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Dragon Ball Daima is the most anticipated entry in the franchise after fans had been starving for a new Dragon Ball anime. It started airing in Fall 2024 and finished airing about a week ago. Was it satisfactory to fans, or was it a complete and utter disappointment? Let’s find out.

The Anticipation

There had been some rumors that a new Dragon Ball anime was in production, though there was no official confirmation or reliable leak. That was soon put to rest when a new anime was officially confirmed, and a teaser was released on October 12, 2023. The announcement emphasized that the author, Akira Toriyama himself, was working alongside the animators and handling the story. Despite doubts from fans, the staff insisted that he was, in fact, “deeply involved beyond his usual capacity.” Aside from that, the teaser trailer was somewhat controversial due to the overall premise, character design, and the lazy design of the “DAIMA” logo.

Regardless, it generated hype that brought Dragon Ball fans crawling out of their shells, waiting in excitement. In March 2024, Akira Toriyama sadly passed away, leaving behind his final work, which further stirred interest among fans, prompting them to give the show a watch.
When it aired, it naturally received mixed reviews, being labeled as the new GT. The introduction of new lore and retcons also sparked heated discussions about how it ties into Super in terms of continuity. However, it delivered what fans showed up for: insanely amazing fights.

The Animation and Fight Scenes

The production quality of the anime is top-notch, with very little room for compromise. It seems the studio learned from their previous mistakes with Super and planned well in advance before the release. This resulted in some of the most exhilarating fight scenes ever aired on TV through traditionally hand-drawn animation. It reminded the world that Dragon Ball remains unmatched in delivering over-the-top fight sequences. There are moments that can make an average fan’s skin crawl and forget to breathe.

Other anime that come to mind are One Piece, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, the newest addition Solo Leveling, and My Hero Academia, which to some extent, come close to this level of animation.

There are lots of nuances in every fight throughout the anime’s 20-episode run. There’s a battle that showcases a David vs. Goliath scenario, with Mini-Goku singlehandedly taking on a whole bunch of ruffians or soldiers, paying homage to the OG Dragon Ball. Then, there are fights against literal giants in forests and oceans, group battles against raid-boss-type enemies, and, of course, the good old-fashioned, over-the-top, spectacular, hype-filled one-on-one showdowns. Every fight is unique, with creative choreography that keeps things fresh and exciting. On top of that, the climactic moments feel satisfying and provide a strong sense of closure.

The Characters

💥🎇🎊-Spoilers ahead-🎊🎇💥

Dragon Ball Daima introduces new characters with distinct personalities and quirks, each serving a purpose in the story with clear motivations. Some fell a bit short, though, and many fans concluded they were wasted potential. Among the new and old characters, some shined brighter than others.

Former villains like Piccolo and Vegeta became the disrespected duo, Supreme Kai Shin could have played a larger role in the story with the drama between him and his siblings, Panzy felt like a background character most of the time despite a strong introduction, and the final boss, Gomah, had a goofy and unintimidating design.

Glorio

Aside from that, there were some great character moments. Glorio, by far, shined the most with his bold decision to go against his orders. It was dramatic irony that he might betray Goku and the others, but in the end, he turned expectations around. His character arc felt completely fulfilled, and Goku later welcomed him to the group with open arms. It was genuinely a heartwarming moment.

Goku

Let’s not forget the main character of the series, Goku. Not even for a moment did he feel out of character or immature, unlike in GT and Super. Despite his mini stature, he felt experienced and wise, and definitely not annoyingly cocky—except when he naturally acts like a kid, even in his adult form. He knows how to handle situations, as seen when he calmly hides from Gomah’s army, schools Glorio, and accepts that Gomah cannot be defeated alone and requires teamwork. We have missed this version of Goku since Z, and we gladly appreciate seeing him in character, reflecting all the growth he’s been through.

The Majins

Arinsu and the two newly born Majins, Kuu and Duu, had strong presences. Arinsu manipulated Gomah to go against Goku and the Z-fighters so they would take out Gomah for her. It was satisfying to see her plan fall apart, though she could have had more depth. Degesu, on the other hand, was the typical idiotic henchman meant to be slapped aside, much like the Gendarmerie Force.

Neva, the old Namekian, played a crucial role in assisting Goku and the others against Gomah. He was also part of some important lore regarding the Dragon Ball universe. His addition to the story was welcome, though the self-centered Hybis was not as well received. That aside, the Third Demon World King, Kadan & his army, and the drive-in shop owners in the middle of nowhere were fun additions, adding new elements to ponder.

