With Dragon Ball approaching its 40th anniversary in 2026, talk about a possible reboot has started gaining attention. This isn’t coming from just fans online, two people who’ve worked closely on the series are openly discussing the idea of a full remake of Goku’s early adventures.
A New Version of Dragon Ball
Yukondo, a former editor on the original Dragon Ball manga, recently spoke on a podcast about the future of the series. According to him, a reboot seems very likely. He even suggested a name: The True New Dragon Ball.
That kind of confidence coming from someone involved with the original manga is hard to ignore. Kondo pointed to 2026 as the possible release window, which would line up with the series’ 40th year, an ideal time to bring something new to long-time fans and newcomers.
Kondo hinted that some guidance about the possible reboot may still come from Toriyama’s earlier ideas or notes.
Toriyama’s shift from mangaka to scriptwriter
— Enomis (@Venixys) March 24, 2025
🧵15/n pic.twitter.com/EhzYKYTyRA
Other Veteran Staff Also Expect a Reboot
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, known for designing Super Saiyan 4, also spoke about the remake possibility. He said a remake of the original Dragon Ball will eventually happen and made it clear he believes it’s only a matter of time. He even said he’d be open to working on it himself.
This matters because Nakatsuru has been working on Dragon Ball for years. If someone who’s been part of the production team for decades says this out loud, it shows that the idea is being taken seriously behind the scenes.
Why Now Makes Sense
The original Dragon Ball anime is still remembered fondly, but it was made decades ago. While the story still holds up, the animation quality feels old, especially when compared to newer titles like Dragon Ball Super or the Broly movie.
A remake would update those older episodes with better visuals, smoother pacing, and modern sound design. Think of Goku’s first martial arts tournament, his battles with the Red Ribbon Army, or the final fight against King Piccolo. Those scenes could have much more impact with today’s animation quality.
Other anime series have done this successfully. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Hunter x Hunter (2011), and Fruits Basket were all redone with updated animation and better pacing. Each of them brought in new fans and got strong support from long-time viewers.
What This Means for the Franchise
Dragon Ball Daima, the anime with younger versions of Goku and others, isn’t a remake. It’s a separate story. While Toriyama had some input, it doesn’t retell the original Dragon Ball events.
What’s different about this possible reboot is that people who were part of the original team seem to want to go back and retell the full story from the beginning. Nakatsuru’s interest in helping out shows that this is more than just talk.
If it happens, it could also allow the team to add scenes or expand on parts that had to be shortened in the original. It’s a good chance to go deeper into character development and give more time to some of the important early arcs.
So Is It Happening?
As of March 27, 2025, there hasn’t been any official word from Toei Animation. But having both Kondo and Nakatsuru speak this directly about a remake is enough to get people thinking.
If something is planned for 2026, during the franchise’ 40th anniversary, it would be a big move. It would show that the franchise is ready to keep going, while also offering something fresh to newer viewers.
