Would GT Be Seen as Peak Dragon Ball If It Released After Super?

Revisiting Dragon Ball GT in a post-Super world — with better animation and a stronger rollout, would fans finally give it the love it deserves?

The “What If” That Won’t Leave My Mind

I think about this all the time. What if Dragon Ball GT came out today — after Dragon Ball Super, with Toei’s full production power behind it, proper marketing, and the momentum of a global fanbase ready to eat up anything “canon”? Would it finally be praised as “peak Dragon Ball”? Because here’s the thing — GT had a lot of flaws, no doubt. But it also had heart, originality, and ambition that I don’t think it ever got enough credit for.

This is personal for me, because I’ve always felt like GT got done dirty. And if you strip away the “Toriyama didn’t write it” bias and view it in today’s anime climate, I’m convinced GT would be viewed very differently.

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Dragon Ball GT’s Original Release: A Victim of Bad Timing

Let’s be honest: GT never stood a chance when it first dropped. It followed Z, which had just delivered back-to-back arcs with some of the most iconic storytelling and battles in shonen history. Expectations were unreal. Add to that the fact that Akira Toriyama wasn’t hands-on (beyond some early character designs), and fans immediately had their guard up.

It also didn’t help that GT aired in the late '90s, a time when animation quality couldn’t match today’s fluid sakuga sequences. Plus, the tonal shift from constant battle arcs to space exploration and Dragon Ball hunting just felt off to a lot of fans who were raised on Frieza, Cell, and Buu.

But what if it wasn’t released back then? What if GT had dropped after Dragon Ball Super, with its more accepting fanbase, HD animation, and a studio that knew how to hype a release? That’s where things get interesting.

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The Animation Glow-Up Would’ve Made All the Difference

Let’s not pretend looks don’t matter. They do. We’ve seen how a glow-up in visuals can change an entire arc’s reception. (Dragon Ball Super: Broly is a perfect example — that film was hyped to death, and it delivered, largely because of its crisp, fluid animation.)

Now imagine the Super 17 fight or the Shadow Dragons arc animated with today’s quality. Picture SSJ4 Goku transforming in Super Hero-level shading. Imagine Baby Vegeta’s forms fully powered up with modern effects and angles. The emotional weight of those scenes would hit so much harder. And in the social media age? Screenshots, trailers, and clips would’ve gone viral weekly.

GT’s fights weren’t bad — they were just held back by the limitations of their time. With modern animation and direction, I guarantee people would view those same scenes as “peak DB” content.

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Super Saiyan 4 Would’ve Been an Instant Classic

SSJ4 is already a fan-favorite form — even without being canon. Just think about that. A transformation that never officially appeared in Super has still remained relevant for decades. That alone proves how iconic the design is.

If GT had dropped post-Super, with SSJ4 introduced after Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego, fans would’ve been starving for something grounded and primal again. The red fur, the golden eyes, the callback to the Great Ape lineage — it would’ve been praised as the most “Saiyan” transformation ever made. And with better fight choreography and modern pacing? SSJ4 Goku and Vegeta would’ve owned the internet.

Instead, back in the '90s, people weren’t ready to appreciate the aesthetic departure from Super Saiyan 1-3. But today? In a world of hair color palette swaps, SSJ4 would be a cultural reset.

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GT Had Grown-Up Themes Super Rarely Touched

One of GT’s most underrated strengths is how mature it felt. We saw a world where the Dragon Balls — the very thing that always saved our heroes — were now the problem. That concept alone is genius. The Shadow Dragons were the consequences of the Z Fighters’ constant resets. Actions had weight. Goku wasn’t just some unbeatable god; he was forced to confront his legacy, his decisions, and even mortality.

Compare that to Super, where the Dragon Balls are just casual tools for side quests. GT made them scary again.

Also — can we talk about the ending? Goku walking off into the unknown with Shenron, quietly saying goodbye to everyone without fanfare… That was emotional. It felt like a true finale. If that dropped today, after years of Super’s non-stop arcs, fans would’ve been calling it the perfect sendoff for Goku.

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Marketing & Canon Bias Held GT Back

GT suffered from something I call franchise fatigue + fan confusion. Back in the day, there was no “multiverse” concept, no clear “canon.” So when GT aired, fans were like, “Wait… what is this?” The lack of clarity — combined with the absence of Toriyama’s involvement — made people automatically less invested.

But now? Dragon Ball has non-canon content all the time. Heroes, movies, manga arcs, games — it’s all part of a multiverse approach. If GT dropped today, it would’ve been embraced as its own timeline. We already do that with Future Trunks, DBS: Super Hero, even Daima. GT would’ve been accepted as an alternate story — and likely loved for it.

With a good marketing campaign, a few trailers teasing SSJ4 and the Shadow Dragons, and a clear “post-Z timeline” branding? People would’ve eaten it up.

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GT Walked So Super Could Fly

Here’s the part I think people forget: GT took risks. It didn’t just recycle the formula. It tried new things — some worked, some didn’t. But at least it tried. It turned Goku into a kid (again), but for a reason. It introduced enemies that weren’t world-ending right away. It tried to show consequences. Even its tone — slower, more reflective — was something different.

Super, for all its strengths, plays it safer. It leans into nostalgia. It rarely kills off characters. It lets Goku and Vegeta carry everything. GT gave us more Trunks, more Pan, more Uub, more Baby — it spread the love. That effort deserves respect, especially in a franchise known for playing favorites.

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Final Thoughts: GT Deserved Better — And Might Still Get It

So, would GT be seen as peak Dragon Ball if it dropped today, after Super, with a real budget and good marketing?

Honestly? I think yes.

Not only would it have benefited from modern production and a more forgiving fanbase, but it would’ve stood out as one of the boldest Dragon Ball projects ever made. Its themes, designs, and tone would’ve felt like a breath of fresh air in a franchise that, let’s be honest, sometimes plays it a little too safe.

I’m not saying GT is perfect. But it was ambitious. And in today’s anime world, where risk-taking is finally being rewarded again, I truly believe GT would’ve gotten the flowers it always deserved.

So here’s hoping that one day, we get a reimagined GT — same story, modern polish. Because when I rewatch it now, I don’t see a failed sequel. I see the blueprint for greatness. And if it dropped today? We’d all be calling it “peak.”

"Fight you? No… I want to kill you.", Gohan, Cell Saga.