Entertainment
France and Saudi Arabia announce €6 billion theme park deal including Dragon Ball project
The planned manga-themed park near Paris faces scrutiny from Japanese experts over complex intellectual property rights and Saudi funding.
The short version
- France and Saudi Arabia announced an agreement valued at €6 billion to develop three theme parks near Paris, featuring a project inspired by the Dragon Ball franchise.
- Japanese rights holders, including Toei Animation, have not confirmed involvement, raising questions about whether required intellectual property permissions have been granted.
- Cultural figures in Japan and franchise fans expressed concern over commercialization and Saudi human rights issues, while French officials emphasized the country's large manga market.
Key facts
- The French presidency announced a €6 billion ($7 billion) agreement with Saudi Arabia to construct three theme parks near Paris, including one inspired by Dragon Ball.[France 24]
- The deal was finalized during a two-day state visit to France by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.[France 24]
- The project is set to be led by Qiddiya Investment Company, an entity owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.[France 24]
- Japanese copyright holders, including Toei Animation, Shueisha, Bandai Namco, and Bird Studio, have not publicly confirmed or commented on the Paris project.[France 24]
- France represents the world's second-largest manga market after Japan.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Japanese intellectual property owners will grant the necessary licensing rights for the Paris theme park project remains unverified.[France 24]
- The specific development timeline, design blueprints, and final site location for the proposed Paris parks have not been formally finalized.[France 24]