Copyright Polygon
Toei Animation, the Japanese studio behind classic anime such as Dragon Ball and One Piece, has just announced a massive expansion plan that will turn it into a global anime powerhouse in the next five years. Shared through an official document called Vision 2030, which was translated and posted online by fans such as @Venixys on X, Toei's big plan for the future may have meaningful consequences for anime fans. The main action points in the plan revolve around two key goals: expanding the studio's global presence and developing next-generation technologies and other innovations. Toei plans to triple the creation of new IP, with a target of 25 created overseas (North America, China, Europe). This will be supported by the creation of two or three new studios in Asia to support the work of the Japanese teams. Animation created overseas will become a second pillar of the business, fueled by the investment of about 20 billion yen over five years. In terms of new technologies, the document lists the usual suspects, including motion capture and AI, but there is also plenty of reassurance that Toei will strive to make "the role of the artist" more central. A new model for production and management is mentioned, which will make the production of new works easier and more efficient. This could sound like great news for fans of Dragon Ball, Toei's most remunerative IP, who are always hungry for new content related to the franchise, especially an anime series that continues where Dragon Ball Super left off in 2018. While Dragon Ball Daima was a success, its nature as a spinoff/sequel of the original Dragon Ball Z series with a weird continuity status left many fans dissatisfied. The Dragon Ball Super manga still has two full arcs left to adapt, and many are hoping this will be one of the big projects announced in January during the Genkidamatsuri event. The new production model teased in Toei's announcement could also be related to the recent news regarding the One Piece anime, which will end its weekly programming after 26 years to switch to a seasonal production model, airing only 26 episodes per year. Along with Dragon Ball, One Piece is the big moneymaker for Toei, and in recent years, the anime has been a showcase of sorts for the best that the studio can offer in terms of innovation and quality. As the oldest surviving Japanese animation studio, Toei is understandably rooted in tradition. However, it has struggled to compete with younger studios such as MAPPA, Bones, or Wit in terms of new IP, relying instead on the safe profits brought in by the likes of Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Pretty Cure. Still, the Vision 2030 program is the culmination of an impulse for innovation that has been visible in Toei's productions of the past few years. One interesting detail from the document is that Toei plans to incorporate regional cultures and local artists in its future productions, which could reverse the current trend in the business. Anime has had a massive impact on Western culture, but it's hard to claim the opposite is also true. Still, I'm pretty sure that the question that must be going through fans' minds is always the same: When will we get the next Dragon Ball anime?
