Saudi Arabia announces first-ever 'Dragon Ball' theme park
What's the story
Following the tragic demise of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, Saudi Arabia is set to construct a theme park inspired by the Dragon Ball universe.
The park's design will revolve around Son Goku, a young boy with extraordinary martial arts abilities on a mission to find seven magical orbs.
This exciting news was shared by Qiddiya Investment Company and Toei Animation recently.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Dragon Ball has a huge global fan following and the idea of a theme park has been lauded by fans. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is one of the most touristy countries in Asia, hence becoming a hot spot for the theme park.
This upcoming project could be a potential game changer in terms of tourism boom, too.
Project
Everything about the 'Dragon Ball' theme park
The Dragon Ball theme park will extend over an impressive 5,00,000 square meters and will showcase seven distinct areas that mirror iconic locations from the original series.
These include Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus's Planet. The chosen site for Qiddiya is significantly larger than Florida's Disney World.
The park will also feature five cutting-edge rides among over 30 attractions, as stated by Toei Animation.
Death
Tragic death of Toriyama
Toriyama, the internationally acclaimed manga artist, passed away on March 1 aged 68 due to subdural hematoma. His passing sparked global grief among millions of fans.
Manga and anime have been gaining traction in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 13M enthusiasts of the Japanese genre and about 85M throughout the Arab world, as reported by Manga Productions.
Trivia
Dragon Ball: A global phenomenon
Initially released as a serial in 1984, Dragon Ball has become one of the most successful manga series of all time.
It played a significant role in introducing manga to a global audience, further amplified by its various anime adaptations' sustained popularity in Western countries.
The theme park project encompasses Dragon Ball-themed hotels and restaurants to cater to its millions of fans across the globe, too.
Twitter Post
Twitter Post
đź’Ą BOMBAZO đź’Ą
— Antonio Sánchez-Migallón Jiménez (@MrKaytos) March 22, 2024
💥 ¡Nace Dragon Ball Theme Park, el primer parque temático inmersivo de Dragon Ball que representará el universo de la serie en el mundo real!
🍀 Marchando tráiler. Qué pena que Akira Toriyama no pueda ver esto, está claro que este era el año de Dragon Ball. pic.twitter.com/rpZ5VVrlgH