Toei Tokyo Company has completed the construction of Toei VP Studios, Japan’s largest virtual production hub. Expected to be fully operational in 2024. The studio features an advanced LED wall outfitted with AOTO LED panels and powered by Brompton Technology LED processing.
Toei VP Studios provides an efficient shooting environment with the country’s largest LED stage and a highly experienced 16-member team. The facility, covering 640 sqm, incorporates eleven 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and 24 Tessera XD 10G data distribution units.
“We have chosen an LED video processor that is globally renowned for its stability,” says Junichi Higuchi, Producer at Toei Tokyo. “As we explore new directions in visual production within the film industry, our need for more realistic rendering grows. Brompton Technology, which resolves issues such as colour reproduction, is precisely the best tool to fulfill this need.”
The LED wall is constructed using AOTO’s RM series, with MXH series for the ceiling, which can be raised and lowered to adapt to various lighting environments. The screen spans 30m by 5m, boasting a 1.5mm pixel pitch, a low scan rate, a high refresh rate, and a frame rate of 144Hz, ensuring the delivery of vivid, crystal-clear visuals. Complemented by disguise servers, ARRI cameras, and Mo-sys motion capture, the studio offers filmmakers an immersive visual experience, fostering creativity in film production.
“As the digital landscape evolves, our commitment to empowering storytellers grows,” notes Elijah Ebo, Director of APAC Operations at Brompton. “The Toei VP Studios represent an advancement in virtual production, and we’re honoured to be part of this journey together with AOTO, disguise and other partners, helping Toei empower creators to push the boundaries of storytelling.”
Toei’s adoption of virtual production, featuring technologies like Brompton LED processing and Tessera software, offers streamlined post-production. This approach overcomes traditional shooting constraints and enhances flexibility for production teams, ensuring efficient film production and meeting audience expectations for visual effects and overall quality.
“As a company, we believe it is our mission to elevate the quality of Japanese films and dramas,” explains Higuchi. “To achieve this, we will remain dedicated to on-going research and development, striving to become the number one studio in Japan. By actively engaging in multiple exciting film projects in 2024, we are steadfast in solidifying our role as pioneers and leaders in this domain.”
“As we witness the birth of Japan’s largest virtual production studio, we celebrate the convergence of technology and creativity,” concludes Ebo. “The Toei VP Studios heralds a transformative era in how the Japanese film industry crafts its narratives, blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality. We’re very excited about all the opportunities the studio will bring to their clients and are thrilled to be part of their undoubtedly remarkable projects next year and beyond!”
