Dragon Ball’s 40th Anniversary: New Game Confirmed, CGI Film Likely, Super’s TV Return Unlikely

What Caught My Eye: A Rebrand, A Date, and A Direction

The official Dragon Ball anime account quietly switched its handle from “DB_super2015” to “DB_anime_info” and updated its logo-small moves with big implications. That rebrand, paired with the newly announced Dragon Ball GENKIDAIMATSURI event on January 25, 2026 in Tokyo, has lit up the community with speculation. We know two things for sure: there will be a brand-new game announced, and two “major projects” are on deck. The smart read? Don’t hold your breath for a Dragon Ball Super TV return-this looks like a setup for a new feature film, likely CGI, with 2026-2027 written all over it.

Key Takeaways

• Official rebrand from “DB_super2015” to “DB_anime_info” signals a shift beyond a Super-branded TV lane.
• GENKIDAIMATSURI (Jan 25, 2026) will reveal a new game and two major projects.
• Industry tea leaves-and Akio Iyoku’s comments that Daima wasn’t the “real” 40th project—point to a CGI film over a TV anime comeback.
• For players, expect cross-media synergy: a 2026/27 film would fuel game rosters, DLC, and big live-service beats.

Breaking Down the Announcement

That account rename isn’t random housekeeping. If Toei and Bandai Namco were gearing up to reboot or resume Dragon Ball Super on TV, keeping “Super” front and center would make sense. Swapping to “anime info” broadens the lane, hinting at multiple formats and projects—films, specials, maybe limited series—under one umbrella. It reads like franchise stewardship, not a single-arc restart.

Stack that with Toei’s release rhythm: Dragon Ball Super: Broly hit in 2018, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero landed in 2022. Toei also pushed One Piece Film: Red in 2022. The studio has openly chased globally synchronized theatrical releases for its top IPs. A 2026 window lines up with their four-year cadence and the anniversary spotlight. Post-rename chatter even floated a 2027 follow-up window—plausible if production targets shift.

Then there’s Akio Iyoku, the producer steering modern Dragon Ball anime initiatives, saying plainly that Dragon Ball Daima wasn’t the true 40th anniversary project. If that’s the case, the “real” centerpiece is almost certainly one of those two “major projects.” A theatrical film fits the bill better than a long-running TV return, especially given how fans judged Daima’s pacing and how punishing weekly broadcast schedules are for animation quality.

Why a Film Makes More Sense Than Super’s TV Return

This isn’t me dumping on Super. I enjoyed pieces of the 2015 run, but the series often buckled under weekly production pressure—off-model shots, pacing drag, arcs stretched beyond their breaking point. Compare that to Broly’s fluid combat spectacle or Super Hero’s eye-catching, stylized CGI that looked far better in motion than skeptical fans expected. Condensed storytelling and a finite production cycle let Dragon Ball punch at its weight class.

CGI is the likely play again. Super Hero proved that a series known for speedlines and impact frames can pop in CG when the lighting, camera work, and effects sell weight and speed. A film pipeline also means assets can be refined rather than rushed, which is crucial for iconic character moments. If the new movie goes original—like Broly’s reimagining or Super Hero’s fresh villain angle—that’s far more exciting than a TV arc that rehashes manga beats with budget compromises.

What Gamers Should Really Watch For

The confirmed “new game” is the headline for players. Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball slate is a choose-your-fighter portfolio: arena brawlers (Budokai Tenkaichi’s modern revival), prestige 2D fighters (FighterZ), the long-tail service monster (Xenoverse 2), and the nostalgia-rich RPG angle (Kakarot). Each lane has a believable 2026 move.

• FighterZ 2 is the community’s white whale. Arc System Works already evolved netcode and crossplay across projects; a sequel with day-one rollback, better spectating, and modern live-service cadence would detonate the FGC calendar.
• Xenoverse 3 would be the “finally” moment after years of support for XV2. A true next-gen jump, cleaner UI, and a story hook tied to the anniversary film could anchor years of DLC.
• A new RPG from CyberConnect2 (or a successor) isn’t outlandish—Kakarot proved appetite for saga-spanning retellings and “what-if” detours.
• Or Bandai leans into the arena space again, dovetailing with a film’s new forms and villains to keep the roster newsworthy for 18 months.

Whatever genre lands, the film-driven synergy is the real play. Super Hero gave us Orange Piccolo, Gohan Beast, and quick game integrations. If a 2026/27 CGI movie brings a marquee antagonist or a power curve twist, expect the new game to ship with hard-hitting launch content and commit to a long DLC runway. From a player perspective, that’s better than chasing a TV schedule where transformations trickle out and balance patches lag behind the anime.

Temper the Hype, Aim the Expectations

Two caution flags: “major projects” could include non-anime initiatives, and “new game” doesn’t guarantee a 2026 release. But the rebrand, Iyoku’s comment, and Toei’s film cadence form a readable pattern. For my money, a well-funded CGI feature with an original story is the right birthday cake for Dragon Ball—and better news for gamers who want big, polished content beats rather than drip-fed TV arcs.

TL;DR

The Jan 25, 2026 GENKIDAIMATSURI will reveal a new Dragon Ball game and two major projects. All signs point to a CGI feature film over a Dragon Ball Super TV return. For players, that likely means stronger cross-media content, faster game integrations, and a healthier pipeline than a weekly anime could deliver.