Since Dragon Ball Super's conclusion in March 2018, fans have spent nearly eight years speculating, theorizing, and searching for any hint or clue that would suggest the series might be returning. Now, following the franchise's 40th anniversary special event in Tokyo, the speculation can end, as Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is officially set for production.
Prior to its release, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, a soft remake similar to the franchise's Kai entries, is set to air in 2026. Fans have taken to social media in waves to celebrate the occasion, though with Dragon Ball Super's return also comes a major change from the 2015 series, and one that few realize will save the anime.
Dragon Ball's New Seasonal Release Schedule Will Save the Anime from Past Mistakes
Though release dates have yet to be confirmed, Dragon Ball's new release structure suggests the series will be tackled arc by arc in seasonal increments. Fans can expect the Resurrection 'F' saga following Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, and so on until the airing of The Galactic Patrol.
A seasonal release structure is new for Dragon Ball, as each of its four main anime series aired weekly with irregular breaks, a schedule that has become increasingly rare in recent years. One of the most popular shows to air weekly, One Piece, has also recently made the switch to seasonal production.
While it worked well during the production of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, the same cannot be said of Dragon Ball Super. Tight schedules and a lack of personnel plagued the series throughout much of its airing, leading to infamously poor visual quality and pacing issues that took far too long to resolve.
It can be argued that the weekly release schedule is the main reason the upcoming Dragon Ball Super reboot exists, which will take the time to fix poor visuals, pacing issues, and plot inconsistencies. While production may take a bit longer than it once did, fans won't have to wait until the Tournament of Power for the series to become visually appealing.
Dragon Ball Super's Return May Be the Best the Series Has Ever Looked
The Shift to Seasonal Will Allow for Smoother Production on Dragon Ball
The original manga's Galactic Patrol arc features some of Dragon Ball Super's best action, with the terrifying new villain Moro going toe-to-toe with a Goku attempting to reach the pinnacle of Ultra Instinct. Fortunately, thanks to a new seasonal release schedule, it's likely that the corresponding anime will feature top-tier production from a staff given the time and resources to perfect it.
Dragon Ball Super's TV return is just around the corner, and with it comes a change in release schedule that will save the franchise from its past mistakes.
