Overview
- Anticipation for Dragon Ball Super Season 2 is palpable, yet recent communications from Toei Animation have raised concerns about the series’ future.
- A dispute over franchise rights between Shueisha and Akio Iyoku introduces uncertainty regarding the continuation of DBS.
- Toei Animation is currently unable to develop new Super content until this legal matter is resolved.
Table of Contents
Fans of Dragon Ball Super (DBS) have been eagerly awaiting any official news on the anime’s return for Season 2. With seven years since the last episode aired, the excitement is combined with growing concern. Toei Animation has released celebrated films like “Dragon Ball Super: Broly”and “Super Hero”to maintain fan engagement, but the community is increasingly longing for the anime’s continuation.
The successful run of “Dragon Ball Daima”reignited hopes among fans that DBS could eventually return. However, a recent announcement from Toei Animation has sparked uncertainty regarding the anime’s future.
Toei Marks the Seven-Year Anniversary of Dragon Ball Super’s Final Episode
Reflecting on the Series’ “Final Episode”
The final episode of Dragon Ball Super aired on March 25, 2018, marking a significant milestone in anime history. To commemorate this, Toei Animation took to social media to celebrate the anniversary, which, while nostalgic, has left many fans apprehensive regarding the future of the franchise.
In particular, the phrasing in Toei’s social media post, which referred to the “last episode of Dragon Ball Super,” raised eyebrows. Many interpreted this statement as an alarming sign that the series may not be returning. The lack of qualifiers, such as “Season 1,” led to speculation that Toei might be indicating a permanent goodbye to the series.
"last episode" https://t.co/faKSXVIZkk — SUPER \u30af\u30ed\u30cb\u30af\u30eb\u30b9 (@SupaChronicles) March 26, 2025
Despite this uncertainty, Toei Animation remains committed to expanding the Dragon Ball universe through original content like “Daima”and potentially more standalone films. However, the timeline for when—if ever—new story arcs from Dragon Ball Super will be animated remains uncertain.
The Uncertain Future of the Dragon Ball Super Anime
Resolution of Franchise Rights Disputes is Essential for Progress
Fans are understandably eager to see Dragon Ball Super make its much-anticipated return, alongside all the original content pertinent to the manga’s canon, including “Daima.”Nonetheless, the ongoing conflict between Shueisha and Akio Iyoku regarding rights to the Dragon Ball franchise introduces considerable uncertainty. Until this dispute is resolved, the future of Dragon Ball Super remains precarious.
For context, Akio Iyoku, who previously served as the editor-in-chief at Shueisha and was close to series creator Akira Toriyama, established his own venture, Capsule Corporation Tokyo, after leaving Shueisha amid disputes in 2023. Iyoku’s efforts to oversee Dragon Ball projects have clashed with Shueisha’s claims to ownership of the IP, complicating the situation further, especially following Toriyama’s passing.
While Toei Animation holds the rights to the animation of Dragon Ball, they cannot proceed with adaptations of Super until they receive explicit approval from Shueisha. The future paths available to Toei involve either focusing solely on original stories related to Dragon Ball or acquiring the necessary clearance to animate the upcoming arcs of Dragon Ball Super—both of which hinge on the resolution of this legal saga.