Dragon Ball’s Next Anime Can Fix The Entire Franchise’s Timeline With One Move

Dragon Ball’s Next Anime Can Fix The Entire Franchise’s Timeline With One Move

by

Following a period of relative inactivity kicked off by the passing of series creator Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is officially back. The return of Dragon Ball Super, alongside other projects and video games, will kick off a new era for the franchise celebrating its 42nd anniversary this year. And before Goku’s journey continues against new and terrifying foes, fans will be treated to a remake of 2015’s franchise-revitalizing Dragon Ball Super anime series.

When Dragon Ball Super hit screens over a decade ago, a new official series timeline was established, disregarding the events of 1996’s Dragon Ball GT and instead venturing into godly power and colorful Super Saiyan transformations. In the years since the series’ debut, several story arcs and theatrical films have been placed at different points in that timeline, all fitting nicely with one another. However, that changed with the airing of 2024’s Dragon Ball Daima.

Daima, the last Dragon Ball project imagined up by Akira Toriyama, takes place after the Majin Buu Saga and before Beerus’ arrival, acting as a whimsical side-story in one of the unaccounted for pockets of the timeline. Unfortunately, some aspects of Daima created continuity issues with what’s supposed to come after, a canonical clashing that has dominated discourse around the series since its airing. Though with Dragon Ball Super: Beerus set to air later in 2026, the franchise has an opportunity to correct those issues.

The Dragon Ball Super Remake Can Easily Fix the Timeline’s Biggest Issues

One Simple Addition Can Fix Dragon Ball Super’s Super Saiyan 4 Problem

Goku from Dragon Ball Z Kakarot smiles next to his Super Saiyan 4 form from Daima

Throughout the majority of its airing, Dragon Ball Daima fit seamlessly within the official timeline Dragon Ball has been following since its early 2010s revival. That changed when, during the climactic final battle of the series, Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan 4, a form which first debuted in Dragon Ball GT and seemingly was rendered obsolete with the introduction of Super Saiyan God. Even earlier than that, Vegeta used Super Saiyan 3, a form fans have never seen him use, but also one they were largely able to dismiss due to its shortcomings in battle.

Super Saiyan 4, on the other hand, could not be so easily explained away. When Beerus arrives at King Kai’s planet and confronts Goku, Earth’s strongest fighter claims he has no power-ups past Super Saiyan 3. Had he been able to transform further, the fight might have gone a bit differently. Throughout the rest of Dragon Ball Super, the form is never used or referenced.



















Dragon Ball · Character Profile
Which Dragon Ball Character Are You?
“Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.”


Goku
The Fighter


Vegeta
The Prince


Piccolo
The Mentor

01

A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction?



02

How do you train for an upcoming battle?



03

Your team is losing a fight. What do you do?



04

A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond?



05

An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do?



06

What’s your biggest weakness?



07

You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move?



08

What drives you more than anything?



Power Level Scanned
Your Dragon Ball Identity

Goku

“I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.”
You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy. You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better.

Pure-Hearted
Fearless
Limitless
Inspiring

Vegeta

“I do not fear this new challenge. Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it.”
You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior. Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist. Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms.

Proud
Relentless
Fierce
Evolving

Piccolo

“Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best.”
You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos. While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one. Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching.

Wise
Tactical
Protective
Stoic

However, now that Dragon Ball Super is being remade, that little continuity error can be fixed with ease. During the same scene, Goku can be made to reference the form, commenting that he simply cannot use it since leaving the Demon Realm, or he can briefly turn into a Super Saiyan 4 if Toei so wishes to animate it again. That one simple addition can instantly fix any timeline issues caused by Dragon Ball Daima, and finally direct the discourse surrounding the series elsewhere.

Dragon Ball Super Is Barely Over a Decade Old, But It Will Benefit Greatly from Its Upcoming Remake

Goku and Beerus' punches clash in Dragon Ball Battle of the Gods
Goku and Beerus’ punches clash in Dragon Ball Battle of the Gods

Anime remakes have become a trend in recent years, with a number of decades-old franchises receiving new life from modern adaptations. Dragon Ball Super, on the other hand, aired only a little more than 10 years ago, making it far newer than other recent remakes. Nevertheless, the series needed it. Dragon Ball Super was plagued with production issues throughout its original airing, which resulted in subpar visual quality and inconsistent pacing.

Goku shoots a Kamehameha towards the camera in Dragon Ball Z official art

Dragon Ball’s Newest Release Is Officially A Major Hit, And It Needs To Come To America ASAP

Dragon Ball just released a new complete box set of Akira Toriyama’s original manga masterpiece, and it needs to come to North America ASAP.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, which appears set to kick off a full-scale remake of the series, will not come with a weekly production schedule, allowing Toei Animation staff to take their time. Dragon Ball is kicking off a new era later in 2026, and the series can instantly fix one key timeline issue currently hanging over the franchise.

Dragon Ball Franchise Image

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Latest Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Latest TV Show

Super Dragon Ball Heroes

First Episode Air Date

April 26, 1989

From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.


Leave a Comment