TOEI HISTORY

Company Development

The Journey and Creations of Toei

Learn about the history of Toei as well as its visual productions and epoch-making events.

2020s

2023

Record the highest grossing in the history of the company.

THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY , a commemorative project for the 70th anniversary of Toei’s establishment, was released.

SHIN KAMEN RIDER, a commemorative project for the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series, was released.

Major works

MOVIE

THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY

MOVIE

SHIN KAMEN RIDER

2022

Released Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO. Released ONE PIECE FILM RED.

Released THE FIRST SLAM DUNK.

Kamen Rider BLACK SUN and FUUTO PI , commemorative projects for the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series, began streaming online.

Major works

MOVIE

Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO

MIRAIL

MOVIE

ONE PIECE FILM RED

MOVIE

THE FIRST SLAM DUNK

STREAMING

Kamen Rider BLACK SUN

STREAMING

FUUTO PI

MIRAIL

2021

Multiple projects were held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series.

Released A Morning of Farewell and I Don't Have Any Money Left in My Retirement Account!.

Major works

MOVIE

A Morning of Farewell

MIRAIL

MOVIE

I Don't Have Any Money Left in My Retirement Account!.

2020

Released Howling Village.

Major works

MOVIE

Howling Village

2010s

2019

Released Fly Me to Saitama and ONE PIECE STAMPEDE.

Kamen Rider Zero-One, the first show in the Kamen Rider Reiwa series, began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Fly Me to Saitama

MOVIE

ONE PIECE STAMPEDE

MIRAIL

Kamen Rider Zero-One

2018

Launched the commemorative website for the 20th show in the Kamen Rider Heisei series.

Released Sakura Guardian in the North, The Blood of Wolves, and DRAGON BALL SUPER BROLY.

Major works

MOVIE

Sakura Guardian in the North

MIRAIL

MOVIE

The Blood of Wolves

MOVIE

DRAGON BALL SUPER BROLY.

MIRAIL

2017

Released AIBOU: THE MOVIE Ⅳ.

Released Detective in the Bar 3.

Major works

MOVIE

AIBOU: THE MOVIE Ⅳ

MIRAIL

2016

Multiple projects were held to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series and the creation of the 40th show in the Super Sentai series.

Released Dangerous Cops: Final 5 Days and ONE PIECE FILM GOLD.

Major works

MOVIE

Dangerous Cops: Final 5 Days

MOVIE

ONE PIECE FILM GOLD

MIRAIL

2015

Released DRAGON BALL Z Resurrection F.

Major works

MOVIE

DRAGON BALL Z Resurrection F

2014

Released AIBOU: THE MOVIE 3.

Major works

MOVIE

AIBOU: THE MOVIE 3

MIRAIL

2013

Released DRAGON BALL Z Battle of Gods.

Opened Toei Hero World at AEON MALL Makuhari Shintoshin (Mihama-ku, Chiba City). (A joint project with NAMCO Ltd)

Major works

MOVIE

DRAGON BALL Z Battle of Gods.

2012

Released ONE PIECE FILM Z.

Released EVANGELION New Theatrical Version: Q. (Jointly distributed with T-Joy Co., Ltd. and khara, inc.)

Major works

MOVIE

ONE PIECE FILM Z

2011

Released Detective in the Bar and ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO.

Major works

MOVIE

Detective in the Bar

MIRAIL

MOVIE

ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO

2010

Released PARTNERS: THE MOVIE Ⅱ.

Major works

MOVIE

PARTNERS: THE MOVIE Ⅱ

MIRAIL

2000s

2009

Released The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones to Serenity and ONE PIECE FILM STRONG WORLD.

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight began airing across the United States, France, and Mexico.

Major works

MOVIE

The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones to Serenity

MOVIE

ONE PIECE FILM STRONG WORLD

Kamen Rider Dragon Knight

2008

Released PARTNERS: THE MOVIE.

Major works

MOVIE

PARTNERS: THE MOVIE

MIRAIL

2006

Released Memories of Tomorrow and The Inner Chambers

Major works

MOVIE

Memories of Tomorrow

MOVIE

The Inner Chambers

2005

Released Year One in the North and YAMATO.

