Dragon Ball Daimahas been a breath of fresh air in a series that spans over 40 years of celebrated history. In the time since its earliest chapters, the strange, tailed boy named Goku has gone from adventures with friends and fighting in martial arts tournaments, to defeating space tyrants and gods.Scale no longer holds much meaning in the world ofDragon Ball, where any of the main cast of characters has the ability to destroy entire solar systems at will.
Dragon Ball Daima, however, has stripped the franchise to its core, revealing the adventurous spirit andsense of wonder that has hidden dormant since Goku’s childhood. Its introduction of the Demon Realm has placed charactersboth old and new in intense and comedic situations. In one episode, Goku can partake in a bar fight reminiscent of an old Space Western, and in another, show off all his Super Saiyan theatrics in a fight with one of the wildly powerful Tamigami.
Daima, to me, has felt more like classicDragon Ballthan any other entry that followed the original series' conclusion. And a large part of that has to do with the legendary author, Akira Toriyama’s involvement in the anime. His vision and understanding of his own propertyis felt in just about every aspect ofDaima, and while the series benefits greatly from his involvement, it also raises alarms concerning the future of the franchise.Dragon Ballhas struggled without its original creator before,and may be poised to struggle again without him in the future.
Dragon Ball Daima Feels Fresh Thanks to Its Creator
Akira Toriyama Is Able to Capture the Magic of Dragon Ball in Daima
A large portion of theDragon Ballfanbase felt conflicted following the announcement ofDaima. The massively popularDragon Ball Superanime had already finished airing for over five years prior to the announcement,and many were looking forward to the continuation of the series. While the news that a sequel series would not be coming disappointed some in theDragon Ballfandom, the prospect of an all-new adventure led by Akira Toriyama was just as exciting.
It’s taken its time getting into the action, butDragon Ball Daimahas been consistently impressive in its visuals, story, and setting.The Demon Realm oozes with Toriyama’s distinct world-building style, featuring mysterious characters that fit classic archetypes, as well as strange yet stylish technology reminiscent of the capsule corp inventions of earlyDragon Ball. There is a distinct sense of wonder and awe at Toriyama’s creations that the series has sorely missed in newer entries.
Dragon Ball Daima’s Demon Realm Isn’t Just Great, It Confirms What Makes Akira Toriyama A Once-In-A-Lifetime Master
Dragon Ball Daima is set to take place in the Demon Realm, a previously unexplored world that could’ve only been created by the great Akira Toriyama.
There’s no doubt thatDragon Ballhas survived all this time because of its iconic battles and action. Not only are many of its heroes household names, but its villains have become just as recognizable for the evil roles they’ve played. ButDragon Balldoesn’t only find its magic in the extravagant fights littered throughout its long history,but also in the smaller wondrous details of its world. Unfortunately, Akira Toriyama, the man responsible for the magic, passed away before the airing ofDragon Ball Daima.
His work on the series has spoken for itself, expertly capturing the heart ofDragon Ballwhile exploring new ideas and scenarios. Going forward, however, the series' future is largely unclear without its original creator at the helm.
Dragon Ball Has a Spotty History Without Toriyama
GT and Super Lacked the Magic That Made Dragon Ball Special
Dragon Ball, under the supervision of Akira Toriyama, finished with the original manga’s final chapter, and remained inactive until its revival in the early 2010s. During the nearly two decades between, the franchise introducedits most divisive entry to date,Dragon Ball GT. As a child in the early to mid 2000s, coming acrossDragon Ball GTfelt like finding hidden treasure every time I stayed up late, secretly flipping through the channels of the television.
Through more mature eyes, the series is still entertaining, yet lacks a lot of what madeDragon Ballso special. Its early sections are an absolute slog,trying and failing to emulate the sense of adventure that defined Toriyama’s work, before falling back on the successful formula of adding transformations and upping the action. ToGT’s credit, the transformation the series introduced was the beloved Super Saiyan 4, which fans are still begging to see return. In its entirety, however, the anime is extremely hit or miss.
Dragon Ball Super, though featuring collaborative efforts from Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou, suffers from the same lack of consistency, and largelyfails to capture that sense of wonder the original series had in bunches. Though the series really picks up with the clever and energetic Goku Black Arc, it trips over its own feet fairly often in the sections leading up to the false Goku’s arrival. Without Toriyama giving a fully fleshed out vision of the world ofDragon Ball, its entries struggle to capture the series' true essence.
What Could Be Next For Dragon Ball?
The Dragon Ball Super Manga Has Yet to Return
BeforeDaima, theDragon Ball Supermanga was going strong, finishing up its own adaptation of theDragon Ball Super: Super Herofilm. Gohan received his new Beast form, andwas training with Brolyon Beerus' planet.Having introduced the mysterious Black Frieza nearly two years ago, fans assumed the series was gearing up to feature the two characters in a battle with the powered-up space tyrant.
Unfortunately, before any fighting could begin, however, the passing of Akira Toriyama placed the series on an indefinite hiatus. WhileDragon Ball Superis slated to appear at Jump Festa in December, there is still no word on whether the series will return in any capacity without its legendary creator.
Dragon Ball Daima Is a Clear Love Letter to Akira Toriyama and His Grand Work on Dragon Quest
Dragon Ball Daima is taking a lot of influence from Dragon Quest for its story, and as a fan of both franchises, I couldn’t be happier about that.
Dragon Ball Daimahas been fantastic thus far, showcasing Toriyama’s greatest strengths while introducing new and fresh concepts to the franchise. However, the quality isindicative of just how great an author the series' creator was, and raises questions regardingDragon Ball’s future without him. Each version ofDragon Ballwithout Toriyama is lacking the series' distinct magic, and until a series shows what it can do with someone else at the helm, fans will have to sit back and enjoy the legendary author’s final vision for his series.
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.
