Dragon Ball Is Returning to U.S. TV Screens Before the End of 2025

2025 is almost over, and it's going out with one final Big Bang Attack. The Dragon Ball franchise is officially returning to U.S. TV screens, right before the franchise makes its major announcement in January 2026.

Cartoon Network has updated its TV schedule for the remainder of 2025, which includes Adult Swim's early-morning schedule for December. Dragon Ball Z Kai, the recut and remastered version of Dragon Ball Z, is returning to Adult Swim for a one-hour morning weekday slot, per Swimpedia on social media. Two episodes of DBZ: Kai will air from 5 a.m. (EST) on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.

DBZ Officially Returns to Cartoon Network This December

Dragon Ball's return to Cartoon Network will begin with DBZ Kai Episode 1, which marks the return of Goku and friends, the introduction of his son Gohan, and the shocking revelation about Goku's life, as told to him by Raditz, his evil alien older brother.

Currently, it's unknown how many Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes Cartoon Network has access to. If this upcoming airing is based on the package acquired for the now-defunct Toonami Rewind, the run will most likely end near Goku's ascension into Super Saiyan during the "Frieza Saga." However, Cartoon Network may have, or will acquire, more DBZ Kai episodes for future morning airings, given the series' history as a strong and consistent ratings performer.

Although Dragon Ball is synonymous with Cartoon Network's Toonami block, the series has aired outside the action-anime lineup. Most famously, Cartoon Network aired Funimation's "Ultimate Uncut" version of DBZduring its primetime lineup in 2005. This defunct release restored the violence from the anime's original Japanese release, but used a new Americanized score over the original Japanese music. Dragon Ball also aired on Nicktoons and the CW4Kids' Toonzai block in 2010.

Intentional or not, Dragon Ball's return to Cartoon Network lines up with the series' upcoming major event scheduled for Jan. 25, 2026, in Japan. Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri, featuring Masako Nozawa, the Japanese voice actor of Goku and Dragon Ball Executive Producer Akio Iyoku, will reveal several announcements regarding the franchise's future. These announcements will be related to the anime, games, trading cards and other Dragon Ball-based merchandise.

A popular rumor that continues to gain traction online is that a new Dragon Ball anime movie will be announced, possibly related to the Dragon Ball Super series. Former Dragon Ball editor Kazuhiko Torishimaadded fuel to the fire when he accidentally "leaked" the new movie during a YouTube livestream for his podcast, KosoKoso.

In the meantime, Dragon Ball Z Kai can also be streamed on Crunchyroll, as well as other Dragon Ball anime series, such as Dragon Ball Daima and Dragon Ball Super. The Dragon Ball Super manga can be read on the Viz Media and Manga Plus apps.

"Having defeated Buu, Goku is starting to get bored with his life on Earth," the official description for Dragon Ball Super reads. "His wife, Chi-chi, wants him to get a job, but all he wants to do is train and fight stronger enemies."

"Elsewhere in the universe, the God of Destruction, Beerus, and his attendant Whis are traveling from planet to planet in search of food and entertainment. After blowing up some hapless victims, Beerus is reminded of a man from his dreams with the moniker 'Super Saiyan God,' or something like that... The God of Destruction sets his sights on Earth to track down this mysterious man! Maybe this will give Goku something to do?"