Is Dragon Ball Super over? Possibility explored

Is Dragon Ball Super over? Fans have wondered since the anime stopped airing new episodes in March 2018. The Dragon Ball Super anime came to an end after the conclusion of the Tournament of Power arc. But not for the manga.

Dragon Ball has a long history of returning after breaks. From Dragon Ball Z to Dragon Ball GT and now Super, the series has always figured out a way to return after breaks. The Dragon Ball Super anime is currently not airing any new episodes because it ended. But that doesn’t mean the series has concluded. The manga is not yet finished and is much further along than the anime has reached.

The manga went on an indefinite hiatus after Toriyama’s death. Chapter 103 featured a bittersweet illustration of Piccolo giving a goodbye wave as he flew away with Goku and Gohan. Even though the wave was at Pan’s teacher, it hit a little differently because of Toriyama’s passing.

For nearly a year, there were no reports, no official updates, and no word of what would happen next. Fans were left with only questions. What happens with Black Frieza, the future of Goten and Trunks, and the series as a whole?

Adding to the uncertainty were reports of behind-the-scenes issues. In 2023, a dispute occurred over who would own the rights to Dragon Ball. There was discussion about what would become of the franchise in meetings, but the sudden death of Toriyama further compounded matters. The series did not end because it wasn’t popular, but because the team didn’t have a path forward without the original creator.

Regardless, we still had some Dragon Ball in 2024. The anime Dragon Ball Daima launched as a nostalgic side story that filled in part of the franchise’s timeline. It helped fill the gap, but it wasn’t a direct continuation of Super. The main story, especially the manga, stayed paused.

Then, in a surprise reveal during Jump Festa 2025, it was confirmed that Dragon Ball Super would return. A special one-shot chapter was scheduled for release on February 20, 2025. This was the first new manga content since the hiatus and the first without Toriyama overseeing the work. The announcement came with a new illustration of Black Frieza from Toyotarou, giving fans a spark of hope.

This new one-shot won’t continue the last chapter’s story but will instead revisit the Super Hero arc. In the manga, that arc gave Goten and Trunks bigger roles, with Trunks dubbing them as Saiyaman X-1 and X-2. It is a prologue to the High School Saga. It’s a nice story, but it also marks the start of a new era. A time when Dragon Ball carries on without the hand of Toriyama.

It’s a sad day for all of us, but Toyotarou is doing his best to keep his mentor’s creations alive.

In April 2025, Toyotarou said, “After waiting for a year, we were finally able to release 24 volumes, so we put a lot of enthusiasm into several volumes. In addition to the contents, I spent more time than usual on the cover and a little extra corner, so I think it's a bargain.”

This shows just how much effort and heart still go into the series.

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Sagas in the Dragon Ball Super Manga and Anime

The anime ended in episode 131, titled A Miraculous Conclusion! Farewell, Goku! Until We Meet Again! This episode was animated from chapter 42 of the manga. It marks the end of the Universe Survival Saga, where the Universe's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament happened. Then there was the Broly Saga, animated as a film called Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

What’s more, the debut of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly film in 2018 further confirmed that the series still had more. That movie continued the anime story and canonized a major character. In 2022, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero came out and focused on Gohan and Piccolo. These films were not just side stories. These arcs were official and showed the story was moving ahead.

The Dragon Ball Super manga continued Goku and Vegeta’s story with new arcs like the Galactic Patrol, Granolah, and Super Hero sagas. These stories introduce new characters and stronger enemies. They also show how Goku and Vegeta are growing in new ways, training with gods and using new forms. Even though the anime has not caught up, Dragon Ball is still very active in print.

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Conclusion

So, is Dragon Ball Super over? Not yet. The anime’s future is unclear, but the new one-shot proves Dragon Ball is still alive and loved. For fans who have waited patiently, the journey isn’t finished. It’s just entering a new chapter, one that must now carry on Toriyama’s legacy with great care.

Whatever comes next, Dragon Ball is far from over.