Toonami Faithful reports that Toonami (Asia) has announced via a press release that they have acquired the distribution rights to premiere the first international broadcast of Dragon Ball Super in Southeast Asia and India. In addition to being the first international release, the broadcast will feature the first English-language dub of the series.

HONG KONG (NOVEMBER 10, 2015) – Toonami, Turner’s kids brand dedicated to delivering the best superhero and action-adventure animation in South and Southeast Asia, has snapped up the latest installment of the Dragon Ball franchise from Toei Animation.

Dragon Ball Super (52×30′) is the first all-new Dragon Ball television series to be produced in nearly 20 years, and will make its pan-regional launch on Toonami in mid-2016. It will be an exclusive first-run premiere on Toonami in Southeast Asia and India, which will also be its English-language world premiere.

“This announcement is huge for fanboys and girls in Asia. Dragon Ball is undoubtedly the original and world’s biggest anime export, and is a cornerstone of our programming on Toonami,” said Mark Eyers, Chief Content Officer for Turner’s Kids Networks in Asia Pacific. “Since the channel launched in 2012, Toonami has been airing episodes of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z Kai, and to premiere Dragon Ball Super demonstrates the channel’s continued commitment to securing must-have and must-see content, first on Toonami.”

Reuniting the franchise’s iconic characters, Dragon Ball Super follows the aftermath of Goku’s fierce battle with Majin Boo, as he attempts to maintain earth’s fragile peace. Overseen by Dragon Ball’s original creator, Akira Toriyama and produced with Fuji Television, Dragon Ball Super will draw on its historic past to create a bold, new universe welcoming to fans and endearing to new viewers.

Introduced as a manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984, Dragon Ball has evolved into a globally beloved brand. Seen around the world, with over 230 million copies of its comic books sold, Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime franchises of all time.

Toonami (Asia) is currently available in markets including Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Pakistan, Maldives, and India. It is not yet clear which company will be producing the English dub slated to be broadcast, but in all likelihood it will be an English dub exclusive to these regions as has been done with previous series and films. We have reached out to Toonami (Asia) and FUNimation for clarification on the matter.

UPDATE: A representative for FUNimation has confirmed to us that the company is not involved with the English dub set to premiere on Toonami (Asia), stating:

FUNimation has no connection with the Toonami Asia Announcement or the premiere of its English language version of Dragon Ball Super in mid-2016.

It is still not yet known which company will be producing the English dub.