Toei Company, Ltd.(東映株式会社, Tōei Kabushiki-gaisha; an acronym for Tōkyō Eiga Haikyū(東京映画配給) lit.'Tokyo Film Distribution'; /ˈtoʊ.eɪ/), simply known as Toei Company or Toei(東映, Tōei), is a Japanese entertainment company. Headquartered in Kyōbashi, Chūō, Tokyo, it is involved in film and television production, distribution, video game development, publishing, and ownership of 34 movie theaters. Toei also owns and operates studios in Tokyo and Kyoto and holds shares in several television companies. The company is renowned for its production of anime and live-action dramas known as tokusatsu, which incorporate special visual effects. It is also known for producing period dramas. Toei is the majority shareholder of Toei Animation and is recognized for its franchises such as Kamen Rider, Super Sentai and Power Rangers.

Toei is one of the four members of the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (MPPAJ 日本映画製作者連盟), and is therefore one of Japan's Big Four film studios, alongside Kadokawa, Shochiku and Toho.

History

Toei is a pioneer in the use of "Henshin"/"character transformation" in Live Action Television (TV) Film Video Game and Other's, Etc. Superhero martial-arts Mecha drama Franchises, a technique developed for the Kamen Rider, Metal Hero and Super Sentai series; the genre currently continues with Kamen Rider and Super Sentai.

Toei's predecessor, the Toyoko Eiga Company, Ltd.(東横映画, Tō-Yoko Eiga; "Toyoko Films"), was incorporated in 1938. It was founded by Keita Goto, CEO of Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Railway[ja], the direct predecessor to the Tokyu Corporation. It had erected its facilities immediately east of the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line; they managed the prewar Tōkyū Shibuya Yokohama studio system. From 1945 through the Toei merger, Tokyo-Yokohama Films leased from the Daiei Motion Picture Company a second studio in Kyoto.

On October 1, 1950, the Tokyo Film Distribution Company was incorporated as a subsidiary of Toyoko Eiga; in 1951 the company purchased Ōizumi Films. The current iteration of Toei was established on April 1, 1951 with Hiroshi Okawa as the first president. Through the merger, it gained the combined talents and experience of actors Chiezō Kataoka, Utaemon Ichikawa, Ryunosuke Tsukigata, Ryūtarō Ōtomo, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Shirunosuke Toshin, Hashizo Okawa, and Satomi Oka.

In 1956, Toei purchases the Kyoto studio from Daiei. In 1956, Toei establishes an animation division, Toei Animation Company, Limited at the former Tokyo-Ōizumi animation studio, purchasing the assets of Japan Animated Films(日本動画映画, Nihon Dōga Eiga; often shortened to 日動映画 (Nichidō Eiga)).

Toei also bid on a license to start an education-focused TV station in 1956, which resulted in its part-ownership of Nippon Educational Television Co., now known as TV Asahi.

Shigeru Okada becomes the president & chief executive officer of Toei in 1971 and oversaw the adoptions of Toei's new business venture distributing foreign films in Japan in 1972.

In 1975, Toei opens the Toei Kyoto Studio Park. Toei Kyoto Studio's history reaches back to 1926 when Bando Tsumasaburo first developed a studio in what is now Uzumasa. Mitsuo Makino took over the property following the war in partnership with Toyoko Eiga and was absorbed along with Toyoko during Toei's merger.

Shigeru Okada becomes chairperson as Tan Takaiwa succeeds him as president and chief executive officer in 1993, establishing Toei Satellite TV Co., Ltd. and creates Toei Channel in 1998.

Asahi National Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (currently TV Asahi Holdings Corporation) is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2000, as shares of Toei Animation Co., Ltd. are listed on the over-the-counter market of the Japan Securities Dealers Association.

In 2011, Shigeru Okada, then chairperson emeritus, passes away, as Yusuke Okada and Noriyuki Tada become chairperson and president & chief executive officer of Toei in 2014.

