Let’s cut straight to the Dragon Ball Super-sized elephant in the room. We’re all thinking it: Dragon Ball has been a cultural juggernaut, an untouchable titan in the shonen anime landscape since its debut in 1986. Yet, like a once-vivid star slowly dimming, the franchise is being eclipsed by modern powerhouses such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Demon Slayer.
Well, fear not, Z-Fighters. The answer to Dragon Ball’s declining sparkle might just lie in a solo spinoff series dedicated to none other than Future Trunks. Oh, you heard me right. The lavender-haired, sword-wielding, time-traveling hero could be the savior Dragon Ball didn’t know it needed.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes: The Dimming Star of Dragon Ball
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dragon Ball‘s journey has been stupendous, but let’s face it—the series is not reigning supreme as it once did. With the most recent Dragon Ball Super Broly film lagging behind in the box office, the franchise is losing its edge.
In 2022, Dragon Ball Super didn’t even grace the top 10 in manga sales. Newer titans like JJK, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia have stolen the spotlight.
Irregular releases and a 20-year hiatus before Dragon Ball Super certainly didn’t do the series any favors. Yet, the series is still built on the pillars of greatness that originally made it the king of the shonen universe.
Passing the Torches: What Dragon Ball Can Learn From Boruto and Tokyo Revengers
Naruto did it by giving us Boruto, a series that captured a different essence while keeping the original spirit alive. Dragon Ball has shown inklings of this too, with Goten and Trunks getting more attention in recent Super manga chapters. However, the franchise needs something darker, grittier—a narrative that resonates with the current shonen demographic.
And that’s where Future Trunks comes into the picture. “A Future Trunks spinoff can give Akira Toriyama a reason to take the series in a darker direction that could resonate with the next generation of manga and anime fans,” the argument goes. Just look at Tokyo Revengers; its more grounded tone has made it a massive hit.
Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO – 15 seconds PV (Part 2) pic.twitter.com/fI83mBS48b
— Hype (@DbsHype) May 31, 2022
A Universe Yet Explored: Meet the Cast of Future Trunks’ Timeline
Future Trunks isn’t the only one poised for a breakout performance. His parallel universe is teeming with iconic characters marinated in tragedy and hardship. Take Future Gohan—his story arc is one of the most tragic in Dragon Ball history. It’d be compelling to explore how these grim circumstances molded him into a far more mature individual compared to his main timeline counterpart.
But the spinoff wouldn’t be just about familiar faces. In this alternative universe, we’d likely see a surge of new characters, filling the voids left by non-existent personas like Goten and Pan. Existing characters like Mai could undergo significant arcs, offering a fresh perspective on well-loved individuals.
Unshackled Creativity: Why Future Trunks’ World is the Perfect Sandbox
The Future Trunks storyline would grant the franchise the liberty to innovate.
“It would also give Toriyama room to experiment and try new things in a way that wouldn’t mess with the main timeline of the series,” enthusiasts say. Imagine a more tech-focused narrative where Bulma’s scientific prowess takes center stage, painting a world more akin to Cyberpunk 2077.
Back in 1993, Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks offered a glimpse into a darker, more adult-oriented Dragon Ball universe. It’s time to embrace that vision and expand on it.
The Future (Trunks) is Now!
If there’s ever been a perfect moment for Dragon Ball to shake things up, it’s now. A Future Trunks spinoff can revive the franchise, attract new fans, and simultaneously appease old ones who’ve longed for a darker narrative.
Future Trunks isn’t just an alternative timeline character; he could be the future of Dragon Ball itself—a shot of adrenaline right into the franchise’s Saiyan heart. It’s time for Dragon Ball to step into a new era, and who better to usher in that change than Future Trunks?
So, what are you waiting for, Akira Toriyama? The next chapter is yours to write, and the fans are ready. The Dragon Ball universe has many stories left to tell, and it’s high time Future Trunks got his own epic saga.
