The Future of DragonBall Super: What’s Holding It Back?
Behind the scenes of the franchise’s long-awaited return and the rights battle delaying it.
Why Hasn’t DragonBall Super Returned Yet?
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of Dragon Ball Super ever since the anime ended in 2018 with the conclusion of the Tournament of Power saga. While the Dragon Ball Super manga has continued under Toyotarō’s guidance, the anime remains in limbo. Despite the franchise’s undeniable success, a series of behind-the-scenes disputes have put the future of Dragon Ball Super on hold, raising questions about when – or even if – the anime will return.
The Power Struggle Behind Dragon Ball Super’s Delay
The key issue holding up the anime’s return appears to be a rights dispute between Shueisha and Akio Iyoku, a longtime Dragon Ball producer and former head of the franchise’s “Dragon Ball Room.” Iyoku, once one of Toriyama’s closest collaborators, left Shueisha in 2023 to form Capsule Corporation Tokyo, a new company aimed at managing Dragon Ball’s animation and gaming projects. However, Shueisha retained the rights to the Dragon Ball Super manga, creating a split between who controls the different aspects of the franchise.
This division of rights has led to a legal and production deadlock—Shueisha controls the manga, but Capsule Corporation Tokyo has the authority to produce new anime content. Without an agreement between both parties, adapting the manga’s story arcs into anime has been complicated, if not impossible.
Akio Iyoku’s Exit and Its Impact
Akio Iyoku was a major figure behind Dragon Ball’s modern resurgence, overseeing projects like Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. His departure from Shueisha in 2023 came after reported tensions between him and company executives, who had reassigned him away from Dragon Ball. Feeling sidelined, Iyoku left Shueisha and established Capsule Corporation Tokyo, which now holds the rights to Dragon Ball’s anime and video game production.
However, because Shueisha retains the manga rights, a conflict has arisen—Capsule Corporation Tokyo cannot legally animate the Dragon Ball Super manga arcs without an agreement with Shueisha. This appears to be a major roadblock preventing the anime’s return, as neither side has fully agreed on how to move forward.
The Legal Limbo: Who Owns Dragon Ball?
This internal struggle has been described as a “custody battle” over the Dragon Ball franchise. Shueisha has reportedly resisted giving Iyoku’s company full control over the franchise’s future, while Capsule Corporation Tokyo is pushing forward with its own vision for new Dragon Ball projects. The result is a standoff between two major stakeholders, each with a significant claim to Dragon Ball’s legacy but unable to fully proceed with new anime content without the other’s cooperation.
Complicating matters further is Toriyama’s passing in March 2024, which left a void in creative leadership. Reports suggest that Toriyama was unhappy with Iyoku’s removal from Shueisha, leading to speculation that he may have preferred Iyoku to take the lead on the franchise’s future. However, Shueisha has made no public statements on this matter, and negotiations over Dragon Ball’s rights are still ongoing.
Why Other Dragon Ball Projects Are Moving Forward
While Dragon Ball Super’s anime continuation remains on hold, other Dragon Ball projects have continued under Capsule Corporation Tokyo’s management. The most notable example is Dragon Ball Daima, a separate original anime project that was produced independently of the Super manga storyline. Likewise, new video games like Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO have proceeded without issues, as gaming rights fall under Capsule Corporation Tokyo’s domain.
However, because Dragon Ball Daima and recent films have focused on original stories, they do not require adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super manga. The problem arises when trying to adapt the Moro, Granolah, or newer manga arcs into anime, since Capsule Corporation Tokyo would need permission from Shueisha to do so.
What This Means for Dragon Ball Super’s Future
Until a resolution is reached between Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, the future of Dragon Ball Super’s anime remains uncertain. Industry sources suggest that either:
Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo reach a licensing agreement, allowing the Super manga arcs to be adapted into anime.
A new anime project is created that bypasses the Super manga entirely, focusing instead on original content that does not require Shueisha’s approval.
The franchise remains in a standstill, delaying Super’s continuation indefinitely until the legal dispute is settled.
When Will We Get an Official Announcement?
Fans hoping for a Dragon Ball Super anime announcement may have to wait until a major industry event, such as Jump Festa or another Toei Animation panel. However, until the rights situation is sorted out, Toei and other production partners may be reluctant to move forward with a new season, as they need a clear legal framework for using the Super manga’s storylines.
While Dragon Ball Super remains one of the most anticipated anime returns, business conflicts behind the scenes have slowed its progress. For now, fans will have to remain patient as negotiations continue.
Final Thoughts: The Wait Continues
At this point, it’s clear that Dragon Ball Super’s return isn’t being delayed due to lack of interest or demand—it’s caught in a web of corporate and legal complexities. Both Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo have their stakes in the franchise, and until a deal is made, the Super anime remains in limbo.
However, one thing is certain: Dragon Ball is too big of a franchise to be left on the shelf for long. Whether through a Super continuation, a new anime project, or another major announcement, the future of Dragon Ball will be revealed in due time.
For now, all we can do is wait and hope that the behind-the-scenes conflicts are resolved sooner rather than later. Dragon Ball fans have waited this long—what’s a little longer?
I think we're going to get original new content as opposed to a new dragon Ball super anime because I think the executives at Shueisha are too stuck in their old ways there are afraid to try new things unlike Akio Iyoku’s who's willing to do research and actually see what the fans like and what the fans want but at the end of the day I'm willing to wait for the dragon Ball super anime if we ever get one and I'll be happy with any new dragon Ball content we get
This now makes me wonder if Toyotaro is refusing to do the manga in full out of respect of Toriyama. That one shot release feels like they might be closer then we think.