Osamu Tezuka (no relation to the manga author and animator of the same name) became president and chief executive officer of Toei in 2020, as Noriyuki Tada succeeded Okada as chairperson. Toei also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series in 2020. Tezuka initiates major structural reorganization in 2022 before passing in February 2023.

Tada temporarily assumed the role of CEO until Toei managing director and head of content Fumio Yoshimura was announced to succeed Tezuka as Toei's 7th president & chief executive officer. Recognizing Japan's shrinking market share, Yoshimura has vowed to continue with Tezuka's restructuring plans, and is looking towards North America and Asian markets to developing new projects and export existing IPs. Visiting Los Angeles for meetings with Hollywood studios together with Toei's studio head Yuji Kojima in 2025, Yoshimura announced Toei has budgeted US$1.6BN (JP¥240BN) for content and US$400M (JP¥60BN) to strengthen business operations.

On July 27, 2025, Toei closed its headquarters at the Toei Kaikan in Ginza, and relocated to Kyobashi Edogrand in Kyobashi. The closure also marked the end of Toei's cinema division as it wound down its operations in order for the company to focus on T-JOY[ja].

Branding

The rocks at Cape Inubō seen at in the title card.

The characters that make up Toei(東映, Tōei; "East Reflection") are the result of a portmanteau of Toei predecessor "Toyoko Eiga", and first seen in Toyoko Eiga's logo of a stylized triangle with the characters of 東 and 映 near the top. The logo was carried over by Toei following its merger of Toyoko and Ōizumi in 1951.

A black & white version of Toei's now iconic Wild Waves and Rocks (荒磯に波) opening credit was first used in 1954 on the Utaemon Ichikawa classic, The Idle Vassal: House of the Mysterious Phantom. It would be first seen in color in 1961 and has since been reshot with several iterations of the same rocks in the 70 years since it was first used.

The image features the Toei logo superimposed over a scene from Cape Inubō in Chiba, of three rocks in the surf beyond the beach as waves crash over the rocks. It has been seen in front of most live-action film & television produced and distributed by Toei, such as Street Fighter, Battle Royale, and Power Rangers, as well as in a handful of animated films such as Dragon Ball and Evangelion as well.

Its dynamic image, as opposed to the mostly static logos of its competitors has helped make Toei's logo one of the most recognizable Japanese film company logo around the world.

Film and television

Toei films

Toei started producing films in 1953. This list compiles the films by their original release date, their common English titles and Japanese titles. The Japanese titles are not necessarily direct translations of their English counterparts.

For feature films, Toei established itself as a producer of B-movies, that were made to fit into double bills and triple bills. It is predominantly known in the west for its series of action films and television series.

