Toho is expanding its global distribution infrastructure through acquisitions and strategic alliances, while producing high-profile live-action and Godzilla sequels for worldwide release.
Toho has moved aggressively to build a direct global distribution network. In December 2025, the company acquired UK distributor Anime Limited from Germany's Plaion Pictures, gaining immediate theatrical, home video, TV, streaming, and merchandise capabilities in the UK and France. Toho also established a European regional headquarters in London, led by its overseas division Toho Global. Anime Limited founder Andrew Partridge joined the leadership team of the new European base. A parallel strategic alliance with Plaion extends Toho's reach into Germany, Italy, and other European markets. The deal follows Toho's acquisition of US distributor GKIDS in October 2024 and the launch of a Singapore-based Asian hub in November 2024. Toho cited the European anime market's estimated value of $4.77 billion in 2024, projected to reach $9.05 billion by 2030, as context for the expansion.
On the production side, Toho is pursuing two major projects. Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to Takashi Yamazaki's Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One, was announced with a teaser trailer on July 9, 2026. The film is the first Japanese production advertised as 'Filmed for IMAX.' It will open in Japan on November 3, 2026 (Godzilla Day), and near-simultaneously in North America and the UK/Ireland on November 6, distributed by Anime Limited. This marks the first time a Japan-produced Godzilla film opens near-simultaneously in Japan and major Western markets. Yamazaki returns as director, screenwriter, and VFX supervisor, with Naoki Satō composing the music. Production is underway at Toho Studios with ROBOT and Shirogumi.
Netflix and Toho also released the eight-episode series Gas Man, a reboot of Toho's 1960 special effects film The Gas Man First Number. Directed by Shinzo Katayama and executive produced by Yeon Sang-ho, the series stars Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi, and debut actor UTA. Filming ran from September 2024 to April 2025 across about 120 locations, with location scouting covering over 1,000 sites. The production achieved the first full closure of Tokyo Station front for a Japanese film shoot after 18 months of negotiations. All eight episodes streamed worldwide on Netflix from July 2. Character design supervisor Isao Tsuge later detailed the three concepts behind the Gas Man's blue-gray coat: the gas-like nature of the character, a sense of otherness, and respect for the 1960 original film's color palette.
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Toho will host a Godzilla-themed booth at Tokyo Toy Show 2026, held August 29-30 at Tokyo Big Sight. The booth features a large statue and diorama from the upcoming film Godzilla-0.0, early displays of original merchandise, a Chibi Godzilla greeting for middle school students and younger, and giveaways tied to Toho's official membership service.
TOHO animation announced on Tuesday that Kamome Maruyono's comedy gourmet manga Dokagui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san is receiving a television anime adaptation. Animation studio Passione is producing the anime. TOHO revealed the adaptation at the end of a one-hour cooking video loop that began streaming on Tuesday, and Maruyono drew an illustration to celebrate the announcement. The manga centers on Mikoto Mochizuki, a woman with intense enthusiasm for eating enormous quantities of food. The ongoing series launched simultaneously in Hakusensha's Young Animal Zero magazine and the Young Animal Web manga site in May 2024. Hakusensha published the first compiled book volume in October 2024, and will publish the fourth volume on September 29. The manga was nominated in the 18th Manga Taisho awards in 2025, and was included on the list of top 20 manga for male readers in the 2026 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook. It also ranked #8 in the top 10 series in the Web Manga category of the Next Manga Awards 2024, and was the inaugural winner of that year's new Nichirei Prize.
Isao Tsuge, the character design supervisor for the Netflix series "Gas Man," has explained the three concepts embedded in the blue-gray coat worn by the titular character. In an interview with Cinema Today, Tsuge said the coat's color first represents the gas-like nature of the character, second conveys a sense of otherness, and third shows respect for the 1960 original film, which also featured blue and gray tones. Tsuge, who has worked on films including "Departures" and "Shin Godzilla," designed the Gas Man after receiving the role two months before filming began. He praised actor UTA, who plays the Gas Man, for delivering emotionless lines with precise timing while also showing natural warmth in scenes with a young girl. Tsuge noted he has known UTA since childhood through his father, actor Masahiro Motoki, with whom Tsuge worked on "Departures" and "Gemini." The series, a reboot of Toho's 1960 special effects film "The Gas Man First Number," is directed by Shinzo Katayama and stars Shun Oguri and Yu Aoi alongside UTA. All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
TOHO and Anime Limited have announced Godzilla Minus Zero, the sequel to Takashi Yamazaki's Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One. A new teaser trailer and poster were released on July 9, 2026, confirming that Min Tanaka joins the cast as biologist Kanji Murakami. Returning cast members include Ryūnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Hidetaka Yoshioka from the first film. The film is the first Japanese production to be advertised as 'Filmed for IMAX.' It will open in Japan on November 3, 2026, which is Godzilla Day, commemorating the original 1954 film's release. The same week, it will open in North America on November 6, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 6 as well, distributed by Anime Limited. This marks the first time a Japan-produced Godzilla film will open near-simultaneously in Japan and major Western markets. Yamazaki returns as director, screenwriter, and VFX supervisor, with Naoki Satō composing the music. Production is underway at TOHO Studios with ROBOT and Shirogumi.
