The universes and characters of Akira Toriyama get a glorious new debut in the Fall of 2024 withDragon Ball DAIMA, a new series that isanswering many fan questions within its first episodes. However, the series is a compelling case of an intensive lore dump for lifelong fans and an opportunity for newcomers to get familiar with a brand-new vision of the series. But the impressive reveals and biggest moments ofDragon Ball Daimaepisode #1 help shape the direction for the series going forward, introduce new factors to the franchise formula, and provide interesting answers to long-standing questions.
Viewers' experience of watchingDragon Ball DAIMAis wholly nostalgic despite its being a new story. In the process, it dives into underappreciated elements of the latest sagas ofDragon Ball Z. This is especially appropriate, givenDAIMA’s close position to the Buu Saga in theDragon Balltimeline,introducing exciting aspects of the Demon Realmand bringing it front and center for viewers. While these contribute to some of the biggest reveals inDragon Ball DAIMAepisode #1, some developments are more subtle yet similarly significant.
10Dragon Ball DAIMA Confirms Its Place on the Franchise Timeline
A Telltale Birthday Celebration
InDragon Ball Daimaepisode #1, confusion about its placement on the timeline was quickly resolved near the latter portion when the Z Warriors celebrated Trunks' ninth birthday.The series is set after the end of the Buu Saga and years before the Peaceful World Saga, meaning there’s breathing room for the show to have an exciting adventure before the events ofDragon Ball Super. ButDragon Ball Daima’stimeline placement, while exciting, is one of the more surface-level reveals of the anime, with fans glimpsing a gorgeously revitalized world.
9The Demon Realm Has a Separate Set of Dragon Balls
Namekians Are Keeping Busy
The worlds and people of Toriyama’sDragon Ballfranchise are diverse, yet wish-granting Dragon Balls are ubiquitous even inDaima.The Dragon Balls of the Demon Realm, at least in episode #1 ofDAIMA, are guarded by three powerful warriors and they are massive objects instead of Earth’s smaller seven variants.Still, their size and known quantity are not the only differences.The nature of wishing abilities and energy associated with the Demon Realm Dragon Balls indicates wish magic concepts that give a fresh perspective to longtime fans of the series.
8Dragon Ball DAIMA Teases White and Black Wishes
A Dark World of Possibilities
The Demon Realm’s new king, Gomah, laments the possibility of using Earth’s Dragon Balls because they likely rely on what’s referred to as white magic for results that benefit others instead of harming them. By comparison,the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls confirm the existence of “black” wishes, which Degesu and Gomah hinted at in their discussion of using them to remove Earth’s defenders as threats entirely. Being unable to collect the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls due to their powerful warriors, Gomah settled for Earth’s Dragon Balls, despite it being a compromise that doesn’t wholly destroy Goku and his friends.
7Dragon Ball DAIMA Introduces the Tamagamis
Defenders of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls
Gomah originally proposed the Dragon Balls, without intent to use those from the Demon Realmbecause they were guarded by “the three powerful Tamagamis.“With each character being an imposing armored figure, sporting a sword, a trident, and a hammer, their presence deters Gomah from even attempting to seize the one-star Dragon Ball that appears in episode #1.
While Gomah is intimidated by the Tamagamis, Neva, their creator, can comfortably communicate with them.
But one noteworthy moment indicates that the Tamagamis serve a different master in the Demon Realm, with one of the coolest moments ofDragon Ball Daimarevealing the presence of Namekians.
6Neva the Namek Is the Demon Realm’s Dragon Ball Expert
A Kami Who Aged With the Audience
Gomah introduces Neva, whose presence in the Demon Realm is storied;he is the creator and foremost expert on their Dragon Balls, with his creation, the Tamagamis showing him mutual respect.
Nameks, or Namekians, are closely associated with the presence of Dragon Balls across the many worlds in the franchise.
While he’s senile, Neva is brought to Kami’s lookout on Universe 7’s Earth where he meets Dende, a fellow Namek, where he recalls how long it’s been since he’s seen a fellow member of his species while revitalizing the Dragon Balls. However, as Neva is brought to Earth, other well-known characters andDragon Ballquestions are addressed inDAIMAepisode #1, including one glaring absence.
5Gohan’s Absent at Least for the Start of Daima
Being a Good Son to Chi-Chi
While Gohan returned to his greatest heights in the Buu Saga,Dragon Ball Daimaappears to be where he fully focuses on his studies, withGoku confirming that he’s grown distant in episode #1.This is likely a way to connect the series toDragon Ball Superon the timeline, where Gohan arguably let his strength fall to the wayside the most in the series.
Dragon Ball Daima Is The Franchise’s Best Opportunity To Finally Solve A Major Super Continuity Error For Two Fan-Favorite Heroes
Dragon Ball Super introduced a big continuity error when it came to Trunks and Goten, but Dragon Ball DAIMA might be able to solve this issue.
It’s unlikely that Gohan will feature as a fighter inDAIMA, if at all, so fans shouldn’t expect a glorious new transformation to add toGohan’s greatest fighting forms inDragon Ball.
4Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode #1 Explains Why Goku Is Young Again
Dragon Ball Daimaepisode #1 confirms thatGoku’s young form returns due to the new Demon King Gomah’s wish,using Shenron to turn Goku, along with everyone who fought Buu and their friends, into children. Gomah compromised to use a harmless wish on Earth’s Dragon Balls so that it would be granted, and he’d render his opponents powerless, following white wish guidelines. It was a burning fan question with a similar answer to what happened to set the events ofDragon Ball GTin motion while potentiallyleveling the playing field in a wayDragon Ball Zcouldn’t.
3Majin Buu Retcons Vegito’s Separation in Dragon Ball Z
A Classic Toriyama Retcon as Krillin’s Nose
InDragon Ball Zepisode #273, after Buu consumes Vegito, he lowers his barrier and mysteriously splits back into Vegeta and Goku. But the bigger inconsistency was about how Kibito and Supreme Kai Shin were separated. InDragon Ball Daima, this is explained by Majin Buu and Kibito as the result of"a mysterious gas produced by Majin Buu’s body” that can undo Potara fusions.Given Toriyama’s retcons to explain the strange anatomy of his most iconic characters, resulting inhilarious and memorableDragon Ballquotes, this isn’t unusual and helps explain what broke the fusion.
2Dabura’s Demise Paves the Way for a New King
The Demon Realm Enters a New Era
Given the title ofDragon Ball DAIMAessentially being a reference to the Demon King,Dabura’s demise at the hands of Buu makes Gomah the de facto ruler of the Demon Realm in episode #1.With fans aware of Dabura’s subsequent reform in the afterlife, it appears unlikely that he’ll return to challenge Gomah’s rule, with only the Z Warriors being an apparent threat due to their strength. But Gomah has other colleagues on his ascension journey to rule the Demon Realm, some more trustworthy than others.
1Gomah’s Allies Could Challenge His Role as Dragon Ball DAIMA’s Villain
Degesu and Dr. Arinsu Are Compelling New Additions
As Gomah tries to cross into Universe 7, he is alerted that another has gone there after Dabura and Babidi for possibly nefarious purposes. This is revealed to be Dr. Arinsu, sister of Degesu, both of whom are siblings of Shin, Supreme Kai of Universe 7, with unclear ambitions of their own. With Gomah’s plan to use the Dragon Balls, Degesu agrees to his planned first wish to weaken Goku and his friends and a second to grant the Evil Third Eye for Gomah’s proper ascension to supremacy. Degesu mysteriously requests to claim the third wish inDragon Ball DAIMA.
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.
