New Toei Report Proves Dragon Ball Can’t Afford to Keep Fans Waiting

For decades now, Dragon Ball has been a resilient force within the anime fandom. Characters like Goku and Vegeta are ambassadors for the medium all because of the series’ notoriety. A decade ago, the world watched as Dragon Ball launched a modern comeback that broke streaming records, and many have wondered when the franchise would revisit that kind of glory. And in the wake of a new report, it seems dragon balls future is at more risk than ever before.

The update comes courtesy of Toei Animation, the studio that oversees the production of Dragon Ball. The company released its Q2 fiscal report publicly this week, and it was there that fans got the lowdown on how Toei Animation’s IPs are doing. Traditionally, Dragon Ball has been at the top spot given its popularity, but the Q2 report did not put Goku in first place this time.

Instead, it was Luffy and the pirates of One Piece that came in first. Let’s talk about it.

One Piece Is Earning More Than Dragon Ball at Toei Animation

According to the new fiscal report, which covers April–September 2025, Dragon Ball brought in 12.3 billion yen. In the USD, this total comes out to nearly 80 million, so that isn’t too shabby. However, the total did not beat out One Piece with its 13.3 billion yen draw. The hit franchise earned over 86 million yen in Q2, leaving Luffy to triumph over Goku.

As you can see above, the Toei Animation report breaks earnings up into Domestic Licensing, Overseas Film, and Overseas Licensing. Dragon Ball actually came in first place for the first and third sections respectively, but One Piece took the lead in Overseas Film. Still, One Piece‘s earning totals across the board managed to surpass Dragon Ball at the end of the day.

Dragon Ball’s Future Remains Unclear After Daima’s Finale

This latest data breaks down the kind of earnings Toei Animation saw in early 2025, and its close tie is incredibly concerning for Dragon Ball. While it’s true the franchise was not far behind One Piece in earnings, well, it should have eclipsed the Straw Hat crew with ease. After all, Dragon Ball‘s most recent anime ended in late February, a release that should have bolstered fans through Q2.

However, the tailwind that followed Dragon Ball Daima was not enough to take down One Piece. The ongoing anime managed to outclass Dragon Ball with a number of top-tier episodes to boot. While One Piece moves along with modern times, adjusting its animation style and production schedule to suit audiences, Dragon Ball is feeling more outdated by the day. With no word yet on the anime’s next move, the unrest around Dragon Ball‘s future is growing by the day. And with Toei Animation’s new fiscal report on hand, the franchise’s latest loss to One Piece feels all too much like an omen of what’s to come.