Insanely popular Japanese arcade & trading card game Dragon Ball Heroes has received an anime adaptation based on it’s “Super Dragon Ball Heroes” line. Taking place sometime after Dragon Ball Super, Trunks wants to train with Goku & Vegeta to get stronger, however Future Mai informs the two that Future Trunks has been taken, suddenly a mysterious character named Fu appears and explains the whereabouts of Vegeta’s son.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes is a 2018 promotional anime series based on the arcade & trading card game of the same name. It is produced by Toei Animation and licensed by Bandai. It is currently available only in Japan via the official website and the official ‘Heroes’ YouTube channel.

Editor’s Note: This review contains near complete to complete spoilers for Dragon Ball Heroes Episode 1.

Goku training on Beerus’ planet with Vegeta and Whis.

While most of the world waits for the return of Dragon Ball in terms of another long-form anime as well as the upcoming film, Japan is lucky enough to receive a country exclusive web series based on their country exclusive trading card & arcade game Dragon Ball Hero. Trunks has been transported to the Prison Planet by Fu, a mysterious character with interest our timeline’s Goku & Vegeta. After meeting Xeno/Time Patrol Goku, our Goku faces off against him in a quick battle.

Fu as he appears in Dragon Ball Heroes.

THE GOOD: Ok just to make things clear, Super Dragon Ball Heroes is a PROMOTIONAL ANIME SERIES for the game, so please keep that in mind in regards of what to expect. Anyone expecting a full on series will be sadly mistaken and disappointed. Moving on, it seems that this will be a series of shorts as the run time for episode one was a little over eight minutes and a half. Even with the short run time there’s a lot going on. Goku & Vegeta from our timeline are training on Beerus’ planet with Whis, but Future Mai informs them that Trunks had planned on joining the duo in their training, however he was captured by Fu who is the warden of a planet known as Prison Planet which holds several criminals from multiple timelines and universes.

SSJ4 Goku vs SSJB Goku!

Fu suddenly arrives and further explains the situation to Goku & Vegeta, the two along with Future Mai go to Prison Planet in an attempt to rescue Future Trunks, however Vegeta senses a powerful ki within the area similarly to that of Goku’s and then Xeno Goku arrives on the scene. Mistaking Goku, Vegeta, and Future Mai as allies of Fu, Xeno Goku attacks and a battle ensues. The battle concludes after Goku and Xeno Goku are able to reach an understanding.  Future Mai is confused by Fu’s purpose, but after stating that it’s “just for fun” Xeno Goku sends a ki blast towards him which he easily fends off. Fu further explains that six other fighters within Prison Planet own a Dragon Ball and they’re needed to escape the experimental planet, Xeno Goku shows our Goku and the others his own Dragon Ball and they decide to work together. Meanwhile, Future Trunks awakens inside Prison Planet and is looking for an escape, suddenly Final Form Cooler appears demanding a Dragon Ball and a mysterious Saiyan is shown. Music used for the short is a pretty fun listen with a more cheery and upbeat vibe compared to the action-packed dramatic vibe of the core OST. The animation is pretty solid for a short Dragon Ball web series, and the story is at the very least decent enough if you have some kind of knowledge of “Heroes” and its characters.

Goku with Xeno Goku!

THE BAD: It’s a bit fast paced and the story can be confusing and out of whack if you’re uninformed about Dragon Ball Heroes.

Future Trunks on Prison Planet.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Super Dragon Ball Heroes won’t be what core Dragon Ball fans had come to expect, but for what it is episode 1 is a very entertaining, albeit short first run. Otaku Dome gives Dragon Ball Heroes episode 1 a 70 out of 100.