Major works

MOVIE

Year One in the North

MIRAIL

MOVIE

YAMATO

MIRAIL

2004

Pretty Cure, the first show in the PreCure series, began airing.

Major works

Pretty Cure

2002

Major works

AIBOU(Partners)

2000

Released Battle Royale.

Masked Rider Kuuga, the first show in the Kamen Rider Heisei series, began airing.

The first TV special of AIBOU(Partners) was aired before becoming a TV series in 2002.

Major works

MOVIE

Battle Royale

Masked Rider Kuuga

MOVIE

ONE PIECE

1990s

1999

Released Poppoya-Railroad Man

The TV animation series ONE PIECE began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Poppoya-Railroad Man

1997

Released Lost Paradise.

Major works

MOVIE

Lost Paradise

1996

Released THE END OF EVANGELION.

Major works

MOVIE

THE END OF EVANGELION

1993

The Power Rangers series began airing in the U.S. and in other countries overseas.

Major works

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

1992

The hugely popular TV animation series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon began airing.

Major works

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

1990

Released Heaven and Earth, filmed on location overseas.

Major works

MOVIE

Heaven and Earth

1980s

1989

Released Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Black Rain won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention, Technical Grand Prize at the 42nd Cannes International Film Festival.

Began producing Toei V Cinema, a series of straight-to-video movies.

Major works

MOVIE

Black Rain

1987

Released Dangerous Cops.

Major works

MOVIE

Dangerous Cops

1986

The TV animation series DRAGON BALL began airing.

Released Yakuza’s Wives, establishing the female-led version of the jitsuroku (modern yakuza film) subgenre.

Major works

DRAGON BALL

MOVIE

Yakuza’s Wives

MIRAIL

1985

Released Be-Bop-Highschool and Like A Barbarian as a double feature during the golden age of idol films.

The TV series Yoyo Girl Cop began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Be-Bop-Highschool

MIRAIL

MOVIE

Like A Barbarian

MIRAIL

Yoyo Girl Cop

1984

The TV series Zenigata Heiji ended after 888 episodes, making it the longest running program at that time.

Released Kukai.

Major works

MOVIE

Kukai

1983

The Ballad of Narayama won the Palme d'Or at the 36th Cannes International Film Festival.

Major works

MOVIE

The Ballad of Narayama

MIRAIL

1982

Released the first in a series of film adaptations of literary masterpieces, Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather.

Major works

MOVIE

Onimasa:A Japanese Godfather

MIRAIL

1981

Released Sailor Suit and Machine Gun and Burning Brave as a double feature. (So many fans rushed to the premiere held at Umeda Toei Theater (Kita-ku, Osaka City) that riot police were dispatched.)

Major works

MOVIE

Burning Brave

MIRAIL

1980

Released The Revolt co-starring Ken Takakura and Sayuri Yoshinaga.

Released Port Arthur.

Major works

MOVIE

The Revolt

MOVIE

Port Arthur

1970s

1979

The TV series Never Give Up began airing.

Released the theatrical version of Galaxy Express 999.

Major works

Never Give Up

MOVIE

Galaxy Express 999

1978

Released Shogun’s Samurai, the first period drama by Toei to be shown on screen in 12 years.

Released Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: Warriors of Love.

Released The Most Dangerous Game starring Yusaku Matsuda.

Major works

MOVIE

Shogun’s Samurai

MIRAIL

MOVIE

The Most Dangerous Game

MOVIE

Lord Mito

1977

Released Proof of the Man.

The TV series Special Investigation Frontline began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Proof of the Man

Special Investigation Frontline

1975

Released the first film of the popular Truck Rascals series, Car Chase in Truck Rascals.

Go Rangers, the first show in the Super Sentai series, began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Truck Rascals

MIRAIL

Go Rangers

1973

Director Kinji Fukasaku’s Battles Without Honor and Humanity was released, establishing the jitsuroku (modern yakuza film) subgenre.

Major works

MOVIE

Battles Without Honor and Humanity

1972

The TV animation series Mazinger Z and Devil Man began airing.