Release dateEnglish film titleOriginal titleNotesRef(s)
1953The SunNichirinToei's first all-color film released.
1954The Idle Vassal: House of the Mysterious PhantomHatamoto TaikutsuotokoFirst use of the iconic Toei "Wild Waves and Rocks" title card
February 27, 1955Bloody Spear at Mount FujiChiyari FujiRecognized as one of actor Chiezō Kataoka finest roles
March 19, 1959A Story of Pure LoveJun'ai MonogatariTadashi Imai won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival
August 14, 1960Alakazam the GreatSaiyu-kiFirst film adaptation of a Osamu Tezuka manga. Although credited as director, most of the direction was done by Yabushita Taiji. Also one of the earliest Toei anime films to be released in the United States.
June 9, 1961Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red ValleyFūraibō tantei: akai tani no sangekiFirst starring role for Sonny Chiba
July 19, 1961Invasion of the Neptune MenUchu kaizoku-senStarred Sonny Chiba as "Iron Sharp"
April 28, 1963Bushido, Samurai SagaBushidō zankoku monogatariWon the Golden Bear at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival
July 31, 1963League of GangstersGyangu DōmeiRyōhei Uchida's first starring role
April 18, 1965Abashiri PrisonAbashiri BangaichiA remake of the 1958 American film The Defiant Ones, Abashiri Prison starred Ken Takakura and became a popular franchise running for a total of 17 films.
March 5, 1966The Magic SerpentKai tatsu daikessen
July 1, 1966Terror Beneath the SeaKaitei DaisensōU.S./ Japanese co-production
December 21, 1966Golden NinjaŌgon Batto (Golden Bat)A film based off the kamishibai character of the same name by Takeo Nagamatsu and Suzuki Ichiro.
August 13, 1967Yongary, Monster from the DeepDai koesu YongkariSouth Korean/Japanese co-production
December 1, 1968The Green SlimeGamma sango uchu dai sakusenU.S./ Japanese co-production
1969Horrors of Malformed MenKyofu kikei ningen
1970Voyage Into SpaceGiant Robo (Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot)Episodes of the Japanese TV series re-edited into a TV movie for U.S. release
September 23, 1970Tora! Tora! Tora!Tora! Tora! Tora!An international co-production with Twentieth Century Fox, the film featured an international cast and sought to present a balanced account of the attack on Pearl Harbor for both sides. It was praised for its historical accuracy and was nominated for five Oscars at the 43rd Academy Awards.
1970Venus FlytrapAkuma no NiwaBased on a 1950s unproduced screenplay by Ed Wood. Later released on video as Revenge of Dr. X.
March 12, 1972Under the Flag of the Rising SunGunki Hatameku Moto niSubmitted by Japan as their entry for the Best Foreign Language Film, but was not selected
August 25, 1972Female Prisoner 701: ScorpionFirst of a series of 4 Female Convict Scorpion film franchise
January 13, 1973Battles Without Honor and HumanityJingi Naki TatakaiThe first in a five-film series based on articles by journalist Kōichi Iiboshi, eventually became an 11 film franchise most recently rebooted in 2000.
February 2, 1974The Street FighterGekitotsu Satsujinkenstarred Sonny Chiba; spawned 2 sequels, Return of the Street Fighter and Street Fighter's Last Revenge
December 28, 1974New Battles Without Honor and HumanityShin Jingi Naki TatakaiA continuation of the Battles Without Honor and Humanity franchise expanding beyond the articles written by journalist Kōichi Iiboshi.
April 26, 1975Cops vs. ThugsKenkei tai Soshiki BōryokuWon two Blue Ribbon Awards in 1976 for Best Director (Fukasaku) and Best Actor (Sugawara).Complex named it number 6 on their list of The 25 Best Yakuza Movies.
April 29, 1977Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster BirdsKyoryu-kaicho no densetsu
January 21, 1978Shogun's SamuraiYagyū Ichizoku no InbōAdapted into a 39-episode TV series, The Yagyu Conspiracy (1978–1979), also produced by Toei.
April 29, 1978Message from SpaceUchu kara no messejiStarred Sonny Chiba and Vic Morrow
November 15, 1980Shogun's NinjaNinja Bugeichō Momochi SandayūHiroyuki Sanada's first lead role
January 30, 1981G.I. Samurai (a.k.a. Time Slip)Sengoku jieitaiStarred Sonny Chiba
April 29, 1983The Ballad of NarayamaNarayama BushikōDirected by Shōhei Imamura adaptated from the book by Shichirō Fukazawa. Won the Palme d'Or at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival.
May 13, 1989Black RainKuroi ameWon multiple Japanese film awards and critical acclaim by American critics.
October 17, 1998Dr. AkagiKanzō-sensei
June 5, 1999PoppoyaTetsudōinBest Film at the Japan Academy Awards, it was submitted to the 72nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee.
November 25, 2000New Battles Without Honor and HumanityShin Jingi Naki TatakaiReboot of the popular franchise from 1973.
December 16, 2000Battle RoyaleBattle RoyalEmbargoed from US distribution due to violence, finally released straight-to-DVD to critical acclaim in 2010 following praise by Quentin Tarantino.
May 1, 2008Partners: The MovieAIBOU: The MovieBased on the television series AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo, it was the first in the Aibou (Partners) film series.
December 23, 2011Admiral YamamotoRengō Kantai Shirei Chōkan Yamamoto Isoroku
September 3, 2013Space Pirate Captain Harlocka.k.a. Harlock: Space PirateToei Animation Production
December 5, 2015125 Years MemoryKainan 1890Co-produced by Toei, Creators' Union, Böcek Yapım
May 17, 2019First LoveHatsukoiDistributor, produced by OLM
June 25, 2021The GoldfishUmibe no Kingyō
March 17, 2023Shin Kamen RiderShin Kamen RiderReboot of the original 1971 series by Hideaki Anno

