French-Saudi Dragon Ball Theme Park Plans Raise Eyebrows Among Japanese Manga Fans

Paris: Plans to build a manga-themed park outside Paris have sparked excitement in France, one of the first Western countries to embrace Akira Toriyama's iconic Dragon Ball franchise. However, the Saudi investment in the project, coupled with the absence of a response from Japanese license holders, has raised concerns among experts and fans. According to France24.com, fans of Dragon Ball are familiar with characters merging in battles to enhance their abilities. Yet, few anticipated a collaboration between France and Saudi Arabia to extend the legacy of this hugely successful media franchise. The French presidency announced plans to construct three theme parks near Paris in a £6 billion ($7 billion) deal with Saudi Arabia. This development is set to include a manga-themed park inspired by the Dragon Ball series, as stated by President Emmanuel Macron's team. Macron, who is known for his interest in manga and owns an original Dragon Ball drawing, expressed enthusiasm for this investment, comparing it to the magnitude of Disneyland Paris. The announcement coincided with a state visit to France by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where both leaders attended the Esports World Cup final. Macron's aide mentioned that the project stemmed from the leaders' shared passion for Japanese comics, particularly Dragon Ball. Manga experts have noted the absence of Japan in the discussions, despite the various Japanese companies holding licensing rights for the Dragon Ball saga. French media have suggested that the new parks might be built on the former Mirapolis theme park site in Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris. The project will be led by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), part of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which had announced plans for a Dragon Ball theme park near Riyadh in 2024. Julien Bouvard, a manga expert, noted that when the Saudi park was presented, Toei Animation confirmed its involvement. The current silence from Japanese companies regarding the Paris park suggests it's still a propos al, with the investment figures being speculative. Licensing in Japan is complex, with multiple rights holders, including Toei, Shueisha, Bandai Namco, and Toriyama's Bird Studio. This complexity makes launching new projects based on Dragon Ball challenging. The Riyadh park plans include a massive statue of Shenron, the magical dragon from the series, but no opening date has been announced. Critics have expressed doubts about the project's completion, citing Saudi Arabia's history of scaling back or abandoning large-scale projects. In Japan, news of the French-Saudi plans has caused surprise, particularly given the lack of Japanese involvement. Sumio Nagata, mayor of Toriyama's hometown Kiyosu, expressed concern over the theme park's potential struggles to win over license owners. Others, like local councillor Tetsuo Takahashi, lamented the missed opportunity for a park on home soil, emphasizing the importance of preserving their cultural heritage. Kazuhiko Torishima, the influential manga editor who helpe d create Dragon Ball, has criticized projects driven by profit, arguing they undermine Japan's treasured manga culture. French manga expert Bouvard noted that, despite concerns, France's passion for manga, especially Dragon Ball, makes it a suitable host for the park. He highlighted the early success of attractions at the Spirou amusement park based on Naruto as evidence of France's enthusiasm for manga-themed parks. Saudi Arabia's investment in the Dragon Ball park is part of a broader strategy to expand its entertainment and tourism sectors under the Vision 2030 platform. However, critics argue that such projects serve to improve the country's image amid human rights concerns. Some Dragon Ball fans have expressed discomfort with the Saudi partnership, citing the series' themes of standing against tyranny. Despite these concerns, if the parks are successful, initial reservations may fade, with many fans likely eager to visit. Bouvard concluded, acknowledging that while a France-Japan partnership would have been preferable, the reality of funding often dictates such collaborations.