Entertainment
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus streams Oct. 11 on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll will stream Dragon Ball Super: Beerus with subtitles starting Oct. 11, Toei Animation and Crunchyroll announced Tuesday. The series reaches...
Anime Studio Hub
Toei Animation
Toei Animation news and releases, the legendary studio behind Dragon Ball and One Piece.
About Toei Animation
Toei Animation is one of Japan's oldest and most prolific anime studios, founded in 1948 and responsible for some of the medium's most globally recognized franchises, including Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Sailor Moon. The studio has played a defining role in bringing anime to international audiences over multiple decades.
Toei's output spans long-running weekly series that have aired continuously for years or even decades, a production model that has made several of its franchises among the longest-running and most commercially significant in anime history.
History
1948–1960s
Founding era
Toei Animation establishes itself as a major Japanese animation studio, producing some of the country's earliest animated features.
1986–present
Dragon Ball era
Dragon Ball and its sequels become one of the most influential action anime franchises in history, with a massive global following.
1999–present
One Piece era
One Piece becomes one of the best-selling manga and longest-running anime adaptations ever produced.
Key People
Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Notable directors associated with Toei projects over the decades (studio credits rotate by production)
Toei Company
Parent company of Toei Animation, Japan's oldest major anime studio
Notable Toei Animation Productions
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Ball | 1986 | Launched one of anime's most influential action franchises |
| Sailor Moon | 1992 | A hugely influential magical-girl series |
| One Piece | 1999 | One of the longest-running and best-selling anime/manga franchises ever |
Financials
How It Compares
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| MAPPA | Toei Animation has built its legacy on decades-long, continuously airing franchises like One Piece and Dragon Ball, while MAPPA has grown rapidly through a slate of shorter, high-intensity modern hits. |
| Studio Ghibli | Both are landmark Japanese animation institutions, though Toei is primarily a long-running television anime studio while Ghibli is best known for standalone theatrical features. |
Trivia & Fan Culture
Japan's oldest major anime studio
Founded in 1948, Toei Animation predates most other major Japanese animation studios by decades.
A training ground for legendary directors
Toei Animation's early years employed future luminaries of Japanese animation and film, including figures who would go on to shape the industry for decades.
One Piece's record-setting run
One Piece has been continuously airing on Toei Animation since 1999, making it one of the longest-running anime series in television history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toei Animation the oldest anime studio?
Toei Animation is among the oldest and longest continuously operating major anime studios, founded in 1948.
How long has One Piece been running?
The One Piece anime has aired continuously since 1999, making it one of the longest-running anime series in history.
When was Toei Animation founded?
Toei Animation was founded in 1948, making it one of the oldest anime studios still operating today.
What are Toei Animation's best-known series?
Toei Animation is best known for Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Sailor Moon, among many other long-running franchises.
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