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Toei Animation Reports Record Highs in 1st Half of Fiscal Year

Toei Animation published on October 26 its earnings for its current fiscal year through its second quarter. The company reported net sales of 25.579 billion yen (about US$228 million), a 9.1% increase from the same period last year. Toei Animation also reported an operating income of 7.918 billion yen (US$70 million), which is a 32.8% increase, and an ordinary income of 8.215 billion yen (US$73 million), which is a 30.8% increase. The company's net income for the period was 5.809 billion yen (US$52 million), a 35.4% increase. All numbers represent record highs for the company.

Toei Animation cited its foreign business and games as some of the factors for its high performances. Increased sales from video licenses from China contributed to this, with North American sales also proving favorable. In games, Toei Animation cited the Dragon Ball Legends smartphone game and the Dragon Ball FighterZ fighting game as particularly good sellers, with profits from the Dragon Ball Dokkan Battle smartphone game also increasing from last year.

Toei Animation's copyright and licensing sales business increased in the period, with sales reaching 14.719 billion yen (US$131 million) for the first half of the fiscal year, a 13.1% increase from last year. The licensing sector reached an operating income of 6.907 billion yen (US$62 million) for a 13.3% increase.

Toei Animation's video production and sales business — which comprises theatrical and television anime, as well as foreign video sales — recorded sales reaching 8.365 billion yen (about US$74 million), a 9.1% increase. Operating income reached 2.528 billion yen (about US$22 million), a 150.3% increase. The company recorded losses from theatrical and television anime, but regained them in foreign video sales.

Merchandise sales reached 2.148 billion yen (about US$19 million), an 8.2% decrease. Operating income in the sector reached 19 million yen (about US$169,800), a 69.7% decrease. Miscellaneous sales reached 416 million yen (about US$3.78 million), a 21% decrease, and operating losses in that sector reached 47 million yen (about US$420,000).

Dragon Ball topped Toei Animation's domestic licensing sales for the quarter, with One Piece, Pretty Cure, and Sailor Moon following. The franchise also topped overseas licensing sales, with One Piece, Saint Seiya, and Digimon following.

Sources: Toei Animation, Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)