The wildly popular "Dragon Ball" franchise will return in July with its first new, original television anime series in 18 years. The last was  "Dragon Ball GT," which aired from 1996 to 1997.

Anime News Network reports that "Dragon Ball Super" is set a few years after the defeat of the planet-destroying Majin Buu/Majin Boo, at a time when Earth is peaceful again. "Dragon Ball" creator Akira Toriyama is credited with "original story and character concepts."

“As I read the plot [of the series] I've already received from Akira Toriyama, my dreams for this begin to expand, " said Fuji TV producer Osamu Nozaki. "An enemy even stronger than Buu or Freeza may appear ...”

The new film "Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F,'" which is also set after the Majin Buu Saga, opened April 18 in Japan. The 19th film in the franchise, it made its North American premiere April 11; it will receive theatrical release this summer.

(Note: That's art from a "Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'" poster above, not from "Dragon Ball Super.")