What Is Toei Animation? The Studio Behind Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Sailor Moon, Explained by Marine

Article

One studio has quietly produced Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Digimon, and Pretty Cure — nearly 80 years of anime history in a single company.

Nearly 80 Years of Anime Production

Toei Animation traces its roots to Toei Doga, founded in 1948, renamed to its current name in 1998. It is the studio behind Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Digimon, and Pretty Cure — among the most globally recognized anime franchises ever made.

Still Expanding Toward 70

Approaching its 70th anniversary in 2026, Toei Animation announced a restructured global streaming schedule for One Piece's Elbaf arc, opened a new studio in Osaka in August 2025, and is running the "NAKANO Mural Anime Road" exhibition through fall 2026.

What To Know

Recognizing Toei Animation as the single studio behind Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, Digimon, and Pretty Cure clarifies just how much of anime's most globally recognized, multi-generational franchise output traces back to one company's continuous production history since 1948.

Toei Animation's nearly 80-year continuous operation, spanning from Japan's earliest postwar animation industry through today's globally streamed franchises, makes it one of the clearest living links between anime's historical origins and its current global business.

What Fans Are Saying

• "Didn't realize one studio made Dragon Ball, One Piece, AND Sailor Moon."
• "Almost 80 years of continuous anime production is incredible."
• "Great to see them still expanding with a new Osaka studio."

Original Japanese

• 「ドラゴンボールもワンピースもセーラームーンも同じスタジオだったとは知りませんでした」
• 「約80年近く制作を続けているのはすごいですね」
• 「大阪に新スタジオを開設したのは嬉しいニュースです」

Easy Japanese

「東映アニメーション」は、1948年に始まった日本のアニメ制作会社です。ドラゴンボールやワンピースなどを作っています。