The story of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero marks a significant turning point for one of anime's most enduring franchises. The film reunites Piccolo and his former student Gohan for a mission to save the world from a newly reformed Red Ribbon Army — a threat that fans of the original Dragon Ball series will recognize immediately. This isn't just another Goku-centric adventure. Instead, the 99-minute runtime focuses on characters who've often played supporting roles, giving them the spotlight in ways the franchise hasn't quite attempted before. The decision to center the narrative on Gohan, Piccolo, and Pan (rather than Goku) was risky, but it's precisely that willingness to take chances that makes this 2022 entry feel fresh.
What's striking is how the film balances fan service with genuine character development. You get the energetic action sequences and new transformations that Dragon Ball devotees crave, but you're also watching relationships deepen and characters face challenges that feel personal rather than purely cosmological. The Red Ribbon Army's return provides the external conflict, but the real heart lies in watching Piccolo mentor Gohan toward his full potential — a dynamic that the franchise had largely abandoned in favor of focusing on Goku and Vegeta's eternal rivalry.
Behind the making of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Director Tetsuro Kodama steered this film into genuinely new territory by making it the first Dragon Ball animated feature to be produced primarily using CGI animation rather than traditional hand-drawn techniques. That shift alone signals how seriously Toei Animation was treating this project. The film arrived in 2022 as the twenty-first animated Dragon Ball feature and the second to carry the Dragon Ball Super branding — a distinction that matters because it positions the movie within the broader Dragon Ball Super continuity that began in 2015.
The voice cast remains the backbone of any Dragon Ball production, and here we find Masako Nozawa (the legendary original voice of Goku), Toshio Furukawa (Gohan's longtime voice actor), Yuko Minaguchi, Hiroshi Kamiya, Mamoru Miyano, and others delivering performances that anchor the emotional beats. Movie OTT tracks how these international releases shift across streaming platforms, and the voice work is crucial — whether you're watching the Japanese original or a dubbed version, the cast's chemistry carries the film's slower moments.
At the box office, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero earned $38,112,140 worldwide, a solid return that validated the franchise's willingness to experiment with both narrative focus and animation technique. The film carries a PG-13 rating, making it accessible to younger viewers while maintaining the action intensity that older fans expect. Critics recognized the ambition: it holds a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 65 Metascore, and a 7.1 rating on IMDb from over 18,000 votes — numbers that suggest broad appeal across different audience segments. The film received 2 nominations overall, though it didn't capture major awards, the critical consensus was unmistakably positive.
It's worth noting that this was the fourth and final animated Dragon Ball film produced under the direct supervision of franchise creator Akira Toriyama before his passing in March 2024. That context adds weight to the film — it represents one of Toriyama's final creative statements about these characters he'd nurtured for decades.
What makes Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero stand out
Here's the thing: most Dragon Ball films succeed or fail based on whether they deliver what fans want to see. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero does that — the action is energetic, the humor lands (that classic Toriyama comedic timing shines through), and there are transformations that'll make longtime viewers sit up in their seats. But what separates this film from the pack is its willingness to let quieter moments breathe. The relationship between Piccolo and Gohan carries genuine emotional weight, and watching Piccolo step into a mentorship role feels earned rather than obligatory.
The shift to CGI animation sparked debate among purists, but the visual approach actually serves the story. The film's aesthetic is cleaner and more dynamic than some hand-drawn entries, and it allows for fluid fight choreography that wouldn't be possible with traditional animation techniques. When Gohan and Piccolo clash with the Red Ribbon Army's androids, you're watching martial arts sequences that feel both respectful to the franchise's fighting traditions and visually inventive in ways that justify the animation choice.
What I keep coming back to is how the film trusts its secondary characters. Too many sequels and franchise entries assume audiences only care about the main protagonist — but Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero bets that people will invest in Piccolo's arc, in Gohan's struggle to balance power with responsibility, in Pan's growth. That bet pays off. Reviewers consistently noted that the narrative focus on these characters, combined with Toriyama's humor and the franchise's signature action beats, created something that felt both familiar and genuinely surprising. The humor works brilliantly because it's rooted in character moments rather than just gags — when Pan does something funny, it's funny because we understand who she is.
Where to stream Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero online
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is currently available on Crunchyroll, the primary streaming home for Dragon Ball content. If you're looking to watch this film, Crunchyroll offers both the Japanese original audio and dubbed versions, so you can choose your preferred way to experience it. The platform's library makes it easy to follow the broader Dragon Ball Super timeline if you want to catch up on the series before diving into the movie. For real-time updates on where this title streams — since availability shifts across regions and platforms — check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page on Movie OTT, which aggregates current streaming locations so you don't have to hunt across multiple services.
The 99-minute runtime makes it a manageable watch even if you're catching up on the franchise for the first time, though longtime fans will appreciate the callbacks and character continuity that run throughout.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero a sequel to Dragon Ball Super: Broly?
Yes. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero follows Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) in the franchise timeline. While you don't need to watch Broly first to enjoy this film, having seen it provides helpful context for where the characters are in their arcs.
Q: Who directed Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero?
The film was directed by Tetsuro Kodama. It was the first Dragon Ball animated feature to be produced primarily using CGI animation rather than traditional hand-drawn techniques.
Q: Why does Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero focus on Gohan and Piccolo instead of Goku?
The filmmakers made a deliberate creative choice to center the story on supporting characters, giving them the narrative spotlight and character development they'd rarely received. This decision was risky but ultimately successful — critics and audiences responded positively to the fresh perspective.
Q: What's the box office total for Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero?
The film earned $38,112,140 worldwide, validating the franchise's willingness to experiment with new narrative approaches and animation techniques.
Q: Was Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero the last Dragon Ball film Akira Toriyama worked on?
Yes. This was the fourth and final animated Dragon Ball film produced under Toriyama's direct supervision before his death in March 2024, making it one of his final creative contributions to the franchise.
Final thoughts on Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero isn't perfect — no film is — but it's a genuinely thoughtful entry in a franchise that could easily coast on nostalgia and spectacle. Instead, it chooses to invest in character relationships, to experiment with animation technique, and to trust that audiences care about Piccolo and Gohan as much as they care about Goku. That's a bet worth making. Whether you've watched every Dragon Ball episode or you're just curious about what the franchise looks like in 2022, this film offers energetic action, solid humor, and moments of real emotional resonance. It's proof that even after decades, there's still room for new stories in this universe.
