Amid Concern In Japan, Dragon Ball Producer Toei Animation Denies Involvement In Saudi-France Paris Theme Park

A major international announcement has sparked confusion and concern across the entertainment industry after Toei Animation, the prominent studio behind the Dragon Ball anime franchise, denied any involvement in a proposed theme park project near Paris, France. The controversy began following a high-profile state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who attended the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in late August 2026.

Following the state visit, President Macron shared an ambitious proposal on social media, describing an unprecedented partnership with Saudi Arabia to construct three theme parks in Cergy-Pontoise, a region located northwest of Paris. Macron highlighted that the massive project would involve a 6 billion euro investment and was projected to generate approximately 22,000 jobs, drawing comparisons to the scale of Disneyland Paris. While Macron's initial statement only hinted at his personal fondness for manga without naming specific properties, a subsequent official press release from the Île-de-France region explicitly identified one of the three planned destinations as a Dragon Ball theme park.

The revelation of a French Dragon Ball park quickly made international headlines, but it was met with immediate skepticism and concern from Japanese commentators and fans. Many online discussions in Japan raised alarms over the apparent lack of Japanese representation in the project's planning stages and pointed out that no official announcements had been made by the franchise's actual license holders. This public unease prompted Toei Animation to issue a formal statement to clarify its position and protect its intellectual property.

In its official response, Toei Animation explicitly denied having any prior knowledge of or participation in the French development. The studio stated that neither itself nor any of the relevant rights-holding companies had granted any licenses for a Dragon Ball theme park in France. Toei further emphasized that it was entirely unaware of any such plans, casting significant doubt on the legitimacy of the French and Saudi Arabian regional proposals regarding the beloved anime brand.

Toei Animation also addressed the media coverage surrounding the announcement, pointing out that several news outlets had mistakenly published concept art to illustrate the rumored Paris project. According to the studio, these promotional images actually depict an entirely separate, officially sanctioned Dragon Ball theme park currently planned for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh project, which was formally announced by Toei in 2024, is being developed through a legitimate strategic partnership with the Qiddiya Investment Company, complete with official press releases and verified promotional media.

The confusion highlights the complex web of ownership and investment surrounding both the Dragon Ball franchise and Saudi Arabia's growing influence in the global gaming and entertainment sectors. The Qiddiya Investment Company, which is spearheading the authorized Riyadh park, is owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The crown prince has consistently expanded his nation's footprint in the industry, acquiring major stakes in prominent gaming companies like Capcom and SNK, alongside massive investment initiatives worldwide.

With the rights to the late Akira Toriyama's legendary creations split among multiple entities, the path forward for any European-based Dragon Ball attraction remains highly uncertain. As Toei Animation and other key stakeholders maintain that no licensing agreements have been reached for the Cergy-Pontoise development, fans and industry analysts alike must wait to see if the French project will be forced to rebrand or if negotiations will eventually take place to secure the necessary legal permissions.