This Thursday marks the anniversary of ... Four decades since Dragon Ball made the leap to Japanese televisionThis anniversary comes at a key moment for the franchise: after a long hiatus marked by the death of Akira Toriyama in 2024, the saga is once again setting its machinery in motion with new series and a top-tier video game.
The anniversary of the first animated episode is not just about nostalgia. The 40th anniversary has become the starting point of a new phase in which Toei Animation, Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo seem to have channeled their differences to continue exploiting a universe that has accompanied millions of viewers, also in Spain and other European countries, since the late eighties.
A long-awaited return after the death of Akira Toriyama
Dragon Ball commemorates these 40 years since its first animated broadcast with renewed perspectives for the futureFor almost two years after Toriyama's death from a brain hemorrhage in 2024, the franchise's fate remained uncertain, and there was open talk of a hiatus undefined.
This pause is largely explained by the dispute over economic and creative rights of the work. At the center of the pulse were Capsule Corporation Tokyo - the company founded to manage the author's legacy - the production company Toei Animation and the publisher Shueisha, responsible for the magazines where the original manga were published.
Tensions prevented any major announcements, but a month before the anniversary, what many fans had been waiting for was confirmed: Dragon Ball was far from overThe companies involved appear to have reached a sufficient understanding to resume projects and ensure that the brand remains profitable and relevant among young people.
This approach not only ensures more content, but also reinforces the idea that The universe created by Toriyama will be managed long-term as a major cultural and commercial asset, with close supervision of the author's environment and continuity through trusted collaborators such as Toyotaro.
New Super series: Beerus and the Galactic Patrol
Among the most talked-about announcements is one updated version of Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, the arch that once inaugurated the era of SuperThis new iteration promises visual and pacing improvements, with a more polished treatment of the encounter between Goku and the God of Destruction, designed both for those who saw it back then and for new generations now approaching the franchise.
Along with this review, a New animated season after eight years without new episodes of the main series. It is Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, anime adaptation of the Moro arc, one of the most talked-about sagas in recent manga.
In this arch, Toriyama gave more creative freedom to his disciple Toyotarowho has assumed an increasingly important role as the artistic heir to the series. The story pits Goku and Vegeta against Moro, a villain who absorbs energy and threatens entire planets, and places them in close collaboration with the Galactic Patrol, thus broadening the scope beyond Earth.
In Spain and other European countries, where Dragon Ball Super has had a steady following on television and streaming platforms.This new batch of episodes is eagerly anticipated. The adaptation of Moro's novel has been a hot topic among fans for years, and while specific international broadcast dates are still pending, it's widely assumed that the networks and services that have aired it will be available. Super They will make a move to secure their rights.
The combination of a review of the beginnings of Super And the arrival of the Galactic Patrol outlines a clear strategy: Reposition the series for today's audience without losing veteran fans, reinforcing the continuity of the narrative and updating the technical aspects.
Dragon Ball: Age 1000, the new game that aims for Xenoverse
The other big anniversary announcement is the Dragon Ball video game: Age 1000The project, in development for about five years, comes with a powerful calling card: it will include a character conceived by Akira Toriyama himself before his death, which reinforces the title's connection to the original legacy.
Official details are still limited, but various leaks suggest that Age 1000 would act as the next installment in the Xenoverse sagaTo the point that many are already calling it a disguised Xenoverse 3. A system focused on creating custom avatars, time travel, and revisiting key moments from the series is expected.
The game was born in a context in which Europe, and Spain in particular, have established themselves as very strong markets for Dragon Ball titles.. Recent releases They have performed remarkably well on consoles and PC, and collector's editions and associated merchandise tend to sell out quickly.
The fact that Toriyama was able to leave his mark on the cast of characters adds an emotional component that the community greatly appreciates. For many gamers, this will be one of the last projects with direct involvement from the creator., which makes Age 1000 more than just a game tied to an anniversary.
The expectation is that, once dates and platforms are finalized, The promotional campaigns rely both on the nostalgic pull of veterans and on the drive of the young audience who know the saga through Super or by recent video games.
Genkidama Festival and a global celebration
All these announcements focused on the Genki Dama FestivalA massive event was held in the Tokyo region (in the city of Chiba, east of the capital), organized specifically to commemorate the anime's 40th anniversary. New projects were presented to thousands of attendees, and an overview of the franchise's immediate future was offered.
The atmosphere, according to the media present, was that of a large intergenerational gatheringFamilies with young children, fans who discovered the series in the nineties, and fans who have become hooked on it Super They shared space between exhibitions, specialized shops and panels dedicated to the creative process.
The celebration has not been limited to Japan. It has also taken place in several territories across Europe. commemorative coin mintings in Japan, which are added to the lines of figures, clothing and collectible products that have always accompanied the series.
