Toei CEO Outlines Local-Production Strategy, GenAI Tests at TCCF
Fumio Yoshimura said Toei is building films with local talent for local release and global sales, and is testing GenAI for budgeting and background art.
Toei CEO Fumio Yoshimura used a keynote session at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) to lay out how the Japanese studio is approaching international growth, saying it is producing remakes and localisations rather than simply exporting finished content, according to Deadline.
Yoshimura said Toei is developing local content from scratch with local talent, releasing it in that market first and then selling it globally. Among the projects cited are Dear Stranger, made with Taiwan's Lou Lou Film Studio, directed by Tetsuya Mariko and starring Hidetoshi Nishijima and Gwei Lun-mei, and the horror film The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak, produced with Taiwan's Wowing Entertainment Group, directed by Liao Shih-Han and starring Lee Kang-sheng.
The company is also working with Thailand's M Studio and Korea's Showbox on a horror feature based on Junji Ito's manga The Long Hair In The Attic. On the US side, Toei assisted on the indie action thriller Iris, created by and starring Dani Swan, including help with casting and the incentives application.
Facilities and GenAI
Yoshimura said Toei is expanding virtual production and motion capture facilities in Tokyo and Kyoto. He also said the studio is testing generative AI image generation for tasks including estimating production budgets and creating background artwork.
In 2023, the studio launched a $2 billion "Toei New Wave" plan aimed at raising international revenue's share of total income from 30% to 50% by 2033, alongside upgrades to its Tokyo and Kyoto facilities.
Quick answers
What did Toei's CEO say at Taiwan Creative Content Fest?
Fumio Yoshimura said Toei is producing remakes and localisations and developing local content with local talent for local release and global sales, and is testing GenAI for budget estimation and background artwork.
Which international projects did Toei highlight?
Dear Stranger with Taiwan's Lou Lou Film Studio, The Rope Curse 4: Kuntilanak with Wowing Entertainment Group, a Junji Ito horror adaptation with Thailand's M Studio and Korea's Showbox, and US indie thriller Iris.