{
  "id": 5740523,
  "title": "Japan's Toei denies issuing licenses for 'Dragon Ball' theme park in France",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/japans-toei-denies-issuing-licenses-for-dragon-ball-theme-park-in",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-05T07:30:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260905/p2g/00m/0et/011000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Toei Animation Co. has refuted media reports claiming a Dragon Ball-themed amusement park will be constructed in France, asserting that no licenses have been granted. The agreement for the three parks near Paris, involving Saudi investment of 6 billion euros, was reached in August, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressing their appreciation for the series. Despite news suggesting a Dragon Ball-themed park would be built in France, Toei Animation and other rights holders have not authorized any licenses and are unaware of such plans. The venture between France and Saudi Arabia, which includes the construction of the theme park in Cergy-Pontoise near Paris, stems from a December 2024 meeting between the Saudi crown prince and Macron, where they shared their enthusiasm for Dragon Ball. Although Dragon Ball originated as a manga from 1984 to 1995, it has expanded into numerous anime series, films, and merchandise. Toei Animation confirmed in 2024 the development of the first Dragon Ball-themed theme park in Saudi Arabia.",
  "summary": "PARIS (Kyodo) -- Toei Animation Co. has denied media reports that a theme park inspired by the Japanese manga and anime series \"Dragon Ball\" will be b",
  "key_points": [
    "Toei Animation denies issuing licenses for Dragon Ball theme park in France.",
    "Agreement for three parks near Paris reached in August with Saudi investment.",
    "No authorization for Dragon Ball-themed park in France, rights holders unaware."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}