Adult Swim Officially Replaces Sailor Moon With the Best Anime of 2009

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

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

Dragon Ball Z Kai Will Replace Sailor Moon on Adult Swim Starting on April 13

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

Dragon Ball Z Kai was met with massive acclaim when it first premiered in 2009. The remastered version of the legendary anime series sought to condense the most important scenes into a more cohesive and easily digestible release, with Kai also featuring new music and re-recorded vocal tracks. For those currently looking beyond the power of nostalgia, Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block is also going strong in 2026, with the most current lineup featuring heavy-hitting series like Dandadan, Blue Lock, Tokyo Revengers, and One Piece.

In the meantime, fans on social media are calling out Adult Swim for pulling Sailor Moon yet again, with many stating that the popular shojo series "can't catch a break." Despite boasting a massive fanbase in the late 90s and early 2000s, Takeuchi's magnum opus was eventually pulled from the air in 2001, only returning to TV in the US in May 2024 as part of Toonami Rewind. It remained on Adult Swim from January to June 2025, only popping up again for this short-lived return.

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 requesting that other vintage series make a comeback, including Tenchi Muyo, Outlaw Star, The Big O, YuYu Hakusho, and Rurouni Kenshin, just to name a few. While this seems unlikely at this point, the internet continues to ensure that its voice is heard, and it remains to be seen whether these gateway anime will ever make their way back to American television for a new generation to enjoy.