Dragon Ball Daima is full of such colorful character that we fans often don’t pay much attention to and it’s nice to see them shine in one way or another.

Was Dragon Ball Daima Disappointing?

Now, the main question—why does everyone think it was disappointing? For starters, it looks oddly similar to GT, with its adventure-based plot of gathering Dragon Balls. Given GT‘s mixed reception, that comparison alone didn’t sit well with many fans. Some characters were completely cut off, but this helped prevent overcrowding and kept the story focused. However, the retcons and new lore conflicted with Super, which is supposed to be a sequel to Z, whereas Daima takes place in between.

Super Saiyan 4

The addition of Super Saiyan 4 made little sense. The transformation originally required a tail, but Goku didn’t have one here. It also required mastering the Great Ape form. Unlike the linear transformations of Super Saiyan 2 and 3, Super Saiyan 4 was thought to be a unique evolution. Seeing Goku effortlessly transform into it was confusing and felt like a massive troll.

Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta (Ultra Vegeta 1)

On the contrary, Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta is a welcome addition, as fans have been eager to see Vegeta reach a new height. It was initially called Super Saiyan 3 but was later changed to Ultra Vegeta 1. It’s a unique form exclusive to Vegeta, so that’s a bonus.

Join Bug Fusion

In episode 4, they introduced a game-changing new element: the concept of the Medi Bug. The Join Bug is a type of Medi Bug that allows multiple consumers to fuse together temporarily. Albeit, it would be an overused trope to introduce fusion when we already got two new transformations, but we could’ve seen a three-person fusion for the first time with Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo, as implied in the picture in the shop. We could’ve seen some interesting, cool abilities with Namekian magic and Super Saiyan transformation.

Other than that, we could’ve seen a fusion between Majin Kuu and Duu, both symbolizing an incomplete state of fusion—one being skinny and the other fat. They could’ve fused together to reach a perfect form and take on Gomah. Then, the story might’ve dragged a bit longer, and Goku might not have had the chance to shine.

Final Review

The story and pacing in Dragon Ball Daima were well-handled, with each character getting a moment to shine. While some elements could have been expanded, it might have compromised the flow. The plot already had a sense of urgency—to save a kidnapped friend and return to normal. Dragging it out for 100 episodes would have been unnecessary. So it’s not like they can explore every nook and cranny of the Demon World by dragging it out for 100 episodes. No, thank you. I’d have to pass on a story that drags on with poor production quality, lazy writing, and bait by greedy producers.

The story and pacing is handled well in Dragon Ball Daima with each characters got the chance to be in the spotlight for a moment. Yes, there were other ways of handling it and adding all the elements introduced but not without compromising the flow and cohesion. The plot already set itself with an urgency to save a kidnapped friend and turning back to normal. So it’s not like they can explore every nook and cranny of the Demon World by dragging it for 100 episodes. No, thank you. I’d have to pass on a story that drags on with poor production quality, lazy writing, and bait for the greedy producers.

The main villain, Gomah, had a repetitive gimmick: he gets beaten, gets revived by the Tertian Oculus, and gets beaten again. This reminded fans of the Blutz Waves from GT. Despite his goofy design, the fights themselves were spectacular, featuring amazing animation, choreography, and a fitting conclusion.

Dragon Ball Daima may have received mixed reviews, but it is a solid and faithful adaptation of Toriyama’s vision. The animators understood the story’s intent—to bring back the adventure vibe that made Dragon Ball what it is—and Daima served that purpose well.

The Post Credit Scene

In the last episode, after the credits rolled, they added a post-credit scene fully animated by a freelance animator named Takeshi Kojima, who put emphasis on character expressions and movements. It’s a cherry on top, and let me tell you—it’s a treat. Every character has lively, expressive movements that fit the tone of the voice acting perfectly. We’ve never seen anything like it in a Dragon Ball anime. Sure, there are insanely amazing fight scenes, but this one takes the cake with just a mundane moment at the very end of the show. If you’ve missed it, I highly recommend checking it out.

Dragon Ball Daima Season 2

At this point, we can only speculate. Maybe they’ll explore more of the Demon Realm and introduce a new threat, possibly even showcasing Join Bug fusion. However, with the potential return of the Dragon Ball Super anime, a second season of Dragon Ball Daima might not happen anytime soon.

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