When it comes to Dragon Ball Super, fans have to take the anime day by day. The series may be in the middle of one action-packed arc, but Toei Animation is keeping the future of the show quiet as development goes on behind-the-scenes. However, there is a new rumor swirling around that has some fans ready to bet on how long Dragon Ball Super will last.
Yesterday, the anime fandom was sent into a tizzy when when it discovered a potential teaser for a new Dragon Ball film. After a quick domain search was done, fans learned several website URLs for the franchise were registered in Japan, and they were filled with teasers.
Over in Tokyo, the domain names dragonball2018, dragonball2019, and dragonball2020 were all taken out on October 14 of this year. The registrars GMO Internet and Onamae scouted out the URLs, and their contact information traces back to Shibuya. Each of these URLs got fans buzzing as Toei Animation previously secured the domains dragonball2013 and then dragonball2015 for its two most recent Dragon Ball films.
So far, there is no official word from Toei Animation on whether it is planning any new Dragon Ball films, but fans are hopeful. The domain for dragonball2013 was registered by a different party, but dragonball2015 was nabbed by GMO and Onamae. The domain's registrant contact also lead back to the same address in Shibuya which the new URLs are associated with, and the lead-back has some fans wondering if the domains may hint at the future of Dragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Super's "Universal Survival" saga is part of the recent simulcast agreement that sites like Crunchyroll and Funimation have scored. Dragon Ball Super airs on Crunchyroll Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. CST. Toonami airs the English dub on Adult Swim Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.
Squatting & Planning
If the new Dragon Ball URLs are being sat on by Toei Animation, then there is a good chance the studio has long-term plans for the anime. Should Toei be looking to pursue Dragon Ball films, then it could be that the company is not sure when its next movie will premiere. The domains might get squatted on until Toei figures out which year works for its timeline - that is, unless it has plans to debut a Dragon Ball film trilogy out of nowhere.
If the URLs are not for films, they dated domains do hint that Toei Animation may be planning other annual projects for the show. Any merchandising updates could filter into the websites, and it isn't impossible to think that gaming updates could come from the URLs one day as well.
Shenron, Grant Me More $$$
Fans are continuing to discover evidence which links Toei to the new Dragon Ball domains, and it can only mean good things for the anime. If the studio is thinking about possibly debuting content for the franchise between 2018 and 2020, then Toei Animation is surely not thinking about ending Dragon Ball Super before then.
Of course, the anime's status will always be in flux; Fans learned with Dragon Ball GT that Toei Animation will pursue a Dragon Ball series so long as it makes money, and Dragon Ball Super has been doing well. Ratings for the show in Japan are holding steady while its U.S. numbers continue to rise. So long as Dragon Ball Super is bringing in money and has the slightest blessing from Akira Toriyama, the franchise will continue. So, if you were thinking the anime may up and end by the new year, then you have another thing coming.