Adult Swim officially replaces Sailor Moon as the best anime of 2009

In February, longtime magical girl fans were delighted to find out Sailor Moon would return to Cartoon Network's legendary Adult Swim series. Unfortunately, this joy will not be too long-lived, as it has now been officially confirmed Dragon Ball Z Kai will replace Sailor Moon starting on Monday, April 13. While both series are beloved by fans, many are frustrated that the Sailor Scouts are being pulled from the air so soon after their triumphant return. Dragon Ball Z Kai fans will be happy to know that some fresh episodes are finally making their way to the small screen.

Both Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z has had a long history on Cartoon Network, with both first appeared on Toonami in 1998. Those who weren't a fan of the latter's filler were delighted when Dragon Ball Z Kaia remastered and shortened iteration of Akira Toriyama's beloved adaptation, was brought to Adult Swim's Toonami block uncut in 2014. The show's presence has garnered plenty of praise from viewers, who love to see their favorite scenes and characters remastered for a modern audience. However, some wonder if other classic series should get more time in the spotlight.

A shared image showing characters from the Sailor Moon Anime

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Dragon Ball Z Kai will replace Sailor Moon on Adult Swimming starting April 13th

As confirmed by Cartoon Network, Dragon Ball Z Kai will replace Sailor Moon beginning Monday, April 13 during the 5:00 AM ET programming block. The latter had just returned to the lineup, with reruns airing on March 9, prompting backlash from fans eager to see the show finally return to the small screen. Thank God, while Dragon Ball Z Kai has seemed stuck in the Frieza Saga during its recent returns, fans can now look forward to fresher content. The first episode airs on April 13, 'The Angry Super Saiyan! Goku Throws Down the Gauntlet,' is just six episodes from the start of the Cell Saga, suggesting that Adult Swim has reacquired the rights to this beloved installment of the series after letting them lapse.

Dragon Ball Z Kai was met with huge acclaim when it premiered in 2009. The remastered version of the legendary anime series attempted to condense the most important scenes into a more cohesive and digestible release, with Kai also with new music and re-recorded vocal tracks. For those currently looking beyond the power of nostalgia, Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block will also be going strong in 2026, with the latest lineup of heavy series that Dandadan, Blue lock, Tokyo Revengersand One Piece.

Meanwhile, fans on social media are calling for Adult Swim to pull the plug Sailor Moon again, with many saying the popular shojo series “can't catch a break.” Despite a huge fanbase in the late 90s and early 2000s, Takeuchi's magnum opus was eventually taken off the air in 2001, only returning to US television in May 2024 as part of Toonami Rewind. It remained on Adult Swim from January to June 2025, only reappearing for this short-lived return.

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While Dragon Ball Z has remained a pillar of Toonami's history for nearly three decades, fans who grew up with the TV block are also clamoring for other vintage shows to make a comeback, including Tenchi Muyo, Outlaw Star, The big O, Yu Yu Hakushoand Rurouni Kenshinjust to name a few. While this seems unlikely at this point, the internet continues to make its voice heard, and it remains to be seen if these gateway anime will ever make it back to American television for a new generation to enjoy.