Of all the wild details packed intoDragon Ball Daima, there was one that could be easy to miss. It wasn’t a flashy transformation, a new villain, or even a profound lore drop. Instead, it wasa simple moment lasting only a few seconds that carries a bit more weight than fans may initially realize.
Dragon Ballis known for sneaking in ways to give a nod to its roots, and sometimes,it is done so seamlessly that viewers don’t recognize it at first. However, once it’s pointed out, everything clicks into place and fans understand how clever the moment was. In Episode 18 ofDragon Ball Daima, there is a small nod to the series' roots that fans may have missed at first.
Goku’s Wild Movement in Daima Is More Than Just a Quirk
In a Brief Scene, Goku Can Be Seen Running Like a Monkey
It’s easy to overlook how Goku moves afterhis transformation into Super Saiyan 4 inDaima. Instead of his usual swift, martial arts-inspired footwork, he drops on all fours and sprints like a monkey. The animation almost makes Goku look like a wild beast instead of a seasoned warrior. The sudden shift in his movement is more than a stylistic choice;it is a nod to Goku’s Saiyan ancestry. Saiyans were introduced to the series as a warrior race with deep ties to their primal instincts, and this moment inDaimais a visual representation of Goku tapping into his heritage as a Saiyan.
The way Goku moves during this scene feels oddly familiar, even if it doesn’t click right away. Outside the Great Ape form, fans rarely see Goku or the other Saiyans move in a way that mirrors their primal instincts. Despite being such a short moment,it’s fascinating to see other ways Super Saiyan 4 stands out compared to other Saiyan transformations. Even more interesting is that the movement holds greater significance beyond Goku’s Saiyan ancestry.
Daima Brings Goku Closer to His Original Inspiration
The Scene Is a Subtle Callback to Goku’s Origins, Derived From Chinese Folklore
Goku’s sudden shift in movement is also a direct tribute to his earliest inspiration,Sun Wukong from Journey to the West. The legendary Monkey King, whom Goku is heavily based on, is known for his acrobatic, animalistic motions and has the ability to leap great distances and sprint on all fours. By animating Goku this way inDragon Ball Daima,the series subtly reconnects him to his mythological origins. It reminds fans that despite all the cosmic battles and godly power-ups, Goku’s character is still rooted in a much older story.
Dragon Ball Daima Producer Unpacks Akira Toriyama’s OG Vision For the Anime: “We Made the Most of It”
What makes Daima work is the delicate balance between honoring the late Toriyama’s original vision and crafting a compelling new adventure.
This visual callback also reinforced the idea thatno matter how much Goku changes and evolves throughout the series, he will never lose his core spirit. From the Power Pole to the Flying Nimbus,Dragon Ballhas repeatedly referenced his Sun Wukong origins. Even after all these years,Dragon Ball’sconnection toJourney to the Westremains as strong as ever.
