Since 1997, the television channel Cartoon Network has been running a special animation block called Toonami, which features popular anime hits like Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon. The content block offered different material than the usual adult animated shows fans were used to seeing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, like Bob's Burgers and Family Guy, which caused the channel to appeal to a larger audience.

Toonami introduced many new fans to the world of anime, and over the past few decades, has featured some of anime's best series. Now though, Cartoon Network is making some adjustments to Toonami's established schedule, and Dragon Ball Z fans will be less than pleased with the update.

Dragon Ball Z Kai Will No Longer Air on Toonami

One Piece Will Fill Dragon Ball Z’s Timeslot, so Toonami Now Features Two One Piece Episodes in a Row

Toonami is a late-night content block, airing from 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM. The schedule right now features FLCL: Grunge, Common Side Effects, Blue Exorcist, One Piece, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Naruto, and Sailor Moon, with one episode of each airing consecutively in that order. Currently, Dragon Ball Z Kai, airs during the 2:00 AM timeslot on Toonami, but that is about to change. According to an X post by the One Piece instead, so two episodes of One Piece will play in a row.

This is a disappointing development for Dragon Ball Z fans, but an excellent one for One Piece lovers, since One Piece's time on Toonami is now expanding from one half-hour block to a full hour, allowing for more of the anime to be shown on the channel. Cartoon Network changes the Toonami anime schedule often based on viewership, so it is no major surprise that they have made this significant adjustment to the lineup. One Piece is one of the most watched anime in the world, so perhaps there is more demand for One Piece among Toonami s than Dragon Ball Z.

With a New One Piece Season on the Way, It Deserves the Toonami Spotlight

Since One Piece’s Anime Hiatus Is Set to End Soon, This Is the Best Time to Draw Attention to the Series

As one , @unguided1700, remarked in the comments on @CNschedules's X post, this seemingly disheartening change may be a blessing in disguise, improving the pace of One Piece with a more suitable airing schedule. One Piece is an extremely long manga, and the anime is currently at over 1,000 episodes. If Cartoon Network only plays one episode of One Piece each night on Toonami, it would move through the expansive story at a snail's pace, so showing two episodes nightly will allow for more of One Piece to be featured on the channel before it adjusts its schedule again.

Toonami to feature re-runs of the anime in order to jog fans' memories in anticipation of the next season and perhaps even introduce new viewers to One Piece before the anime releases even more content. Thankfully, Dragon Ball Z fans can still catch their favorite series on other streaming platforms, and One Piece fans can enjoy One Piece's well-deserved time in the Toonami spotlight.

Source: @CNschedules on X