Toei animation

Toei animation films

Toei distributed films

Original producerYearTitleOriginal titleNotesRef(s)
Shin-eiga Co., Ltd.1950Golden Bat: The Phantom of the SkyscraperŌgon Batto: Matenrô no KaijinA film based off the kamishibai character of the same name by Takeo Nagamatsu and Suzuki Ichiro, but mainly based on the manga adaptation by Shōnen Gahōsha.

Toei produced/distributed shows

YearTitleCountry
1971–presentKamen Rider franchiseJapan
1975–2026Super Sentai franchise
1982–presentMetal Hero franchise
1981–1993Fushigi Comedy franchise
1993–presentPower Rangers franchiseUnited States
1994–1996VR Troopers
1995–1996Masked Rider
1996–1998Big Bad Beetleborgs (later Beetleborgs Metallix)
2003–2004Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Live action series)Japan
2004–presentPretty Cure franchise
2007–2008Zaido: Pulis PangkalawakanPhilippines
2008–2009Kamen Rider: Dragon KnightUnited States
2012–2013Unofficial Sentai AkibarangerJapan
2016–2017Kamen Rider Amazons
2022Kamen Rider Black Sun
2023Voltes V: LegacyPhilippines
2023–presentShin Japan Heroes UniverseJapan
2024–presentOshi no Ko (Drama)
2026–presentProject R.E.D. franchise
2030–presentRaiden franchise

Shows created with Shotaro Ishinomori

Video games

Saburo Yatsude

Saburō Yatsude(八手 三郎, Yatsude Saburō; alternatively read as Saburo Hatte) is a collective pseudonym used by Toei Company television producers, and formerly Toei Animation producers, when contributing to its various anime and tokusatsu series; similar to Bandai Namco Filmworks' Hajime Yatate. The use of the pen name began with The Kagestar and has been used throughout the Super Sentai (in the adapted Power Rangers series starting with Power Rangers Ninja Storm, the credits list Saburo Hatte. Before this, the credits listed "Original Concepts by Saburo Yatsude") and Metal Hero Series as well as for Spider-Man, Choukou Senshi Changéríon, Video Warrior Laserion, Chōdenji Robo Combattler V, Chōdenji Machine Voltes V, Tōshō Daimos, Daltanious, Space Emperor God Sigma, Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV. The name is also used as a contributor to the soundtracks for the series.

Toei Animation stopped using Saburo Yatsude in 1999, and it began to use Izumi Todo instead. The first anime that was created by Izumi Todo was Ojamajo Doremi.

In the Unofficial Sentai Akibaranger series, Saburo Hatte is an actual person who is godlike within the fictional reality that the show takes place in. In fact, his hand appears at the end of the first half of the series to cover the camera lens and end the show, later having the second half be made under Malseena's influence while in the hospital in the real world.

In the Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger spinoff, Super Animal War's third episode, he is portrayed by Jun Hikasa.

On April 3, 2016, an unknown Toei staff member going by Saburo Yatsude was interviewed while wearing a "Giraffe Zyuman" mask in reference to Zyuohger.

Original creator

Live action

Anime

Script

Television

Web series

  • From Episode of Stinger - Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: High School Wars (2017)
  • Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Spin-Off: Zenkai Red Great Introduction! (2021)
  • Avataro Sentai Donbrothers Meets Kamen Rider Den-O: Aim! Don-O (2022)

Director

See also

Footnotes

Sources

  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: 1900 through 1994. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0032-3.
  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). . Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-1461673743.
  • Sharp, Jasper (2011). Historical Dictionary of Japanese Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810875418.

External links