When the "Dragon Ball" story ended in 1997 with the "Dragon Ball GT" arc, fans were hoping that a new story would unfold featuring their most beloved "Dragon Ball" characters. Eighteen years later, their dreams would become a reality, as a new series will air this year.

Already confirmed for a July 5 debut, the new anime series is titled "Dragon Ball Super." The story immediately follows events after the defeat of Majin Buu, and will pick up where "Dragon Ball Z Kai" left off. The upcoming series also bridges the gaps in between "Kai" and the newest film in the franchise, "Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'." 

In addition, hardcore fans who are worrying that the new anime series will deviate from what they have loved in the "Dragon Ball" story will be pleased to know that the story and plot in the upcoming series have the blessing of Akira Toriyama, the original creator of the "Dragon Ball" world. The new series will again feature Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and the other Z warriors and characters that make up the original "Dragon Ball" series. 

To keep the series more interesting, it is rumored that villains will ultimately appear, with some being touted as much stronger than Majin Buu. 

To commemorate the release of the new anime series in the "Dragon Ball" franchise, "Dragon Ball Super" will also get a manga adaptation. This serialization will be penned by Toyotaro, who previously drew the 3-chapter adaptation of the released "Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'" movie. The manga will be published in Shueisha's V Jump magazine in August. 

The "Dragon Ball" franchise is one of the longest-running and most successful series in pop culture, with the original manga series branching out into films, graphic novels, game titles, and other merchandise. The characters have also evolved to become pop culture icons, with Goku, the main protagonist in the series, being one of the most-loved and most-recognized figures in pop culture.