Toei Animation Co. sharply raised its profit forecasts for the current fiscal year, driven by strong sales of distribution rights and copyright licensing both at home and abroad.
The Tokyo-based anime producer now expects operating profit of 27 billion yen ($180 million) for the year ending March 2025, up from its previous estimate of 20 billion yen. Sales are projected to reach 90 billion yen, which would mark the first time the company has crossed that threshold.
The revised outlook reflects a particularly robust first half, where operating profit is now forecast to jump 56.5% to 16.9 billion yen. The company’s high-margin rights business has outperformed expectations, benefiting from lower costs compared to direct video production.
Looking ahead, Toei’s performance will likely be influenced by several key releases, including the new series “Dragon Ball Daima” and home video sales of “The Birth of Kitaro.” However, the more modest 30% profit growth forecast for the full year suggests some caution about the unpredictable nature of entertainment hits.
Despite the positive revision, full-year profits are still expected to fall short of the record set in fiscal 2023, indicating potential headwinds in the competitive anime market.
