long-running flagship anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's manga series, produced by Toei Animation and airing on Fuji TV. The series transitioned to a semi-seasonal format producing a maximum of 26 episodes per year.
- Dragon Ball Anime The Dragon Ball anime franchise produced by Toei Animation, including ongoing and new projects such as the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Beerus remaster and Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol.
- Precure Series The long-running magical girl franchise produced by Toei Animation, currently in its 23rd installment with 'Star Detective Precure!' and including entries like 'Healing Good Precure' and 'Delicious Party Precure'.
- Digimon Adventure The ongoing Digimon franchise anime series produced by Toei Animation, re-imagining the original 1999 series with modern storytelling.
- World Trigger The science-fiction action anime series produced by Toei Animation, which launched a REBOOT project in April 2026.
- Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken
Quantifiable outcome
- One Piece franchise generated $179.6 million in fiscal 2026, surpassing Dragon Ball ($134.2M) as Toei's top-grossing franchise
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Toei Animation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Toei Animation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
Toei Animation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, major, core and minor.
- SanzigenstrategicStudio handling 2D/3D hybrid work for 'Monkey Quest' film's ethereal dimension sequences. Japan-U.S. collaborative animation blending 2D and 3D techniques.
- Premium BandaimajorOne Piece x NBA collaborative merchandise releasing September 2026 with themed shirts, acrylic stands, and tote bag. Characters assigned to specific NBA teams. Preorders priced between approximately $14 and $41.
- Los Angeles DodgerscoreSecond annual 'One Piece' promotional night at Dodger Stadium on July 2, 2026. Features pregame activations in Centerfield Plaza, ceremonial first pitch, postgame drone show, and stadium-wide giveaways for first 40,000 fans.
- WIT StudiocoreNew One Piece anime adaptation in collaboration with Netflix releasing February 2027 as batch of 7 episodes covering first 50 chapters. Addresses pacing issues with 3.5 chapters per episode vs Toei's occasional half-chapter episodes.
- Popeyes (Restaurant Brands International)coreFirst-ever anime collaboration featuring One Piece themed menu including Luffy Bento Bundle ($13.99), Gum-Gum Fruit Lemonade ($3.49), Chopper's Cupcake ($3.99), plus exclusive collectibles. Targets Gen Z consumers with 54% identifying as anime fans according to Crunchyroll data.
- NetflixcoreLive-action One Piece Season 3 ('The Battle of Alabasta') set for 2027. New anime series with WIT Studio in production. Lego One Piece animated special premiering September 29. Netflix One Piece franchise expansion.
- Tomorrow StudioscoreCo-producer of Netflix live-action One Piece series with Shueisha and Toei Animation. Season 3 'The Battle of Alabasta' announced for 2027.
- Lego GroupminorTwo-part Lego One Piece animated special premiering September 29. Produced with Shueisha and Atomic animation studio.
- Studio NminorKorean studio developing adaptation of 'Gosu' martial arts webtoon with Toei Animation. Target release within two years.
- Universal Studios HollywoodmajorOne Piece show at WaterWorld attraction as part of Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026. Event running April 23 through May 16 with 12 themed nights.
- YuMe ToysmajorExpanded licensing partnership launching surprise capsule range featuring One Piece collectible figures across EMEA and ANZ regions. Barrel Capsule format features Straw Hat Crew figures with water-reveal elements and interconnecting display stands.
- CrunchyrollcoreSimulcast streaming of One Piece anime including Elbaph Arc starting April 5, 2026. Distribution across US, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Latin America.
- KessCominorLicensed tabletop game 'One Piece: Dawn of Liberation' set for pre-order launch March 2026, previewed at PAX Unplugged.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Toei Animation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Pierrot: Producer of long-running shonen anime (Naruto, Bleach) and similar television-driven franchise model; competes for same Shueisha manga adaptations and global streaming windows.
- Wit Studio: Anime studio (Spy x Family, Ranking of Kings) which is also a Netflix co-production partner with Toei on a new One Piece anime — directly comparable in production scale and streaming-platform relationships.
- Production I.G: Established anime studio behind Ghost in the Shell and recent global hits (Spy x Family co-production); comparable in theatrical, streaming, and licensing business mix.
- Kyoto Animation: Highly regarded anime studio (Violet Evergarden, Sound! Euphonium) operating TV series and theatrical production with strong global fan reach; comparable in production capability and brand strength.
- TMS Entertainment: Tokyo-based anime studio (Detective Conan, Lupin III) producing long-running TV anime and theatricals; nearest peer in catalog depth and overseas licensing structure.
- Madhouse: Long-established Japanese anime studio behind Death Note, One Punch Man, and many theatrical features; comparable production pipeline, talent base, and licensing/streaming exposure.
- Bones: Mid-to-large Japanese anime studio behind My Hero Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood; comparable in production scale, action-genre focus, and global streaming partnerships.
- MAPPA: Founded by a former Madhouse producer, MAPPA produces hit anime series (Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season) competing with Toei for top-tier manga adaptations and streaming platform partnerships.
- A-1 Pictures (Aniplex): Sony-owned anime studio behind Sword Art Online and many Aniplex titles; comparable in scale, long-running TV anime focus, and integration with streaming (Crunchyroll parent Funimation).
Broad incumbents
- Sunrise / Bandai Namco Filmworks: One of Japan's largest anime studios (Gundam, Code Geass) owned by Bandai Namco; competes directly with Toei in long-running flagship franchises, licensing, and toy/entertainment crossovers via shared ownership with Bandai.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Toei Animation social profiles
Digital presenceToei Animation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Toei Animation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Toei Animation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Toei Animation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Toei Animation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Toei Animation
What does Toei Animation do?
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio that produces television anime series and theatrical anime films (including flagship franchises One Piece, Dragon Ball, Precure, Digimon, and Sailor Moon), licenses character rights to manufacturers for toys, games, apparel, stationery, and food products, sells character merchandise directly, and operates character shows, musicals, and the Toei Animation Museum.
Is Toei Animation a public or private company?
Toei Animation is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Toei Animation founded?
Toei Animation was founded in 1956. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Toei Animation based?
Toei Animation is headquartered in Nakano, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Toei Animation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Animation Production and Sales (映像製作・販売事業) is the primary driver. The others are rights and Licensing (版権事業), product Sales (商品販売事業) and event Operations (その他事業).
Who are Toei Animation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Pierrot, Wit Studio, Production I.G, Kyoto Animation, TMS Entertainment, Madhouse, Bones, MAPPA and A-1 Pictures (Aniplex). Sunrise / Bandai Namco Filmworks is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Toei Animation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Toei Animation.
What industry is Toei Animation in?
Toei Animation's product category is Anime Production and Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAF, Anime Production. Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 3944.