Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Release Date, Characters, And Plot - What We Know So Far

"Dragon Ball" is one of the most popular franchises in the entire world. In addition to having its own massive global fan base, the saga has inspired some of your favorite superhero movies and found success in various mediums. The story began in the mid-'80s as a manga written and drawn by series creator Akira Toriyama, and has expanded into video games, movies, and some highly successful anime series — which many American viewers no doubt discovered through Toonami's "DBZ" blocks in the late '90s and early 2000s.

Of course, like most long-running franchises, "Dragon Ball" has experienced various ups and downs throughout the years. However, "Dragon Ball Super," which ran from 2015 to 2018, attracted many new fans and eventually spawned a spin-off movie in the form of "Dragon Ball Super: Broly." The movie went down a storm with long-term supporters and critics alike (per Rotten Tomatoes), especially for the way in which it brought pathos and depth to the titular character — an element that took many viewers by surprise as Broly was presented as a joke in the past.

When the follow-up, "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero," was announced, the franchise's base was understandably excited. That being said, the creators kept most information pertaining to the film close to the vest for a very long time. Fortunately, some significant details about "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" have been released since the initial announcement, and fans can look forward to seeing the film in the near future.

"Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" is the 21st movie in the anime franchise, but it will make history by becoming the first "Dragon Ball" feature to receive widespread theatrical distribution. According to Deadline, global audiences can expect to see the highly-anticipated sequel in the "coming months," and it will come to theaters in North America, Latin America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. However, Japanese audiences will have exclusive access to the film, as it will premier in that region on June 11.

While the official release date for most territories has still to be confirmed, it seems that fans won't have too long to wait for "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" to arrive in a multiplex near them. By comparison, the previous film was released in 2018 and didn't receive international distribution until the following year (per Polygon). This was also a short window considering that there used to be a wide gap between anime movies' Japanese and international release dates, but the anticipation for a new "Dragon Ball" joint cannot be ignored.

"Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" will feature a mix of familiar faces and brand new characters. Fan favorites such as Goku, Gohan, Pan, Piccolo, Krillin, and Vegeta are set to play an important role in the film, albeit in ways that some viewers might not be used to. For example, as Polygon notes, Pan is now of kindergarten age, having been previously portrayed as a toddler in the movies and series. Furthermore, executive editor Akio Iyoku also confirmed that Pan will have an "integral" role in the movie, so fans can look forward to her receiving some significant character development.

Of course, many fans will be going into "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" expecting to see something entirely new, and they will not be disappointed. The sequel is set to feature new villains in the form of the Red Ribbon Army's genius scientist Dr. Hedo and his android henchmen, Gamma 1and Gamma 2. While Hedo is a new character, his appearance somewhat resembles Lord Jaguar, the main antagonist of "Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly." Then again, it remains to be seen if they are anything alike personality-wise.

The Red Ribbon Army is back, and its members aren't intent on becoming upstanding citizens. But would we want them any other way? The evil organization, which was once destroyed by Goku, has created more androids to get revenge on the Super Saiyan and his friends. To do this, they kidnap Pan in an effort to coax the heroes into a fight (via Epicstream).

Pan growing older also indicates that "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" will take place in a future timeline. As IMDb points out, this was confirmed by screenwriter Akira Toriyama, who revealed that the film will be an original story instead of a remake or adaptation of recent manga arcs. Additionally, the events that take place in "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" come after the "Granolah Saga" from the manga series, which opens up a world of interesting possibilities.

"Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" will also have a much different tone from "Dragon Ball Super: Broly." During the Comic-Con@Home 2021 panel discussion, Toei Animation producer Norihiro Hayashida revealed that the film places a lot of focus on "slice-of-life scenes that really put a spotlight on the rich world that Toriyama has created." The producer then went on to confirm that viewers can expect plenty of intense and action-packed sequences, describing the film as the perfect fusion of old and new "Dragon Ball."