By
Branson Garza
Published Feb 21, 2026, 9:00 PM EST
Branson is a Senior Writer for ScreenRant. Anime has been a major part of his life since he was able to raise his hands in the air for a Spirit Bomb. As a journalist, Branson focuses heavily on listicles and op-eds detailing the industry's greatest shonen series.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Dragon Ball Super brought life back into the Dragon Ball franchise after everyone already thought it was over. It's been an amazing addition to the Dragon Ball canon, but there might be a few moments in Dragon Ball Super that are less than amazing.
It's pretty easy to point out when something is wrong with Dragon Ball, and that's only because the franchise is basically flawless. It's the crown jewel of anime, and without it, shōnen would be completely different.
Even though Dragon Ball is one of the best anime franchises of all time, there were moments in Dragon Ball Super that felt so completely out of place that few could rationalize their inclusion. Dragon Ball Super, at times, had downright terrible animation, and now that it's coming back, Toei Animation needs to make sure it provides animation worthy of Dragon Ball.
After Six Years, Dragon Ball Super Is Finally Back
It's been six long years since the Dragon Ball Super anime has aired. Since then, both the Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero films have come out, and they've showcased some of the best animation in the art form.
The Dragon Ball Super timeline has been a little confusing with the addition of these two movies. Dragon Ball Super: Broly was never in the manga, and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero skipped two major arcs as well.
Related
New Dragon Ball Super Anime Officially Announced, Galactic Patrol
A new Dragon Ball anime was officially announced at the massive Genkidamatsuri conference, ushering the franchise into a new era.
Posts 3 By Evan D. MullicaneThe next arc to be animated, the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc, comes right after the Tournament of Power Arc. Technically, the Broly film comes in between those two, but we're just excited that the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc is getting animated in the first place.
At Times, Dragon Ball Super Had Terrible Animation
Dragon Ball Super's animation was shocking, and not just because of how bad it was. Dragon Ball might be the single most popular anime franchise ever made, so how could such an important series receive such bad animation?
It doesn't make much sense, as Dragon Ball Z's animation is nothing short of iconic. Animation from the 90s has a distinct look to it, and Dragon Ball Z is no exception. This style is characterized by sharp black shadows, big hair, and defined caricatures.
Dragon Ball Super had more than a few lackluster moments in the animation department, but now that Dragon Ball Super 2 is coming out, Toei Animation finally has a chance to redeem themselves.
Dragon Ball Super 2 Can Fix the Series' Animation Problems
Dragon Ball Super 2, or whatever Toei Animation decides to call Dragon Ball Super's return to anime, can finally bring back good animation to the series. Dragon Ball Super does in fact have good animation at times, and it might be at its best during the Tournament of Power arc. There might not be a better moment in Dragon Ball Super than when Goku surfs on an Energy Wave Attack using a Kamehameha.
The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc is going to feature one of Goku's most intriguing abilities yet, and it needs to be animated perfectly. It's an arc filled with new abilities, characters, and worlds, and Toei Animation has a chance to really make Dragon Ball Super shine through this arc.
Subscribe for Dragon Ball Super animation insights
Join the newsletter for focused coverage of Dragon Ball Super animation - scene-by-scene breakdowns, comparisons to Dragon Ball Z, character and effects analysis, and studio-focused reporting that explains animation choices and what good animation looks like. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Will Toei Animation bring an animation quality as good as Dragon Ball Z's back to Dragon Ball, or will they drop the ball like they did with the original version of Dragon Ball Super? Either way, Dragon Ball Super's next arc is one of the best in the franchise, and if it looks half as good as anything in Dragon Ball Z, we're in for a treat.
Dragon Ball
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
Expand
Collapse
-
Anime
-
Dragon Ball
Subscribe for Dragon Ball Super animation insights
Join the newsletter for focused coverage of Dragon Ball Super animation - scene-by-scene breakdowns, comparisons to Dragon Ball Z, character and effects analysis, and studio-focused reporting that explains animation choices and what good animation looks like. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Trending Now
2026 Officially Unleashes a Batman x Dragon Ball Crossover No-One Saw Coming
14 Years Later, House M.D.'s Perfect Successor Marks a Bold New Era Nobody Saw Coming
Here's When Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Will Make Its Anime Debut
