France’s Massive Dragon Ball Project Already Hits Major Roadblock
President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans for a €6 billion Dragon Ball-themed amusement park near Paris, backed by Saudi Arabia and intended to rival Disneyland. The project faces an immediate obstacle because the Japanese companies and individuals controlling Dragon Ball’s rights reportedly have not approved it, putting its viability in doubt.
The park would be built about 45 minutes north-west of Paris and is linked to Qiddiya Investment Company, which is also developing a Dragon Ball attraction in Saudi Arabia. Dragon Ball rights are divided between Akira Toriyama’s Bird Studio, publisher Shueisha, Toei Animation, Bandai Namco and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, complicating any licensing deal following Toriyama’s death in March 2024; Saudi involvement has also prompted criticism over the country’s human-rights record.
In short
- France’s proposed €6bn Dragon Ball park reportedly lacks rights-holder approval.
- Fragmented Dragon Ball ownership complicates any licensing agreement.
- Saudi backing has intensified scepticism around the project.
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The case for
Supporters could argue that a licensed Dragon Ball park would bring major investment, jobs and visitors to France, while giving fans an immersive attraction and strengthening the country’s tourism offer. Saudi backing could help finance a project of unusual scale, and securing agreement from all rights-holders would protect the creators’ intellectual property.
The case against
Critics could argue that the project is speculative while key rights-holders have not approved it, and that divided ownership makes a licensing deal especially difficult after Akira Toriyama’s death. They may also question whether France should welcome investment linked to Saudi Arabia given concerns about its human-rights record, particularly for a costly project whose commercial and cultural benefits are not assured.
Explained simply
Dragon Ball is a Japanese manga and animation series created by Akira Toriyama. Its characters and stories appear across comics, television, films, games and merchandise, so a theme park based on the series would need permission to use the rights in those different forms.
Those rights are shared among several Japanese companies and organisations, including Toriyama’s Bird Studio, publisher Shueisha and animation company Toei Animation. A park backed by Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company is also planned in Saudi Arabia, while the proposed French site would be near Paris.
The plans matter because they depend on agreement from the rights holders, whose approval has reportedly not been secured. Saudi Arabia’s involvement has also drawn criticism because of the country’s human-rights record.