Published Jun 30, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
Zach joined the ScreenRant Anime team as a contributor in June 2024, before taking on a Senior Writer role in November. Since then, he has covered breaking news and produced features and lists about the most popular anime titles.
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Nearly three decades on from its premiere, Dragon Ball GT remains the most divisive entry in the iconic anime and manga franchise. For a series that has remained active for over 40 years, Dragon Ball has experienced very few hiccups. Its arrival in the West, years after Akira Toriyama’s original series ended in Japan, caused Goku and company to become global superstars. A few years later, Dragon Ball Z Kai introduced the series to a new generation of fans, before its mid-2010s renaissance, coinciding with the airing of Dragon Ball Super, breathed new life into the franchise.
However, in the eyes of many, 1996’s Dragon Ball GT is one of those hiccups. Released only a few short weeks after the completion of Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT aimed to cash in on the success of the previous series, while attempting to return the franchise to its early, more adventurous roots. The result was 64 episodes that were largely hit or miss.
In the years since, Dragon Ball GT has been all but erased from the franchise’s long, illustrious history, having been removed from the series’ official canon timeline with the airing of Dragon Ball Super. Nevertheless, the anime wasn’t all bad all the time, and many of its best concepts have returned or been rehashed in later entries. And it’s time Dragon Ball GT’s best story concept is revisited.
Much has been picked from Dragon Ball GT over the years. Baby, arguably the best villain in the series, was at the very least influential on the introduction of Dragon Ball Super’s Goku Black. 2024’s Dragon Ball Daima was heavily inspired by GT, reverting its cast to children and eventually revealing an updated version of the iconic Super Saiyan 4. Dragon Ball GT often introduced good ideas, but rarely managed to execute them.
One story concept most deserving of a second chance, however, is Dragon Ball GT’s Shadow Dragons. Acting as the final arc of the anime, the Shadow Dragons Saga took a unique approach with its villains. The Shadow Dragons are born from the constant use and misuse of the Dragon Balls throughout the series, and are set on punishing the inhabitants of Earth for their largely selfish use of the magical wish-granting orbs.
Dragon Ball’s Goku is one of anime’s most recognizable heroes, but Akira Toriyama’s original concept art reveals a version of him fans haven’t seen.
The concept certainly stands out from evil tyrants like Frieza or savage space warriors like the Saiyans. The Shadow Dragons incorporate the series’ central Dragon Balls, and punish the characters for making constant use of their “Get Out of Jail Free” card. It’s also a concept that would work incredibly well today, as Dragon Ball Super has repeatedly shown Bulma and others using the Dragon Balls for their own self-interest, even if their intentions aren’t misguided.
Placing any sort of negative condition on the use of the Dragon Balls would allow for higher stakes in a series where death is never permanent, and no threat cannot be matched. Dragon Ball is currently at a crossroads following the passing of creator Akira Toriyama, and revisiting older concepts like the Shadow Dragons is one way the franchise can move on without Toriyama’s guidance.
Dragon Ball GT’s reputation is far from sparkling, and mostly for good reason. The show is plagued by pacing issues, and struggles with its own identity throughout its early portions. However, it also hits a nice stride during the Baby Saga, and no fan can deny that Super Saiyan 4 is still one of the franchise’s coolest transformations. The series also ends on a high note with the Shadow Dragon Saga, which includes Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta action and a surprisingly emotional conclusion.
Modern Dragon Ball has all but left Dragon Ball GT behind, though recent entries have made good use of a few of the show’s concepts and story arcs. The Shadow Dragons are one concept that remains unique to the series, though it deserves another look at some point down the road in Dragon Ball’s future.