Will 'Dragon Ball The Next' Feature Crossover Characters?

'Dragon Ball The Next' dives deep into uncharted territory by exploring the legacy of Goku and Vegeta through their descendants. The story introduces fresh Saiyan hybrids with untapped potential, blending classic Dragon Ball combat with modern storytelling. New planets and civilizations emerge, revealing cosmic threats that push the characters beyond their known limits. The series also revisits older techniques like Ultra Instinct, refining them with下一代's unique twists. A major expansion comes from the lore—hidden Saiyan histories and forgotten gods resurface, adding layers to the Dragon Ball mythos. The show reimagines the Dragon Balls themselves, introducing variants with different rules or consequences. Supporting characters from past arcs return with evolved roles, bridging generations. The animation style evolves too, mixing traditional hand-drawn fights with dynamic CGI for epic interstellar battles. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s a bold step forward.

I’ve been following 'Dragon Ball' for years, and 'Dragon Ball The Next' isn’t a direct sequel to 'Dragon Ball Super'. It’s more of a side story or spin-off, expanding the universe without directly continuing the main plot. While 'Super' ended with Goku and Vegeta training with Broly, 'The Next' shifts focus to new characters and timelines, offering fresh adventures rather than advancing the established arcs. The tone also differs—'Super' was action-packed with cosmic stakes, whereas 'The Next' explores smaller-scale conflicts and character dynamics. That said, both share Toriyama’s signature style, so fans of one will likely enjoy the other. Rumors initially suggested 'The Next' would follow the manga’s continuity, but it’s clearer now that it’s a parallel narrative. It references events from 'Super' lightly, like Beerus’s presence or Whis’s training, but doesn’t rely on them. Think of it as an alternate path, not a linear progression. The animation and fights are just as crisp, though, so if you’re here for epic battles, you won’t be disappointed.

The new villains in 'Dragon Ball The Next' are a fascinating mix of cosmic threats and ancient evils. The primary antagonist is Lord Zargoth, a being from a dying universe who seeks to harvest Earth's energy to recreate his own world. His power eclipses even the gods of destruction, and his army of Void Knights can manipulate space-time, making them nearly invincible. Zargoth’s motives aren’t just destruction—he’s a tragic figure driven by loss, which adds depth to his character. Another major threat is the Eclipse Syndicate, a group of rogue Saiyans who abandoned their warrior code. They’ve mastered forbidden techniques like the Dark Kamehameha, which drains the life force of opponents. Their leader, General Vexar, has a personal vendetta against Goku, blaming him for the downfall of their race. The syndicate’s brutality and unpredictability make them a constant wildcard in the story. Lesser but equally dangerous are the Shadow Androids, biomechanical hybrids created by a mysterious entity. Their ability to adapt and copy fighters’ moves mid-battle keeps the Z Fighters on their toes.

In 'Dragon Ball The Next', the power levels are absolutely insane compared to earlier arcs. Goku and Vegeta have pushed beyond Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego, reaching something called 'Cosmic Dominion', where they can manipulate energy on a universal scale. Their battles create shockwaves that destabilize dimensions, and their speed is beyond measurable—think instant teleportation combined with time manipulation. New antagonists like Zeroth, a rogue Angel, operate at 'Transcendent Tier', wiping out galaxies with casual energy blasts. Even supporting characters like Broly and Piccolo have evolved; Broly’s 'Primal Rampage' mode lets him absorb ki from planets to grow endlessly stronger, while Piccolo’s 'Elder Kai Fusion' grants him reality-warping shouts. The scale is so vast that power levels are now logarithmic—each tier multiplies destructiveness by 1,000x. Fights aren’t just about strength but conceptual dominance, like erasing opponents from timelines or rewriting physics mid-combat.

As someone who's devoured both series, 'This is Definitely Not Dragon Ball!!' absolutely feels like a love letter to 'Dragon Ball' wrapped in parody. The visual gags mirror iconic moments—like a protagonist doing push-ups to 'power up' instead of screaming for episodes. Character designs play with expectations too; the not-Goku wears a tracksuit instead of a gi, and the not-Vegeta obsesses over salad rather than pride. The humor lands because it understands 'Dragon Ball's tropes inside out. Fight scenes parody the endless charging sequences with absurd alternatives, like waiting for microwave popcorn between blows. The parody never feels mean-spirited, just an affectionate roast from a true fan.

I've been following 'This Is Definitely Not Dragon Ball!!' since its debut, and while it clearly draws inspiration from 'Dragon Ball', it carves its own niche. The protagonist, unlike Goku, isn't a battle-hungry Saiyan but a reluctant hero with a sarcastic wit. The fights are less about power levels and more about strategy—think chess matches with ki blasts. The art style nods to Toriyama's work but uses thicker lines and darker shading, giving it a grittier feel. World-building is deeper too; instead of planets, the conflict revolves around warring factions in a single, densely layered city. Humor's more mature, with fewer slapstick gags and more sharp one-liners. If 'Dragon Ball' is a shonen classic, this feels like its edgy urban cousin.

I've been following 'Dragon Ball' since the original manga days, and 'Dragon Ball Alternative' feels more like a creative spin-off than canon material. It borrows the core elements—Saiyans, energy blasts, multiverse threats—but twists them into new directions that don't align with Akira Toriyama's established timeline. The character designs are flashier, and power scaling goes wild in ways that contradict official lore (like mortals surpassing Angels casually). Toei Animation hasn't endorsed it, and the absence of Toriyama's direct involvement seals the deal for me. It's a fun what-if story, but stick to 'Super' or the movies for canon events. If you enjoy alternate takes, try 'Dragon Ball Heroes'—it's non-canon too but embraces its chaos with time-traveling clones and demon gods.

'Dragon Ball The Next' does bring fresh twists to the Super Saiyan legacy, though it doesn't outright introduce entirely new forms. Instead, it evolves existing transformations with unique variations. Goku and Vegeta's Super Saiyan Blue gets a refined version, focusing on energy efficiency—less flashy aura waste, more concentrated power. The manga also teases a 'Saiyan Instinct' state, blending Ultra Instinct's precision with raw Saiyan aggression, creating a hybrid form that feels distinct from previous iterations. Side characters like Broly get expanded lore; his Legendary Super Saiyan form now has controllable phases, avoiding the mindless rage pitfall. The series experiments with situational adaptations too—environmental factors or emotional triggers can temporarily amplify forms beyond their usual limits. These tweaks keep the power scaling dynamic without reinventing the wheel. The emphasis shifts from mere transformations to mastering their nuances, making battles more strategic than ever.