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Looking ahead towards the future, Toei Animation has just revealed the first phase of its new 10-year plan, which aims to expand the longtime titan of the anime industry overseas, and increase the number and quality of shows exported from Japan. The long-term plan involves a roughly $450 million investment, and will bring major changes to the studio. Of the intended changes, anime fans will be most excited about Toei's promise to continue expanding its flagship IPs, while bringing on hundreds of new hires and opening additional animation studios in Japan. With a title like Dragon Ball as one of Toei's headlining properties, these changes could mean big developments for the beloved series. Toei's Next Era Should Excite Dragon Ball Fans Toei Animation's 10-Year Plan Will Involve Expanding Its Biggest IPs While talk of overseas expansion where all-new projects will be spearheaded by Toei around the world is undoubtedly exciting, anime fans will be more concerned about the studio's plans for Japan. Fortunately, parts of this major $450 million investment will have to do with just that, as Toei plans to beef up its main studio, and add a few extra. While countless major industry behemoths are Toei productions, including One Piece, Digimon, and so many more, the new 10-year plan is likely to excite fans of Dragon Ball most. Following Akira Toriyama's passing in 2024, the franchise entered a relatively silent period, and few updates regarding the series have been offered. However, that may change soon, with a special event scheduled for January 2026 in Japan that will host all-new announcements related to the four-decade-old franchise. Increased talent working on new Toei anime projects will allow for dedicated teams to focus on different franchises. Production on One Piece will no longer hinder production on Dragon Ball, and with big announcements ahead, Goku's anime return might be closer than anyone previously thought. Toei Animation Is Gearing Up to Become a Worldwide Powerhouse While anime production will continue to be Toei Animation's main focus, the studio's global expansion will tackle new challenges and bring about exciting developments in the world of animation. Toei plans to triple its creation of new IPs, targeting 25 properties created outside of Japan, while developing next-generation animation technology.
