After almost a decade without new episodes on television, Dragon Ball Super finally has a return date to the animeToei Animation has launched two projects that will mark a new stage for the franchise in the midst of its 40th anniversary celebration, just when many fans had given up on the return of a regular series beyond movies and specials.
This move also comes at a delicate time: It is the first major animated offensive since the death of Akira ToriyamaBetween the creative void, rights disputes, and the manga hiatus, the future of Goku and company seemed more uncertain than ever. Now, the announcement of a new sequel anime and a remake of the beginning of Dragon Ball Super has set the wheels in motion once again.
A historic announcement at the Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri
The return was made official during the Dragon Ball GenkidamatsuriAn event held in Japan as the culmination of the saga's 40th anniversary celebrations. There, before an enthusiastic audience, Toei Animation confirmed that Dragon Ball Super will return to television with two different series that will coexist in the coming years.
The main stage featured Masako Nozawa, legendary Japanese voice of Son Goku with more than six decades of career, and Akio Iyoku, executive producer of the franchise. Both presented the first teaser for the new project, accompanied by a Special video with music composed by Hans Zimmer, composer of such renowned soundtracks as The Dark Knight or Dune.
The atmosphere of the event was that of a true celebration: after an eight-year wait since the end of the Tournament of Power saga in 2018The public finally received clear confirmation that the story of Dragon Ball Super will continue to advance in television format.
This announcement also served to clear up months of speculation and leaks on social media, which had fueled all sorts of rumors about release dates, titles, and possible plots. With the official statement from Toei and the support of the official Dragon Ball website and accounts, It became clear that the animated sequel is indeed in production..
Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, the sequel after the Tournament of Power
The first major project announced is Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic PatrolA new series that will continue exactly where the original anime left off, that is, after the Universe Survival Arc and the Tournament of Power broadcast between 2015 and 2018.
This production will adapt the well-known Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc from the Dragon Ball Super manga. In this stage, Goku and Vegeta team up with Jaco and the Galactic PatrolThose responsible for maintaining peace in the galaxy, to face a threat that puts numerous worlds in check.
The series will cover the material between Chapters 42 and 67 of the manga, published in V Jump magazine between 2018 and 2020. It is the section that European and Spanish fans have been asking to see animated for years and that until now could only be enjoyed on paper.
Toei has confirmed that Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is already in productionAlthough there is no official release date. The most widespread estimates, based on the industry's usual timelines and the schedule for the second project, point to a possible release towards the end of 2027, but for now these are only unofficial projections.
Moro, the Planet Eater, takes over as the great villain
The main antagonist of this new arc will be Moro, the so-called “Planet Eater”This is not your typical muscular enemy, but a ancient sorcerer who has remained imprisoned for around 10 million years.
His most feared power is the ability to absorb the life energy of entire worldsleaving the planets as empty shells. This ability allows it to regain its strength and return to a state of maximum threat to the entire universe.
Moro is not only known for his brute strength: She masters sorcery to manipulate energy, track targets on a cosmic scale, and communicate telepathically.Furthermore, he develops the ability to locate the Dragon Balls, a detail that further complicates the situation for the heroes.
In its most advanced forms it even reaches merge with a planet, using geography itself as a weapon and forcing Goku, Vegeta and the rest of the allies to face a type of battle completely different from what has been seen so far in the series.
This arc also introduces key characters such as merus, an elite member of the Galactic Patrol in charge of more than a hundred star districts, who will play a very important role in Goku's evolution.
The role of Toyotaro and the legacy of Akira Toriyama
The Prisoner Arc of the Galactic Patrol has one important peculiarity: It was developed primarily by Toyotaro, artist and storyteller who has been working for years as a direct disciple of Akira Toriyama on the Dragon Ball Super manga.
The story of Moro and the Galactic Patrol was always developed under the supervision and approval of Toriyamabut with a greater creative weight from Toyotaro, something that has become even more relevant after the death of the original creator in 2024.
Since Toriyama's death, the manga of Dragon Ball Super has remained on indefinite hiatuswith the sole exception of a special chapter focused on Goten and Trunks published in early 2025. The main plot was put on hold at its climax, following the surprising appearance of black frieza, a new form of the classic villain who effortlessly defeated Goku and Vegeta after a long training in another dimension.
On several occasions, Toyotaro has stated his intention to continue the work without his masterHowever, the publisher's prolonged silence has generated uncertainty among readers. The announcement of more anime is seen as a step forward, although the manga's future remains publicly undefined.
For the European and Spanish community, which closely follows both anime and manga editions, This post-Toriyama era is experienced with a mixture of excitement and caution.On the one hand, there is a desire to see how his legacy is honored; on the other, doubt persists about the direction the story will take in the long term.
Indicative dates and possible platforms for Spain and Europe
Regarding the schedule, Toei Animation has only confirmed that Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is currently in productionwithout a specific release date. Even so, various industry sources suggest late 2027 as the most plausible window, taking into account the magnitude of the project and its coexistence with the Beerus remake.
