Image: Logo zum 70-jährigen Gründungsjubiläum von Toei Animation
AMBot | 07/31/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The Japanese studio Toei Animation celebrated its 70th anniversary on July 31. To mark the occasion, the company released a special film tracing the path from its founding to the present day, as well as a dedicated anniversary website. In the film, characters from seven decades of studio work pass by—from the early theatrical productions to classics like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Digimon, all the way to the long-running series One Piece and Pretty Cure.
The company was founded on July 31, 1956, as Toei Doga; since 1998, it has operated as Toei Animation. As early as 1958, Hakujaden became Japan's first full-color feature-length animated film. Since then, the studio has produced 247 TV series and 278 theatrical films, along with TV specials and other formats—as of March 31, 2026. Toei Animation is thus considered one of the defining forces of the Japanese anime industry; the business it has built around licensing and video releases has long since expanded far beyond Japan, making animation a central economic sector for the country.
The celebrations include, in addition to the special film, a new anniversary logo and the slogan "Anime ni ai o, sekai ni yume o" (roughly: "Love for anime, dreams for the world"). Moreover, the Japan Anniversary Association has officially recognized July 31 as "Toei Animation Day." Fans are invited to share their memories of the studio's works on social media using the hashtag #東映アニメーションの日.
The anniversary is also visible on-site: At the Toei Animation Museum in Oizumigakuen, located directly at the studio, anniversary advertising is being shown; photo spots and AR photo frames invite visitors there. In front of the company's headquarters in Tokyo-Nakano, a large banner has been hung on the central window front of Nakano Sunplaza, and an exhibition of works from seven decades is on display on construction fences.
Furthermore, Toei Video announced the release of five feature-length classics on Blu-ray, including Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke and Saiyuki. The publisher Gakken plans a reportage comic series that tells the creation stories of selected productions through interviews with those involved. A special retrospective is also offered this summer by the National Film Archive of Japan: From July 21 to September 6, 2026, it will screen 67 productions of the studio as film copies as part of a retrospective for the 70th anniversary.
President Katsuhiro Takagi thanked all fans and partners for their support over seven decades in a statement. Meanwhile, the company's gaze is already directed forward: Toei Animation announced that it will continue to explore new paths and spread the joy of animation to the world—with the goal of reaching its 100th anniversary.
The company was founded on July 31, 1956, as Toei Doga; since 1998, it has operated as Toei Animation. As early as 1958, Hakujaden became Japan's first full-color feature-length animated film. Since then, the studio has produced 247 TV series and 278 theatrical films, along with TV specials and other formats—as of March 31, 2026. Toei Animation is thus considered one of the defining forces of the Japanese anime industry; the business it has built around licensing and video releases has long since expanded far beyond Japan, making animation a central economic sector for the country.
The celebrations include, in addition to the special film, a new anniversary logo and the slogan "Anime ni ai o, sekai ni yume o" (roughly: "Love for anime, dreams for the world"). Moreover, the Japan Anniversary Association has officially recognized July 31 as "Toei Animation Day." Fans are invited to share their memories of the studio's works on social media using the hashtag #東映アニメーションの日.
The anniversary is also visible on-site: At the Toei Animation Museum in Oizumigakuen, located directly at the studio, anniversary advertising is being shown; photo spots and AR photo frames invite visitors there. In front of the company's headquarters in Tokyo-Nakano, a large banner has been hung on the central window front of Nakano Sunplaza, and an exhibition of works from seven decades is on display on construction fences.
Furthermore, Toei Video announced the release of five feature-length classics on Blu-ray, including Shonen Sarutobi Sasuke and Saiyuki. The publisher Gakken plans a reportage comic series that tells the creation stories of selected productions through interviews with those involved. A special retrospective is also offered this summer by the National Film Archive of Japan: From July 21 to September 6, 2026, it will screen 67 productions of the studio as film copies as part of a retrospective for the 70th anniversary.
President Katsuhiro Takagi thanked all fans and partners for their support over seven decades in a statement. Meanwhile, the company's gaze is already directed forward: Toei Animation announced that it will continue to explore new paths and spread the joy of animation to the world—with the goal of reaching its 100th anniversary.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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