Preorders for DeAgostini's Toho Monster Collection Special Edition Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 are now available on Amazon.co.jp. Each set includes four 1/700 scale PVC figures, a special magazine, seven posters, and an assembly guide. Vol. 2 is priced at 19,800 yen and Vol. 3 at 29,600 yen, with both scheduled for release on August 31, 2026. The figures are produced in cooperation with BANDAI SPIRITS.
The second edition of the Animal Beach Ball pop-up shop for My Hero Academia runs June 27 to July 12 at Tokyo Anime Center in Shibuya. Newly drawn visuals feature Tomura Shigaraki, Dabi, and Himiko Toga holding animal beach balls. Goods include acrylic stands, concept necklaces, and mochocho collaboration items. Online sales begin June 29.
Netflix and Toho have released the main trailer and key art for the eight-episode series "Gas Man," a reboot of Toho's 1960 special effects film "The First Gas Man." The series, directed by Shinzo Katayama and executive produced by Yeon Sang-ho, follows detectives Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) and Kyoko Kono (Yu Aoi) as they pursue a killer who can turn his body into gas. The trailer shows the Gas Man, played by debut actor UTA, announcing a press conference where he will reveal his methods and next target. Suzu Hirose and Kento Hayashi play video streamer siblings, and Yutaka Takenouchi plays a former yakuza-turned-company president. Filming ran from September 2024 to April 2025 across about 120 locations, with location scouting covering over 1,000 sites. The production achieved the first full closure of Tokyo Station front for a Japanese film shoot after 18 months of negotiations. The series streams worldwide on Netflix from July 2.
Aniplex president Atsuhiro Iwakami will become the next president and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, effective April 2026, as reported by the Nikkei and covered by Animenomics. Iwakami, who has led Aniplex for ten years, will be the first executive with a video production background to head the Japanese music giant. The appointment reflects the growing influence of Aniplex within Sony Music Group, as more than half of Sony Music's sales in Japan now come from non-music sources, including Aniplex. Aniplex produced both "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," the highest-grossing anime film globally, and "Kokuho," Japan's highest-grossing live-action film. External revenue from Sony Music's visual media and platform business, which includes Aniplex, rose 42.8 percent in the nine months ended December 2025 compared to the same period last year. Prior to leading Aniplex, Iwakami worked on productions such as the "Monogatari" series, "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," and "Sword Art Online," and produced the mobile game "Fate/Grand Order" and the "Demon Slayer" anime adaptation.
Toho, the Japanese entertainment company behind Godzilla Minus One, announced on December 19 that it has acquired all shares of Glasgow-based anime distributor Anime Limited from Germany's Plaion Pictures. The acquisition gives Toho immediate distribution capabilities in the UK and France across theatrical, home video, TV, streaming, and merchandise. Toho will also establish a European regional headquarters in London, led by Toho Global, its overseas business division. Anime Limited founder and managing director Andrew Partridge will join the leadership team of the new European base. In a parallel move, Toho and Plaion Pictures have agreed to a strategic alliance, with Plaion extending Toho's distribution reach into Germany, Italy, and other European markets. The deal follows Toho's acquisition of US distributor GKIDS in October 2024 and the launch of a Singapore-based Asian hub in November 2024. Toho cited the European anime market's estimated value of $4.77 billion in 2024, projected to reach $9.05 billion by 2030, as context for the expansion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
At SusHi Tech Tokyo, executives from Production I.G, CoMix Wave Films, and MAPPA discussed alternatives to the production committee model. MAPPA's Manabu Otsuka, Production I.G's Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, and CoMix Wave Films' Noritaka Kawaguchi shared how their studios retain ownership. Studio Chizu's LLP model was also highlighted as a long-term alternative.
New survey data from the Japan Animation Creators Association shows a sharp rise in full-time salaried roles at anime production studios. In 2024, 47 percent of respondents held permanent positions, up from 17 percent in 2013. Non-permanent work fell from three in four to one in two over the same period. Average monthly working hours dropped to about 190, and median annual earnings rose to ¥4 million, though work stress remains high.