Toei Animation Inks French Deal for One Piece

PARIS, April 28: Toei
Animation has finalized a broadcast agreement with Virgin 17/MCM in France for
its animated TV series One Piece.

The first 143 episodes
acquired by Virgin 17/MCM began airing on Saturday, April 26, on Virgin 17. Toei
Animation has revised the French dubbing with new voice talent to make the
series more faithful to the original Japanese animation. More than 350 episodes
of the series have aired since 1999 in Japan, with new episodes continuing to
be produced. One Piece airs in
more than 13 countries worldwide.

One Piece adapts Japanese popular comics of the same title by
Eiichiro ODA. The series takes place during the time when pirates ruled the
seas and several bands of buccaneers battled over a great hidden treasure
called “One Piece,” which was left by the pirate king Gold Roger. The story
follows Monkey D. Luffy, who sets out to become King of the Pirates and launch
his own quest to find “One Piece.”

—By Irene Lew