Although not all initiatives have been detailed exhaustively, it is known that Parallel projects involving merchandising, exhibitions, and collaborations continue., including the minting of commemorative coins in Japan, which add to the lines of figures, clothing and collectible products that have always accompanied the series.
All this development reinforces the idea that, despite the blow that the loss of Toriyama represented, The companies responsible for Dragon Ball want to keep the franchise at the forefront., preserving the legacy and, at the same time, exploiting its enormous commercial potential.
Impact in Spain and Europe: from Dragon Ball to current platforms
In the European sphere, and especially in Spain, the anniversary has its own nuance. In Catalonia, Bola de drac was one of the most important television phenomena of the ninetiesTV3 began broadcasting the series on February 15, 1990, and although initially only 26 episodes had been acquired, the audience success forced a rapid expansion of the rights.
That landing left its mark on an entire generation. The Catalan version of the series became a cultural iconWith a dubbing and opening theme that many viewers still remember, the impact was such that, decades later, it's still common to find references to Dragon Ball in local programs, comics, and geek events in the region.
Currently, the 3Cat platform continues to stream various stages of the franchise: Drac Ball, Drac Ball Z and Drac Ball SuperThis brings the total to approximately 575 available episodes. The documentary is also included. Light, fire, destruction, focused on analyzing how the series influenced Catalan childhood and popular culture. You can check where follow the series on different platforms.
In the rest of Spain, Dragon Ball has also enjoyed a near-constant presence on generalist and thematic channelsAnd in recent years, it has become established on on-demand platforms with various dubbed and subtitled versions. The fan community, very active on social media, closely follows any news related to dubbing, manga reissues, and film releases.
This deep-rooted connection explains that The news about the new season of Super and the announcement of the Age 1000 video game have had a wide media impact in Spanish and European media, which have covered the 40th anniversary not only as a milestone in Japanese anime, but as part of the collective memory of several generations.
A cultural legacy supported by official recognition
Beyond the immediate news, the 40th anniversary is also serving to to highlight the importance of Dragon Ball in Japanese and global pop cultureToriyama's influence can be seen in the work of numerous manga and anime authors, as well as in series that have followed in his footsteps in terms of rhythm, humor, and battle structure.
The Japanese industry itself has acknowledged this influence. In October 2025, the veteran voice actress Masako Nozawa, voice of Son Goku, Son Gohan and Son Goten in the original version, was named Person of Cultural Merit by the Government of JapanShe thus became the first voice actress to receive this title, which even includes a lifetime pension.
Nozawa, who is nearing 90, has voiced Goku since 1986 and has also participated in other productions such as Doraemon, GeGeGe no Kitaro, Calimero, Maya the bee u one pieceShe herself has explained on several occasions that she accepted the responsibility of continuing to play the character at the direct request of the author: “Please take care of Goku.”Toriyama would have told him.
That personal bond between creator and performer has become one of the symbols of the respect with which a large part of the original team looks at the work even decades later. The official recognition of Nozawa is also interpreted as an indirect tribute to Toriyama and his contribution to anime..
In Europe, although these types of decorations are not so common, The series is already being studied as a long-standing cultural phenomenon., both in academic fields (works on manga and globalization, history of anime, translation studies) and in specialized events that review its role in the expansion of Japanese comics and animation in the West.
From Journey to the West to the Saiyans: Why History Still Works
The original Dragon Ball anime, broadcast in Japan between 1986 and 1989, adapted the first stage of the manga and It followed the adventures of a boy with a monkey tail, Son Goku, who transforms into a great ape when he looks at the full moon and travels the world in search of seven magic balls capable of granting any wish.
The work is loosely inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the westBut Toriyama allowed himself to invent his own universe full of humor, action and eccentric charactersOver time, that world expanded into space and gave rise to concepts that are now part of the collective imagination, such as the Saiyan warrior race.
The Saiyans, with Goku and Vegeta at the helm, represent a constant search for self-improvement and strengthoften linked to the protection of Earth despite their extraterrestrial origins. That mix of spectacular battles, power struggles, friendship, and sacrifice has been replicated and reinterpreted in dozens of subsequent series.
Much of Dragon Ball's enduring appeal lies in the ability to combine very simple story arcs with an increasingly extensive mythologyEven those who join the franchise late can get hooked on specific seasons or movies without knowing all the previous details, which facilitates its constant renewal of audience.
Four decades after its television debut, the story of that boy who trained with a turtle and traveled on a cloud continues to resonate because, despite transformations and new phases, It maintains intact the core of adventure, camaraderie and desire to always go one step furthervalues that continue to resonate with very different audiences in Japan, Spain, Europe and the rest of the world.
With the anniversary as a turning point, the franchise enters a new stage in which Respect for Toriyama's legacy, continuity ensured through collaborators like Toyotaro, and a clear commitment to new audiovisual products and video games coexist.A delicate but essential balance for Dragon Ball to continue growing without losing the essence that made it a global benchmark.
