Since this is the first time I've really paid attention to a Toei show In a while I guess I just wasn't aware.
It does make me wonder what the plans are. Since the show does use terminology and names from the games, there's a bit of localization that's required and not just straight translation. I mean, optimistically, I feel like there's a chance if they push it. Get it on something like Toonami ASAP (or MAYBE bring it to a daytime network like CN or Disney XD ala Yokai Watch or Pokémon ), bring the games out with the dub voice cast, it could bring in more fans to the series. But since this is Square Enix, I doubt the thought has really crossed their minds.
So, yeah, uh, regarding Cartoon Network, Disney, (and Nickelodeon too): The market for licensing stuff is practically dead and even networks are slowly starting to wrap down on day time television and focusing more on demand for at least two of the three aforementioned networks. The children's landscape has changed so much and it'd been one of the first areas of television to have been hit the hardest prior to older targeted television, as both networks and children companies noticed the trend around 2012/13. Pokemon is now digital only via Netflix here in the US, Yokai Watch has been cancelled effectively (with Disney occasionally pulling it in and out), and really, in terms of localized anime that a network isn't co-producing (so not including Bakugan), Beyblade remains the only one airing as of right now.
Adult Swim is still heavily investing in anime here, both in co-productions and just outright licensing from Japan and local licensors, that said. So if it has a chance, I'd likely see it airing on Toonami here and I do think it could absolutely pull in the Dragon Ball crowd, if the marketing is done right. Toonami has always been strongest when it comes to marketing and I think they could have a huge hit if they play their cards right. And thankfully, given what I've been seeing with Dragon Ball Super and My Hero Academia, if they still want their Kids demographic, they'll likely still very successfully get that.
That said, I'm not sure what's going to go on with the localization of the names. I suspect Shueisha, for at least the characters, probably to match the Japanese. As for the monsters and abilities, I'd imagine likely will see the names match the current terminology.
Either way, I'm hopeful this will do well. If anything, I'm hoping Toei and Adult Swim had already negotiated this awhile back and I did, personally, find it a bit curious how Dragon Ball Super, out of nowhere, came back to lead off the schedule. So who knows. Hopefully we'll hear something asap.
Still, I've been waiting for this adaptation for about 16 years when I first saw it around 2004 with the old adaptation. I'm going to be watching this every week, so help me. It was always my dream adaptation and I'm glad we're getting it. It still feels so freaking unreal to me that it's gonna be airing in less than a month from now.
