It’s been eight years since fans saw Universe 7 crowned the winner of the Tournament of Power, but Dragon Ball Super’s anime was always bound to return. With the confirmation of the anime returning to remake the anime’s Beerus Saga and Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol now, it’ll soon be clear the Dragon Ball timeline runs far deeper.
But for viewers, especially anime-only Dragon Ball fans, it might be easy to fall out of sync in terms of where the new anime stands on the overall timeline. While the franchise has certainly played fast and loose with its timeline, it might be good to know specifics on the story and where it’ll go, and what lies ahead.
What Part of the Dragon Ball Timeline Is The Galactic Patrol Anime?
Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is set after the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie as well as the anime’s most recent arc before it, the Universe Survival Saga. This new anime will feature the next crisis in the months bridging Age 780-781. The arc it adapts, named the Galactic Patrol Prison Saga, is Super’s longest yet.
“This will be the story following the “Universe Survival Arc” of the anime Dragon Ball Super, which aired between 2015 and 2018. It also appears in the manga Dragon Ball as the ‘Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc.’ The main character, Son Goku, and Vegeta, work together with the members of the Galactic Patrol, the peacekeepers of the galaxy, to begin a SUPER scale battle against a new enemy, ‘Planet-Eater’ Moro!”
-Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol Synopsis
Featuring the eponymous Galactic Patrol as they try to capture Moro, Dragon Ball Super will introduce the latest existential threat to Earth as the series largely depicts the two months leading to this confrontation. Having restored his powers using the Namekian Dragon Balls and releasing the inmates of the Galactic Prison, Moro sets out to devour Earth next.
What’s Next for the Dragon Ball Super Anime
While The Galactic Patrol’s anime is actively in development, fans recently got to see the next upcoming series dropping this fall, depicting the God of Destruction Beerus Saga debuting in Fall 2026. It is meant to be an enhanced remake of the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods movie as well as the first arc of Dragon Ball Super.
This effectively means that other arcs from Dragon Ball Super are on the table for a remake akin to Dragon Ball Z Kai, but it also likely means future arcs adapting the manga are likely to follow The Galactic Patrol. This also means the Granolah the Survivor Saga would follow in Age 781 after the battle with Moro.
The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga of Dragon Ball Super’s manga covers chapters #42-67, with plently left for future adaptations to tweak and adapt ahead of any resumption. The manga, released monthly, originally conceived by Akira Toriyama and illustrated by Toyotarou, published its latest chapter, #104, on February 19, 2025.
Given the manga has resumed yet, there’s little else to adapt beyond the High School Saga and an anime remake of the Super Hero movie. But the 40th Anniversary event laid out an impressive vision on the future for Dragon Ball across anime, merchandise, and exciting new video games, so hopefully Toyotarou will confirm the manga’s return soon as well.
Release Date
2015 – 2018
Network
Fuji TV
Directors
Ryota Nakamura, Masanori Sato, Kenichi Takeshita, Takao Iwai, Hideki Hiroshima, Masato Mitsuka, Kazuya Karasawa, Ayumu Ono, Takahiro Imamura, Tatsuya Nagamine, Kôjiro Kawasaki, Kouji Ogawa
Masakazu Morita
Whis (voice)
Masako Nozawa
Son Goku/Goku Black/Son Gohan/Son Goten (voices)