Toonami, Turner’s kids brand dedicated to delivering the best superhero and action-adventure animation in South and Southeast Asia, has snapped up the latest instalment of the Dragon Ball franchise from Toei Animation.
Dragon Ball Super (52×30’) is the first all-new Dragon Ball television series to be produced in nearly 20 years, and will make its pan-regional launch on Toonami in mid-2016. It will be an exclusive first-run premiere on Toonami in Southeast Asia and India, which will also be its English-language world premiere.
“This announcement is huge for fanboys and girls in Asia. Dragon Ball is undoubtedly the original and world’s biggest anime export, and is a cornerstone of our programming on Toonami,” said Mark Eyers, chief content officer for Turner’s Kids Networks in Asia Pacific. “Since the channel launched in 2012, Toonami has been airing episodes of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z Kai, and to premiere Dragon Ball Super demonstrates the channel’s continued commitment to securing must-have and must-see content, first on Toonami.”
Reuniting the franchise’s iconic characters, Dragon Ball Super follows the aftermath of Goku’s fierce battle with Majin Buu, as he attempts to maintain earth’s fragile peace. Overseen by Dragon Ball’s original creator, Akira Toriyama and produced with Fuji Television, Dragon Ball Super will draw on its historic past to create a bold, new universe welcoming to fans and endearing to new viewers.
Introduced as a manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984, Dragon Ball has evolved into a globally beloved brand. Seen around the world, with over 230 million copies of its comic books sold, Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime franchises of all time.
Currently, the season has seen 18 episodes sail past, where Dragon Ball fans have seen the epic war between Goku and Lord Beerus, God of Destruction, thanks to Goku for powering up to Super Saiyan God, he was able to save Earth.
At present, following Vegeta training under Whis for six months, Goku also wants to train under the master. Episode 18 was all about how Goku too manages to get a spot to train under him.
Meanwhile, there is no news on a possible English language version of Dragon Ball Super for the western markets.
