Dragon Ball Daima - Netflix - bringing back Dragon Ball GT

Dragon Ball Daima is a 20-episode anime series that pays tribute to the long-running Dragon Ball franchise. Initially planned for release a few years earlier, it coincidentally became a posthumous project following the passing of series creator Akira Toriyama. Though not officially recognised as Toriyama’s final work, speculation suggests he may have been involved in another Dragon Ball project before his passing, leaving Daima with a somewhat ambiguous legacy.

Story & Narrative

The series introduces new villains from the Demon Realm: Gomah, Degesu, and Arinsu. Gomah, now the Demon King after Dabura’s death at the hands of Majin Buu, uses Earth’s Dragon Balls to transform all the main heroes into children—while turning existing child characters into babies. This means Goku, Vegeta and Piccolo are turned into children, while existing children Trunks and Goten are turned into babies. There is an interesting disappearance of Gohan in this whole series, likely a choice to avoid some potential issues having Goku and Gohan at the same age. This premise, reminiscent of Dragon Ball GT, evokes both nostalgia and narrative concerns, especially when considering how Daima fits into the continuity of Dragon Ball Super.

The adventure kicks off during Trunks’ birthday celebration, where Goku and Vegeta engage in a friendly spar before the unexpected transformation occurs. The heroes, including a de-aged Goku, Supreme Kai, Panzy, and Glorio, embark on a journey through the Demon Realm to collect three Demon Realm Dragon Balls to restore their original forms and rescue the kidnapped Dende. The story structure benefits from stronger world-building compared to GT, as the villains are established early, and the lore surrounding the Supreme Kai’s heritage and Namekian history expands meaningfully. The Demon Realm itself is a colourful place, full of intrigue and dangerous foes.

Strengths of the Series

Exploring the Demon Realm: Daima introduces intriguing elements, including Supreme Kai lineage, Namekian history, and a deeper dive into the mystical Third Eye, which seemingly played a role in explaining why Dabura didn’t unleash his full potential during Dragon Ball Z.
Exciting Character Introductions: New characters like Panzy, Glorio, Majin Kuu, and Duu add depth to the series, while familiar faces undergo interesting transformations.
Superb Animation: Visually, Daima excels with vibrant animation and fluid fight sequences, elevating it beyond past Dragon Ball installments.
Stronger Narrative Pacing: Unlike GT, the pacing is more refined, avoiding filler-heavy segments and focusing on character development and progression.
Iconic Transformations: The series features surprising transformations, including Vegeta’s ability to transform into Super Saiyan 3 (renamed Ultra Vegeta 1) and Daima’s version of Super Saiyan 4.

Points of Controversy & Weaknesses

Rehashing the GT Concept: While an intentional homage, Daima’s premise raises questions about its necessity, given the franchise’s previous attempt at a de-aged Goku storyline.
Continuity Confusion: The revelation that Goku may have been aware of Super Saiyan 4 during his Majin Buu training feels inconsistent with the established lore, especially given that Goku, during his first fight with Beerus on King Kai’s planet refers to Super Saiyan 3 as his highest form, in relation to Dragon Ball Super.
Unclear Future Direction: The series ends with the characters still in the Demon Realm, leaving the door open for a potential second season. Perhaps even a film centered around Dragon Ball Daima? We may even see Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta and a fusion of the two characters using those unused bugs. However, its connection to the larger Dragon Ball timeline remains uncertain.

Final Verdict

Dragon Ball Daima successfully captures the adventurous spirit of classic Dragon Ball while integrating modern storytelling and high-quality animation. Despite some continuity concerns and its heavy GT influence, the series remains an enjoyable watch for long-time fans. Whether Daima is a stepping stone for future Dragon Ball projects or a one-off celebratory anime, it serves as a fitting, if controversial, tribute to 40 years of Dragon Ball history.

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