In the last two weeks there have been reports that a Dragon Ball theme park would be constructed near Paris in France, although, according to the anime’s license holder no such license has been granted.
The above can be translated as:
“Some reports have reported that “a Dragon Ball theme park has been decided to be built in France,” but neither our company (Toei Animation Co., Ltd., Head Office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Katsuhiro Takagi) nor the relevant rights holders have granted any license for this project, and we are not aware of any facts.
Furthermore, all concept images and videos of the theme park used in these reports were used at the time of the joint announcement by Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company and our company on March 22, 2024, concerning the theme park planned for construction in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia. These images and videos have no relation whatsoever to the reported content.”
The story received international attention during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit with an announcement from the Élysée palace that France and Saudi Arabia agreed a €6 billion package of three theme parks at Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris, on the old Mirapolis site. It is worth noting a memorandum of understanding was signed that day, not a building permit.
A park is still said to be in the works, but inspired by the world of manga more generally and may not specifically be related to Dragon Ball.
It may be because of France’s long standing love for the franchise and the fact that Dragon Ball images were used to promote the project that there was a misunderstanding.
Recent reports of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron ending a news conference with the iconic Kamehameha pose may have also fuelled speculation, but as things stand the planned park may not be a Dragon Ball park necessarily.