Dragon Ball Super’s Official Sequel Has Become Anime’s Winds of Winter

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I’ve been a Dragon Ball fan for years, and what I love is that it’s stayed true to its core while also finding ways to surprise us! It’s amazing to see how the story and characters have grown, and how different series add to the overall Dragon Ball universe. Just in the last year, we’ve gotten a ton of new content with Dragon Ball DAIMA and all the cool updates to the video games – it’s a fantastic time to be a fan!

Fans have been eagerly awaiting news about a potential Dragon Ball Super 2 – whether as a new TV series or a set of movies – but have been consistently disappointed. The last episode of Dragon Ball Super aired in 2019, and the most recent movie, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, came out in 2022. Now, especially with Akira Toriyama’s passing and the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Dragon Ball, many fans are starting to feel like those who’ve given up hope of ever reading The Winds of Winter, the long-awaited next book in the Game of Thrones series.

The Winds of Winter and Dragon Ball Super 2 Face Similar Uphill Battles

The last episode of Game of Thrones came out in 2019, but fans had been hoping for the next book in the series for years, and it was starting to seem unlikely. George R.R. Martin originally aimed to publish the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, in 2016, before the TV show’s sixth season aired. Now, in 2025, the book still hasn’t been released, and Martin doesn’t appear to be much closer to finishing it.

Honestly, it feels like there’s not much pushing George R.R. Martin to finish The Winds of Winter right now, and I worry releasing it would actually frustrate a lot of fans. It just seems like a risky move, which explains why he’s been working on so many other things instead. And the biggest thing? It’s not even the last book! Releasing it would still leave us all hanging, still waiting for the real ending to A Song of Ice and Fire. It’s a tough situation.

The continuation of Dragon Ball Super faces a tough challenge, and may be doomed to fall short of expectations. In fact, it might be better to leave the story unfinished. After so much time, the new content likely won’t live up to what fans have imagined, and it feels unfair to deliver something that will inevitably disappoint them – similar to the situation with The Winds of Winter.

Dragon Ball Fans Are Used To Complaining About The Wait At This Point

I’ve noticed something really interesting about being a fan of big franchises! We sometimes fall into patterns, and even get comfortable with things that aren’t necessarily good for the shows we love. Take Dragon Ball Super and Game of Thrones, for example. It’s almost like fans have gotten used to waiting… and waiting… for new seasons or continuations. We want them, of course, but there’s this weird sense of acceptance that maybe they just aren’t going to happen, and we’ve somehow adjusted to that!

I’ve noticed something really interesting among fans of shows like Dragon Ball Super and Game of Thrones. When it seems like a new season or continuation isn’t happening, we often find comfort and power in creating our own fun with what we already have. It’s like we collectively decide to focus on rewatching old episodes, diving into spin-offs, or playing the video games – almost as a way to take control and keep the experience alive on our own terms. It’s a really cool way to build a community and feel connected, even when the official story seems to be ending.

Fans of Dragon Ball have largely accepted that Dragon Ball Super 2 isn’t happening and are now enjoying revisiting older stories and merchandise. Similar to what happened with Game of Thrones after its finale—where a break was needed—the focus has shifted. Instead of a direct continuation, Game of Thrones now explores its world through spin-off shows like House of the Dragon and the soon-to-be-released A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Many classic stories are being reimagined to attract both longtime fans and new audiences. Dragon Ball is following a similar path, and it’s increasingly likely that elements from older manga and video games will be incorporated into the anime, with everything now considered part of the official story. While fans are still waiting for news about Dragon Ball Super 2, they can enjoy games like Dragon Ball Divers or the newest downloadable content for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Fans are realizing it’s better to appreciate the existing story and embrace the franchise’s history, rather than constantly worrying about what might happen next.

Akira Toriyama’s Willingness to Hand Off Dragon Ball Gave the Franchise a Brighter Future

Many Game of Thrones fans have suggested that George R.R. Martin should allow another author to finish the series if he doesn’t plan to himself. However, Martin insists he wants the story to end with him, meaning the series will likely conclude upon his death. This has increased the anticipation for The Winds of Winter, as fans hope to at least read a continuation of the story before it’s left unfinished.

Thankfully, Toriyama didn’t restrict how the story of Dragon Ball could continue. He actually took more and more control over the direction of the series with each new arc. Because of this, there’s a strong belief that Toyotarou will be able to carry on Toriyama’s work, likely using his existing notes, and keep Dragon Ball alive after his passing.

What really strikes me when I think about Dragon Ball Super versus Game of Thrones is how Dragon Ball seems built to endure, even when things look bleak right now. It’s true that Dragon Ball has continued even when Akira Toriyama wasn’t directly involved, and while not every story arc was a home run, there’s still a lot of affection for things like Dragon Ball GT and all the Z movies. It just proves Dragon Ball stories can exist and thrive even without Toriyama at the helm. It feels like there’s a willingness to let the universe expand, which is different from George R.R. Martin – he seems much more protective of his novels.

George R.R. Martin is very careful about letting another author finish writing his novels, but he’s more open to seeing his stories adapted into TV shows by different writers. While others are currently adapting his work and adding their own creative touches – sometimes in ways Martin didn’t anticipate – this is similar to what’s happened with other franchises. For example, Toyotarou is continuing the Dragon Ball Super manga, and Akio Iyoku is involved with Dragon Ball DAIMA and other anime spin-offs.

The biggest challenge facing the future of Dragon Ball is ongoing legal trouble and ownership disputes, something Game of Thrones doesn’t have to worry about. The possibility of a Dragon Ball Super continuation feels like the anime equivalent of the endlessly delayed Winds of Winter. But Dragon Ball seems more likely to eventually get a satisfying conclusion than Game of Thrones fans can realistically expect.

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2025-10-23 04:40