A proposed Dragon Ball theme park near Paris has generated significant interest, but it has been revealed that the relevant rights holders in Japan have not granted permission for the use of the Dragon Ball intellectual property (IP).
Toei Animation recently stated, "Neither we nor the rights holders have granted any licenses regarding this matter, and we are not aware of any facts to the contrary."
The controversy stems from a large-scale entertainment development project being pursued by France and Saudi Arabia.
The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), affiliated with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, is working on a complex that will include entertainment, lodging, cultural, and sports facilities in the area of Sergy-Pontoise, about 30 kilometers from Paris.
The project is estimated to cost around €6 billion (approximately $9.4 billion) and includes plans for up to three theme parks and various other facilities.
While the official announcements from the French presidency and QIC did not specifically mention the name 'Dragon Ball,' it was widely reported that the construction of a Dragon Ball theme park was effectively confirmed following the project announcement.
Subsequently, aides to French President Emmanuel Macron explained that the project is inspired by the world of the popular Japanese manga and anime 'Dragon Ball Z.' Valérie Pécresse, president of the Île-de-France regional council, also shared on social media that "Dragon Ball is coming to Île-de-France."
However, French daily Le Monde reported that QIC has not secured a license to use Dragon Ball characters and trademarks from the relevant Japanese rights holders. This was further clarified when Toei Animation issued an official statement a few days later.
Toei also stated that the concept art and videos related to the theme park mentioned in reports are unrelated to the French project, explaining that these materials are from the officially announced Dragon Ball theme park in Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya City, which was revealed in March 2024.
In contrast to the French initiative, the Dragon Ball theme park in Saudi Arabia is an officially announced project between Toei Animation and QIC. It will feature seven zones representing the Dragon Ball universe and more than 30 attractions, including a large roller coaster modeled after the 'Shenron' dragon, standing approximately 70 meters tall.
The large-scale entertainment development project in Sergy-Pontoise is not entirely canceled. However, the use of the name 'Dragon Ball,' its characters, and its universe in the project will require resolving licensing issues with the Japanese rights holders.
It is also important to note that the rights to Dragon Ball are not solely held by Toei Animation. Multiple rights holders, including the original publisher Shueisha and Bird Studio, founded by the late Akira Toriyama, are involved.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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