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Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri, the 40th anniversary event for the beloved franchise, had an exciting announcement in store for fans of the series, as it was announced during a stage panel at the event that Dragon Ball Super anime is set to return.
Masako Nozawa, the voice actor of Goku, and Akio Iyoku, the executive president of the Dragon Ball franchise, revealed during the stage panel of the event that a new anime adaptation titled Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is officially in production.
The anime will adapt the Galactic Patrol Prisoner arc from the Super manga and will act as a sequel to the previous installation of the Super anime, continuing the story from the Universal Survival arc.
In this arc, Goku and Vegeta join hands with the peacekeepers of the galaxy known as the Galactic Patrol. The narrative centers on the escape of Moro, a sorcerer who had been imprisoned for 10 million years.
A new key visual for the upcoming adaptation was also revealed alongside the announcement. It features Goku and Vegeta wearing the insignia of the Galactic Patrol.
Akira Toriyama has been credited with the original story and character design for the anime. Other details, including the release date and staff members are yet to be revealed.
Before announcing the new anime, a special 40th anniversary video for Dragon Ball, directed by Naoki Miyahara at Toei Animation and featuring music from Hans Zimmer, was streamed. The video showcased animated panels and art from Toriyama’s manga.
Dragon Ball Super anime has been on a hiatus for over eight years, having last aired an episode in March 2018. This lead many to believe that the rest of the manga’s storyline might never get adapted.
However, speculation regarding the return of the anime had increased following the release of Dragon Ball Daima in late 2024. That series introduced the Demon Realm and established mechanics regarding magic that were previously unexplored in the animated canon.
Fans were quick to point out that Moro, who is the antagonist of the upcoming arc, also utilizes magic to drain life energy from planets and opponents.
The Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri event served as the pinnacle event for the 40th anniversary celebrations of the franchise that has been going on for a while. Held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, the event gathered thousands of attendees for exhibitions covering the history of the series, from its 1984 debut in Weekly Shonen Jump to the modern era.
