In a landmark move for Asia’s creative industry, Chinese LED display manufacturer AOTO has delivered cutting-edge LED display technology to Japan’s largest virtual production (VP) studio, marking a pivotal step in the evolution of film and television in the region. Operated by Japanese production giant Toei, the new VP studio in Tokyo combines world-class infrastructure with advanced LED engineering, ushering in a new era of immersive content creation.
AOTO powers Japan’s largest LED virtual production studio
Spanning 640 square meters, the Toei VP Studio is the largest of its kind in Japan and the first fully operated by a local film company. At the heart of the space lies a 270-degree curved LED wall measuring 30 meters in width and 5 meters in height, built from 600 AOTO RM1.5 LED panels with a pixel pitch of 1.56mm. Overhead, an 11m x 10m LED ceiling made of 236 MXH panels with 3.7mm pixel pitch offers additional creative flexibility.
The system delivers a 7,680Hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 6,000 nits, DCI-P3 color coverage, and a viewing angle exceeding 170 degrees. This setup enables seamless in-camera visual effects (ICVFX), dramatically reducing post-production requirements. According to Toei, over half of the studio’s productions are expected to adopt ICVFX workflows.
Supporting the LED infrastructure is a robust technology stack, including Disguise media servers, Brompton Technology processors, Mo-sys tracking systems, and ARRI ALEXA 35 cameras. AOTO also provided end-to-end technical services such as precision engineering, real-time color management, and 24/7 remote diagnostics.
With multilingual collaboration capabilities and international-standard pipelines, the studio is positioned as a global hub for co-productions, accommodating everything from TV and film to hybrid live-streaming events.
According to a Toei representative, the new studio represents more than just a production facility—it marks a pivotal shift in Japan’s film production model. The company aims to empower creators with advanced tools that bridge the gap between imagination and execution.
AOTO’s virtual production solutions have previously been featured in major productions such as The Batman and Masters of the Air, and are trusted by global tech and media companies including Nvidia, Meta, Amazon AWS, Microsoft, and Tencent.
Toei’s new facility joins a select group of world-class VP studios reshaping modern filmmaking. Here are five other major LED virtual production stages leading the way globally:
Developed by Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic, the ILM StageCraft LED volume — often referred to simply as “The Volume” — became famous for its use in The Mandalorian. The stage consists of a massive semicircular LED wall and ceiling integrated with Unreal Engine, enabling lifelike environments in real time.
Pixomondo’s LED volume in Toronto includes a 270° curved LED wall and ceiling, designed specifically for high-end television and cinematic productions. The studio also hosts a full Unreal Engine rendering and camera tracking system.
Situated at the historic Studio Babelsberg, Dark Bay is one of Europe’s largest permanent LED stages. Built in partnership with Netflix, it includes a motorized ceiling and robotic camera systems to accommodate complex set movements.
Wētā FX, long respected for groundbreaking VFX in Avatar and The Lord of the Rings, now operates its own LED VP facility. The studio integrates real-time rendering into its long-established visual effects pipeline.
XON Studios is a key player in Asia’s VP scene, operated by CJ ENM. Known for its advanced LED systems and XR capabilities, XON is widely used for concerts, dramas, and metaverse-native content formats.
Kinglight XR Series1 & 1515RGBW LEDs for virtual production LED walls
As global entertainment becomes increasingly virtual and real-time, LED-based virtual production studios are emerging as a cornerstone of the creative pipeline. Japan’s new Toei VP Studio — powered by AOTO’s high-performance LED systems — exemplifies how regional markets are embracing this shift to compete on a global scale.
From Hollywood to Seoul, these VP studios are not just replacing green screens; they’re redefining what’s possible in visual storytelling.
