Japanese television producer/distributor Toei is making a major investment in going digital at its Tokyo studio. According to Daily Variety, the company is spending $55 million, some of that going to a new 51,161 sq. ft digital post-production center that will be used for audio, film, TV and animation production. The four-story facility should be ready in May of 2010. The project also involves a new 21,251 sq. ft. sound stage that is slated for completion in November of next year.
Toei Animation’s feature film, Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Go Go!, recently hit No. 2 at box office in Japan. The latest installment in the popular girls’ fantasy franchise opened nationwide on Nov. 8 and raked in roughly $1.6 million in its first two days in theaters.
Other popular Toei animated properties include Digimon, Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star, Slam Dunk and One Piece. Clips of these and other shows can be seen at www.toei-anim.com/ondemand. Full episodes of Digimon Adventure 02, Fist of the North Star, Pretty Cure and Slam Dunk are now available for $1.99 each at www.crunchyroll.com.