Major works

Mazinger Z

Devil Man

1971

Masked Rider, the first show in the Kamen Rider Showa series, began airing and became a social phenomenon.

Major works

Masked Rider

1960s

1969

Toei Manga Festival became an established series with the release of Puss'n Boots.

The TV series Lord Mito began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Puss'n Boots

1968

The female-led yakuza film series Red Peony Gambler starring Junko Fuji was created.

The TV animation series Spooky Kitaro began airing.

The TV series Key Hunter began airing.

Major works

MOVIE

Red Peony Gambler

Spooky Kitaro

Key Hunter

1967

The TV series Masked Ninja Akakage began airing.

Toei Manga Festival (a collection of children’s animation shows and movies released in theaters) began.

Major works

Masked Ninja Akakage

1966

Released the theatrical version of Cyborg 009.

Major works

Zenigata Heiji

MOVIE

Cyborg 009

1965

Released the film adaptation of the immortal literary masterpiece A Fugitive from the Past.

The very popular film series Abashiri Prison starring Ken Takakura was created.

Released the yakuza film Brutal Tales of Gang.

Major works

MOVIE

A Fugitive from the Past

MOVIE

Abashiri Prison

MOVIE

Brutal Tales of Gang

MIRAIL

1964

The predecessor to Toei Manga Festival and the Toei Anime Fair, Massive March of Manga, was released (TV animation shows screened in theaters).

1963

Theater of Life: Hishakaku, was released, establishing the ninkyo (Toei classic yakuza film) subgenre.

Japan’s first original TV animation series, Ken, the Wild Boy, began airing.

Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai won the Golden Bear Award at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival.

Major works

MOVIE

Theater of Life: Hishakaku

Ken, the Wild Boy

MOVIE

Bushido：The Cruel Code of the Samurai

1962

The baseball team Toei Flyers won the Japan Series championship.

1961

Released the first film of the five-part Miyamoto Musashi series starring Kinnosuke Yorozuya.

Released the 10th anniversary commemorative film The 47 Ronin.

The TV series Special Tactical Police began airing.

The Educational Film Department (currently Educational Media Department) became the first in the world to develop 8 mm talkies for commercialization.

Major works

MOVIE

Miyamoto Musashi

MIRAIL

MOVIE

The 47 Ronin

Tactical Police

1950s

1959

Produced Toei’s first TV series Wind Boy.

The TV series The Investigation Headquarters began airing.

Major works

Wind Boy

MIRAIL

1958

The Story of Pure Love won the Silver Bear Award for Best Director at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.

Released Japan’s first full-length color animation film, The White Snake Enchantress.

Major works

MOVIE

The Story of Pure Love

MOVIE

The White Snake Enchantress

1957

Released Japan’s first large-sized film in the Toei Scope format, The Bride in the Ootori Castle.

Released the film Lord Mito.

Major works

MOVIE

The Bride in the Ootori Castle

MIRAIL

MOVIE

Lord Mito

1956

Released the 5th anniversary commemorative film The 47 Ronin.

Toei became the highest-performing company in the industry.

Major works

MOVIE

The 47 Ronin

1955

Released Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji, Chiezo Kataoka’s masterpiece.

Released the first children’s live-action film The General Furotaki.

Major works

MOVIE

Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji

MOVIE

The General Furotaki

1954

Flute-Playing Boy was released, triggering the Kinnosuke Nakamura boom.

Toei Gorakuban (Toei program pictures) began to gain popularity.

Recorded the world’s highest number of annual productions.

The opening credit Wild Waves and Rocks was first used in The Idle Vassal: House of the Mysterious Phantom starring Utaemon Ichikawa.

Major works

MOVIE

Flute-Playing Boy

MOVIE

The Idle Vassal: House of the Mysterious Phantom

MIRAIL

1953

The winner of the first Toei's New Faces competition joined the company.

Tower of the Lilies became the highest-grossing film in the history of the Japanese film industry at the time.

Toei’s first all-color film The Sun was released.

