Toei Animation Halts Macron’s French Theme Park Push
Toei Animation has denied granting a license for a Dragon Ball theme park in France.
According to Toei Animation, neither the company nor other rights holders have issued a license for the project in Cergy-Pontoise.
Six Billion Euros Tied to Regional Investment Pledges
The controversy stems from an August 24 announcement by President Macron. Following talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Macron promised six billion euros in investments across three theme parks in the Cergy-Pontoise region.
The Île-de-France regional administration explicitly identified one of those planned facilities as a Dragon Ball park in Courdimanche. The broader initiative aimed to create 22,000 long-term jobs.
Complex IP Rights Split Among Multiple Entities
Toei Animation countered those reports. The company stated it holds no verified information confirming the park’s construction and has not entered into any licensing agreements for the site.
Intellectual property rights for the franchise are split among multiple entities. These include Toei Animation, publisher Shueisha, Bird Studio—founded by the creator Akira Toriyama, who died in 2024—and Bandai Namco.
Under industry standards, political investment pledges do not replace private contracts. Rights are required for characters, logos, audio-visual content, and merchandising.
Qiddiya Investment Company Leads the Project
The development is being spearheaded by the Qiddiya Investment Company. The firm belongs to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Qiddiya is already planning a Dragon Ball park featuring seven theme areas in Qiddiya City near Riyadh. That project was unveiled in March 2024.
However, rights secured for the Saudi project do not automatically extend to a French location.
Mirapolis Site Faces Stiff Permitting Hurdles
While the denial does not cancel the overarching three-park investment deal, it highlights a stark reality. A clear gap exists between broad political agreements and the specific commercial licensing required for major manga properties.
The intended site in Courdimanche carries its own history. It previously hosted the Mirapolis amusement park, which opened in 1987 and closed in 1991.
Because of this, any new construction would face significant infrastructure and permitting hurdles.
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