By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Toei Animation is launching its biggest fan experience of all time at this year’s New York Comic Con 2022.
The studio that brought the world hits like the Dragon Ball franchise and One Piece is now literally painting Times Square red and building out massive displays.
The showcase of franchise properties, including “One Piece Film Red,” “Dragon Ball Super” and “World Trigger,” will offer fans an array of experiences over four days from Oct. 6 to 9.
It will include a variety of displays, events and attractions, including a celebrity panel, screenings, a Dim Mak pop-up, giant and life-sized character displays, and more.
Toei Animation’s event line-up kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. with the U.S. Red Carpet Premiere of “One Piece Film Red,” which opens Nov. 4 in theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
The finale takeover event happens Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. when Toei Animation and the movie committee will “paint Time Square red” with a visually stunning display commemorating “One Piece Film Red.”
One Piece fans and cosplayers, convention attendees and every day New Yorkers will be immersed in a specially created animation synchronized across numerous digital billboards encircling Time Square.
An estimated 14,000 pedestrians will experience the two-minute looping animation during its one-hour long display. Fans attending the Times Square takeover and all other “One Piece Film Red” events throughout the weekend are encouraged to use the hashtag #OPFilmRedNYCC on their social posts.
“New York Comic Con 2022 caps off an exciting year for Toei Animation’s direct to consumer marketing efforts and our year-long celebration of ‘One Piece Film Red,’” said Lisa Yamatoya, director of global marketing for Toei Animation Inc. “Our ‘One Piece Film Red’ takeover of such an internationally recognizable landmark as Times Square is a historic moment for Toei Animation and the One Piece franchise.”
Based in Los Angeles, Toei Animation is among the world’s most successful animation studios, and a giant in the world of anime.
The company manages the film distribution of Toei Animation’s top properties, including franchise series Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, One Piece, Digimon, Saint Seiya and many others, to North America, Latin America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.