Major works

MOVIE

Tower of the Lilies

MOVIE

The Sun

1951

Merged with Toyoko Eiga Co., Ltd. and Oizumi Eiga Co., Ltd. and changed the trade name to Toei Co., Ltd. The new company was established with the Tokyo Studios, Kyoto Studios, and 5 theaters under its umbrella, adding film production, film import/export, and various entertainment activities to its business objectives. Hiroshi Okawa was appointed as the first president.

BUSINESS

VISION

©TOEI ©Toei Animation ©ISHIMORI PRO./TOEI ©光プロ・東映 ©Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation ©Ｃ．Ａ．Ｌ ©Dynamic Planning Inc.,Toei Animation Co.,Ltd. ©Leiji Matsumoto/LEIJISHA, Toei Animation ©1980 TOEI COMPANY, LTD./Shinano Art & Culture Consultant Co., Ltd. ©IMAMURA PRODUCTION / TOEI COMPANY, LTD. ©1984 TOEI COMPANY, LTD./SHINGON YOUNG BUDDHIST FEDERATION. ©和田慎二・東映 ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA/TOEI ANIMATION ©セントラル・アーツ ©Naoko Takeuchi/PNP, Toei Animation ©Hasbro ©Toei Company, Ltd. ©1997 khara/Project EVA. ©1997 KADOKAWA CORPORATION/Toei/Mitsui Bussan/Nippan ©1999 Poppoya Railroad Man Production Committee ©TOEI/TOEI ANIMATION/SHUEISHA/FUJI TELEVISION/BANDAI　©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA/FUJI TELEVISION/TOEI ANIMATION ©2000 Battle Royale Production Committee ©2005 YEAR ONE IN THE NORTH Production Committee ©2005 YAMATO Production Committee ©2006 MEMORIES OF TOMORROW Production Committee ©２００６　フジテレビジョン・東映・ＦＮＳ２７社・東映ビデオ ©2008 PARTNERS: THE MOVIE Film Partners ©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA/FUJI TELEVISION/TOEI ANIMATION　©2009 One Piece Production Committee ©2009 THE SUMMIT:A Chronicle of Stones Production Committee © 2009 Ishimori Production Inc., Toei Company, Ltd., Adness Entertainment Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ©2010 PARTNERS: THE MOVIEⅡ Film Partners ©2011 Detective in the Bar Production Committee ©2011 ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO Associates ©Eiichiro Oda/2012 One Piece Production Committee ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA ©2014 PARTNERS: THE MOVIEⅢ Film Partners ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA ©2015 DRAGON BALL Z the Movie Production Committee ©2016 Dangerous Cops: Final 5 Days Production Committee ©Eiichiro Oda/2016 One Piece Production Committee ©2017 PARTNERS: THE MOVIEⅣ Film Partners ©2018 SAKURA GUARDIAN IN THE NORTH Production Committee ©2018 THE BLOOD OF WOLVES Production Committee ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA ©2018 DRAGON BALL SUPER the Movie Production Committee ©2019 FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK/TOEI/Television Saitama Co.,Ltd. ©Eiichiro Oda/2019 One Piece Production Committee ©2019 ISHIMORI PRO/TV ASAHI/ADK EM/TOEI ©2020 HOWLING VILLAGE Production Committee ©2021 A MORNING OF FAREWELL Production Committee ©2021 I Don't Have Any Money Left in My Retirement Account! Production Committee ©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA ©2022 DRAGON BALL SUPER the Movie Production Committee ©Eiichiro Oda/2022 One Piece Production Committee ©I.T.PLANNING,INC. ©2022 THE FIRST SLAM DUNK Film Partners ©ISHINOMORI PRODUCTION INC. and TOEI COMPANY, LTD. ALL Rights Reserved ©KAMEN RIDER BLACK SUN PROJECT ©2022 FUUTO PI Partners ©2023 THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY Production Committee ©ISHIMORI PRODUCTION INC. TOEI COMPANY, LTD. /2023 Shin Kamen Rider Film Partners ©“Kitaro Tanjo Gegege no Nazo” Production Committee. ©2023 FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK/TOEI/Television Saitama Co.,Ltd. ©1990 Heaven and Earth Production Committee