Dragon Ball Star Kyle Hebert Promises the Anime Is Far Fr...

Long Live Goku: A Veteran Dragon Ball Star Promises the Anime Is Far From Dead

Goku winking while saluting with manga panels in the background.

By Evan D. Mullicane Published 37 minutes ago Evan Mullicane is the senior editor and founder of Screen Rant's anime section. Having started as a writer for the Comics Team at the beginning of the Pandemic, Evan was swiftly promoted from writer to editor, and then from editor to lead of Screen Rant's newly established anime vertical. Throughout his time with Screen Rant, Evan has made a handful of appearances at conventions such as Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in Anime and Comics history. In addition to editing anime and manga articles for Screen Rant, Evan is also a science fiction and fantasy author. In 2018 and 2019, his short story "The Demon's Mother" won honorable mentions from the Writers of the Future contest. You can find Evan on Twitter @EvanDM and BlueSky @evandmu.bsky.socia Sign in to your ScreenRant account 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

Despite its massive popularity, the Dragon Ball franchise is facing an uncertain future. The runaway success of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and the warm reception to Dragon Ball: Daima should have been the beginning of a bright new era for the franchise, but instead, the untimely passing of series creator Akira Toriyama froze it in place.

While fans may be panicking, one person who's remaining level-headed is adult Gohan's English voice actor, Kyle Hebert. Hebert has been with the franchise for a quarter of a century, and the time has given him a unique perspective on the world's most iconic anime/manga series.

At Anime Pasadena 2025, ScreenRant asked Hebert for his thoughts on the franchise's currently uncertain status and what he thinks the future will hold. Far away from the doom and gloom some fans have, Hebert was unflinchingly optimistic.

Every time a Dragon Ball movie hits theaters, it crushes. Even before Demon Slayer was dominating the box office, Dragon Ball Z and Super films were hitting number one.

Now we’re seeing anime films make hundreds of millions of dollars. Hollywood’s definitely paying attention — it’s incredible to see how far the genre has come.

We know there’s an announcement coming in January, but they haven’t said what — a movie, a show, a game? Either way, it’s exciting. And honestly, like Star Wars, Dragon Ball fans will always show up.

Hebert Is Probably Right, Dragon Ball's Future Is Bright

Though Hebert obviously has a vested interest in fanning the flames of Dragon Ball fandom, his assessment of the series' status checks out.

Toei Animation recently announced a 10-year plan for Dragon Ball, and the January announcement Hebert teased has the potential to be explosive.

Dragon Ball's return has never been seriously in doubt. Akira Toriyama's passing may have created a custody battle for the series, but that's nothing that couldn't be overcome with time.

One editor famously predicted that Dragon Ball's end would tank the Japanese economy, so the series was always going to return. It's too popular both in Japan and abroad to stay dead for long.

The real question, then, hasn't been whether Dragon Ball would return; it has remained how the franchise will return.

So What Is Next For Dragon Ball?

Super Saiyan Goku smiling in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

There are two obvious points for Dragon Ball's return: Dragon Ball Super's manga and a second season for the anime.

Given that one project already has a dedicated creative team with Toyotarou, and the other would adapt stories that Akira Toriyama himself had approved, these seem like the easiest paths for Dragon Ball to take. That being said, they aren't long-term solutions.

Super's manga has been running for a decade, and it appears to be nearing its conclusion, which means any anime adaptation would only have a limited amount of material to adapt.

The other avenue for Dragon Ball to explore is cinematic ambitions. As Hebert points out, Dragon Ball has been a big box office draw, and there are signs that Toei is gearing up for a big movie based on an internationally beloved franchise, which pretty much leaves Dragon Ball and One Piece.

Given that Dragon Ball Super is rapidly approaching the timeskip that ended Z, it's unclear what a potential movie would be about.

Regardless of what the various parties do with the property, though, fans can rest assured that Dragon Ball will continue.

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
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.
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Anime Pasadena Location Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, CA Dates November 8-9, 2025 Website
https://www.animepasadena.com/

Held each November at the Pasadena Convention Center in California, Anime Pasadena is an annual two-day convention celebrating anime and pop culture. It offers diverse attractions, including gaming tournaments, cosplay contests, live music, artist alley, and vendor areas, along with family-friendly features like a kids’ cosplay competition and interactive entertainment.
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