Regarding international distribution, there are still no official announcements, but all eyes are on CrunchyrollThe platform is already broadcasting in Spain and much of Europe so much Dragon Ball Super Like other series and films in the franchise, it is therefore a natural candidate to acquire the broadcast rights in simulcast or a few days after the Japanese premiere.
In the United States, it is likely that Hulu continues to play a relevant role, while in European countries with a strong anime presence (France, Italy, Germany or the United Kingdom), negotiations with local platforms and television stations They will be key in defining whether The Galactic Patrol arrives dubbed, in the original version with subtitles, or in both formats from the start.
In any case, the current market trend indicates that The new episodes should be legally available for streaming in Spain. quite quickly compared to its broadcast in Japan, especially after the precedent of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and other recent productions.
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a remake of the origin with renewed animation
The second confirmed project is Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a reinterpretation of the first arc of the television series, which in turn adapted the film the battle of the godsThis new anime will premiere in autumn 2026 in Japan, through Fuji TV, and will consist of six episodes.
The idea is not to repeat exactly what has already been seen, but Rebuild from scratch the arrival of Beerus, God of Destruction, with current animation standardsThe beginning of Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) was heavily criticized at the time for the inconsistent quality of its animation and fights, and this remake seeks to correct precisely those weaknesses.
This new version will tell again how Beerus awakens after decades of sleep obsessed with finding the "Super Saiyan God" and ends up appearing on Earth on Bulma's birthday, forcing Goku to achieve that legendary transformation for the first time.
Toei has promised State-of-the-art animation, complete re-rendering of scenes, new dubbing and revised soundtrackFurthermore, there is talk of a rewrite more faithful to Toriyama's original vision, enhancing Beerus as a truly imposing and fearsome figure, something that could better connect with the audience that first encountered the character in the movies.
For Spanish and European viewers who were disappointed with some early episodes of Super, This remake is presented as an opportunity to reconcile with the beginning of the series. and, at the same time, introduce new generations to the franchise with a much more solid technical finish.
How do both projects fit into the Dragon Ball Super timeline?
Toei's strategy involves alternate a revision project (Beerus) with another of real advancement in the timeline (The Galactic Patrol)On one hand, the beginning of the story is updated with a better-crafted version; on the other, the narrative is expanded beyond the Tournament of Power with Moro's arc.
In narrative terms, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is set at the beginning of the Super timelineThis again adapted the introduction of Beerus and Whis and the awakening of Super Saiyan God. Then came the Frieza arc, the Champa Tournament, Goku Black, the Tournament of Power, and finally, the events of The Galactic Patrol.
The release schedule allows for some flexibility: with Beerus expected in autumn 2026 With the sequel to Galactic Patrol aiming for 2027 at the earliest, the studio has enough time to polish the animation and avoid the rush that hampered the start of the original series.
Meanwhile, in the printed material, there would still be the following to be adapted into anime: Granolah Arch and the High School Arc, which focuses on the adventures of Goten and Trunks and is connected to the movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Beyond that, the path is complicated by the absence of new canonical chapters after the Black Frieza cliffhanger.
That's why many fans are wondering how far the anime can go if the manga doesn't resume its serialization. For now, the scope of stories to adapt is wide.But in the medium term, it will be inevitable to make decisions about the future of the saga without Toriyama's direct input on the script.
The state of the manga and the future of the franchise without Toriyama
The death of Akira Toriyama The year 2024 marked a turning point for both manga and anime. Beyond the emotional impact, the event triggered a complex battle between Capsule Corporation Tokyo, Toei Animation and Shueisha for the rights and creative control from the Dragon Ball universe.
This back-and-forth was reportedly one of the reasons for the prolonged hiatus in announcing a new Dragon Ball Super anime. It wasn't until now, with agreements seemingly on track, that More animated productions have been given the green lightThis is something many fans consider excellent news despite the uncertainty that still surrounds the manga.
In Spain and other European countries, where The printed editions of Dragon Ball Super have a very loyal readership.The comic's hiatus has left a feeling of an unfinished story. The anime's return partially alleviates that feeling, but it doesn't completely replace the anticipation of new storylines in print.
The big question is whether Shueisha will at some point announce the return of the manga with Toyotaro at the helm in a more autonomous way, or whether they will opt for a different formula that combines unpublished material with previous ideas and sketches by Toriyama. At the moment, none of these options have been confirmed.And the new push for anime could serve as a barometer to measure how far the franchise can continue to expand without its creator.
In any case, both the Beerus remake and the Galactic Patrol sequel They seem to be conceived as a way of paying homage to Toriyama's legacy. while they look for ways to keep alive one of the most influential brands in the world of anime.
With all this in mind, Dragon Ball Super enters a key phase: Two new series in development, a highly anticipated Moro arc heading to television, and a remake poised to correct the past.It remains to be seen how distribution will be organized in Spain and Europe and what will happen with the manga, but what is already certain is that, after years of silence, Goku, Vegeta and the rest of the cast will once again occupy a permanent place on television schedules and in the conversations of fans.
