Dragon Ball Super stuck in legal limbo: why your favorite anime and manga isn't coming back anytime soon
- Aug 31, 2025
- 2 min read
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Dragon Ball Super fans have been holding their breath for years, hoping for a triumphant return of both the anime and the manga. But the truth is as crushing as a Vegeta gut punch: the Dragon Ball Super anime and manga are locked in a legal stalemate that no Kamehameha can blast through. Following Akira Toriyama's passing in 2024, battles over the rights between Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo have left Goku's world and the hearts of millions in suspense.
Here's the twist worthy of a plot arc: Capsule Corp Tokyo, founded by Toriyama’s long-time collaborator Akio Iyoku, owns the anime and video game rights, while Shueisha holds onto the manga. That means the two sides have to agree before any more Dragon Ball Super content is created—and right now, they're about as friendly as Frieza and the Saiyans. This legal deadlock means no new anime episodes and no manga adaptations of arcs beyond the Tournament of Power are even possible, with both companies guarding the IP like Dragon Balls themselves.
Fans waiting for the next Dragon Ball Super adventure have heard everything from "be patient" to rumors of fresh arcs, but every statement comes with a giant asterisk. Even Toyotarou, whose skillful manga artistry kept the Dragon Ball Super torch burning, is now shifting focus to other projects. The manga's last volume felt like a cliffhanger—with editors at conventions dropping hints about indefinite hiatus and asking fans to wait, but with no promises. Cue the dramatic music: right now, the fate of Dragon Ball Super is a bigger mystery than Goku's training schedule…
