Dragon Ball DAIMAhas impressed longtime fans of Akira Toriyama’s creations due to its demonstrable handling of the source material with a keen eye on the franchise’s future. The series is a charming showcase of Toriyama-original character designs as a swan song for the series under its original creator, standing taller than other recent anime projects. The anime does well to stand above the earliest episodes ofDragon Ball Super, the series set afterDragon Ball DAIMAon the timeline, byimmediately boasting great animation and art direction.
Part ofDragon Ball DAIMA’sallure is its attentiveness to the franchise’s lore while bringing it into new yet familiar places, such as theDemon Realm and its corresponding Dragon Balls. The series isn’t a radical restructuring of the plot. While viewers may perceive it as an alternate timeline rather than an outright expansion, it’s a remarkable return to form on the franchise’s 40th Anniversary. Butthe animation ofDragon Ball DAIMAis unmistakably goodcompared toDragon Ball Super,which took dozens of episodes to reach a more commonly accepted quality standard.
Dragon Ball DAIMA’s Animation and Art Direction Are Incredible
Dragon Ball Super Should Take Notes for Its Eventual Return
With Akira Toriyama contributing character designs and franchise veteran Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru adapting Toriyama’s work for the screen,Dragon Ball DAIMAshows impressive visual fidelity and smooth animation in its debut.This is a stark contrast toDragon Ball Super, which ranged from underwhelming in its initial episodes to egregiously uninspired, like in episode 5, to frustrating and weak in episode 25.Dragon Ball DAIMAis still brand new, but its filmic first episode feels appropriately well-produced before its release, with its visuals worthy of theupcoming theatrical release for its English dub.
10 Biggest Dragon Ball Daima Episode #1 Moments & Reveals Explained
Dragon Ball Daima is a phenomenally exciting new series, with the anime’s first episode unloading a shocking array of reveals.
Dragon Ball DAIMAeasily won overDragon Ball Zfans with its rendition of key moments across the series, manga-accurate portrayals of iconic Toriyama panels, and dynamically-lit shots throughout its debut. It’s an easy sell with Toei Animation putting its best foot forward as the studio entersa hiatus on its biggest series,One Piece. But the animation quality is a strong reminder ofDragon Ball DAIMA’sgreater efficiency with the three-episode rule thanDragon Ball Super’s.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Doesn’t Take 27 Episodes to Get Good
A Crucial Quality in the Age of Streaming
With an impressive amount of lore connectingDragon Ball DAIMAtoSuperand the rest of the franchise,DAIMAhas had no trouble enticing fans and garnering positive reception for its debut. One episode introduces a compelling yet entertaining new group of villains,a crowd-pleasing sparring match between Goku and Vegeta, andimpressive reanimated moments, particularly from the Majin Buu Saga. WhileDragon Ball Supergets undeniably better in the Universe 6 Saga,Dragon Ball DAIMAis strong yet approachable story-wise and has robust visuals in episode #1 alone.
That being said, people everywhere will watch theDragon Ball DAIMAanime weekly to see if this trend upholds itself. After all, anime likeTower of Godwith its disappointing animationin season 2 have suffered lower appeal, andDragon Ballis certainly not immune. Still, viewers will be hard-pressed to deny thatDragon Ball DAIMA’s impressive debut has fixed the main issue plaguingDragon Ball Super’s early episodes.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Cast
Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
