Toei Animation has kicked off the fiscal year ending March 2025 with record-breaking financial results. In the first quarter, the company reported consolidated sales of ¥23.1 billion (approximately $159 million), marking a 16% increase from the same period last year. This surge led to a record-high quarterly sales figure, surpassing ¥20 billion for the first time.
The company’s profitability also soared, with operating profit reaching ¥6.68 billion ($46 million), a remarkable 219% increase. Ordinary profit rose by 82.5% to ¥7.19 billion ($49 million), and net profit for the period climbed 70% to ¥5.31 billion ($36.5 million). This impressive performance was partly due to the absence of impairment losses on theatrical films recorded last year.
Domestically and internationally, sales were bolstered by strong distribution rights and copyright business performances. The domestic release of titles like “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” and “The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe” contributed significantly. Internationally, the distribution rights for “ONE PIECE” and domestic game rights for the “Dragon Ball” series experienced notable growth. Additionally, the yen’s depreciation positively impacted exchange rate gains.
The company’s sales, operating profit, and net profit exceeded initial forecasts, though Toei Animation refrained from revising its annual earnings forecast, citing uncertainties in the global economy and currency fluctuations. Despite a downturn in “Theatrical Animation” due to fewer major releases, segments like “Content” and “Overseas Video” saw significant growth, primarily driven by Blu-ray and DVD releases and international distribution rights sales. The copyright business continued to flourish with strong sales of game rights for “Dragon Ball” and merchandising rights for “One Piece” and “Digimon.”
