Just recently, news broke about a colossal theme park inspired by the wildly popular Japanese animated series, Dragon Ball. And when I say colossal, I mean mind-blowing.
Naturally, this announcement has stirred up a mix of reactions. Fans of the Dragon Ball series are practically bursting with excitement. But, on the flip side, there are voices expressing disapproval, particularly aimed at Saudi Arabia's stance on LGBTQ rights, or rather, the lack thereof.
From BBC:
It will feature a 70m (229.6ft) dragon at its centre and at least 30 rides, the firm behind the project says.
The park would be the world's first such attraction based on the popular media franchise.
The announcement was met with some criticism from fans, citing Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
The park will cover more than half a million square metres, according to Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government's investment fund.
The plans are part of "a long-term strategic partnership" between the QIC and Toei Animation, the Japanese producer of Dragon Ball.
According to the official Dragon Ball website, the park will include a roller coaster inside the dragon modelled after Shenron, a wish-giving dragon that features in the franchise.
Qiddiya is a major entertainment and tourism project being built near Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh.
It is part of the energy-rich nation's plans to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels.
While some Dragon Ball fans have welcomed the plans for the theme park, others on social media have questioned the decision to locate the attraction in Saudi Arabia.
