Toei Animation Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of a new original animation brand, ETERNA Animation, in anticipation of the studio’s 70th anniversary in 2026. The studio will introduce the new initiative to attendees during the Annecy Festival, in a session which will spotlight ETERNA’s first title.
The announcement follows a milestone moment for Toei Animation: its short film Magic Candies (based on the original picture book by Heena Baek) was nominated at the 97th Academy Awards in the Best Animated Short Film category. Building upon this and many other accomplishments over the past seven decades, Toei Animation is now embarking on a fresh challenge.
Through ETERNA Animation, the company aims to establish a sustainable creative platform dedicated to the ongoing production of original works. The initiative also places a strong focus on discovering and nurturing emerging creative talents as part of a next-generation animation project model.
The brand’s tagline, “We create free and unforgettable animation that stays in your heart,” while the name “ETERNA” (meaning “eternal”) reflects Toei Animation’s aspiration to create works that will remain in the hearts and memories of viewers. Guided by five core creative values — Originality, Exclusivity, Artistry, Quality, and Decency — the brand seeks to deliver new stories, spotlight new voices, and explore expressive new forms of animation with artistic freedom and lasting emotional impact.
The first title under the ETERNA Animation label is the short film FOXING: Kitsuné-tsuki, directed by Takeru Shinozuka in his commercial directorial debut, with a target release of 2026. The story explores universal themes such as isolation, fantasy and the confrontation of the self in contemporary society. It poetically and visually depicts the protagonist’s emotional transformation as she journeys toward personal liberation.
Shinozuka, born in 1994, graduated from Tokyo Zokei University and joined Toei Animation thereafter. He has earned attention within the studio for his unique hands-on approach, consistently managing direction, storyboards and character design himself. The producer of the film is Yoshihide Moriyama, whose diverse credits include ELEMON, Tokyo 7th Sisters: Bokura wa Aozora ni Naru and Ring ni Kakero series.
FOXING: Kitsuné-tsuki will be introduced to the world at a MIFA Talent Panel during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market 2025. The session will present pre-production materials, including visual boards and character design, as a world-first Work-in-Progress presentation on Friday, June 13 at 11:15 a.m. in Room 4 of the MIFA Campus. Director Shinozuka and Producer Moriyama will appear on stage to share the project’s creative background, the vision behind ETERNA Animation, and Toei Animation’s ambitions for the future of original animation.
Win ‘The Art and Making of Arcane’! 
