Dragon Ball Daima officially recovers an element that the franchise has been missing since Z changed everything

When Dragon Ball transitioned to the Saiyan Saga, the entire setting of the series changed. Goku, the little martial artist and part-monkey child, has become a member of an intergalactic, bloodthirsty race of warriors. Enemies grew in power and Goku’s feats of strength gained notoriety as large-scale battles became the focus of the franchise. The process currently underway Dragon Ball Daimahowever, promises a return to the series’ rootsshifting focus once again to the wonder and adventure they made Dragon Ball so special in the first place.

When Daima was announced that it would reduce its cast to miniature size, many fans were worried that the series would be subject to the same mistakes it made GT so divisive. This series, now considered non-canon in the main timeline of events, also attempted to revive Dragon Balladventurous spirit but it missed the mark considerably. A shift back to action and the introduction of the universally loved Super Saiyan 4 saved GT since its disastrous beginnings, relying on a safety net that Daima does not have access.

However, after airing just three episodes, it seems Dragon Ballthe newest anime from will be fine, already showing that the wonder of the series is still very much alive. All-new settings and underutilized characters on a journey courtesy of the mind of the great Akira Toriyama, Daima has all the necessary tools to be the best entry into the Dragon Ball franchise in years.

Daima captures the original essence of Dragon Ball better than its predecessors

Dragon Ball Daima offers a sense of wonder lost in previous entries

Dragon Ball is best known for its action, featuring battles that span long sections of its numerous manga and anime sequels. The fight between Goku and Frieza on Namek, spanning over 20 episodes of the Dragon Ball Z anime, is one of the most iconic belonging to the medium. And when the Super Saiyan transformation was introduced, the series’ status as an action shōnen was cemented. This was not always Dragon Ballthe focus, however.

When Goku and his friends were originally introduced to the anime world, His adventures were full of wonders and whimsy that were largely lost during the move to Dragon Ball Z. And that doesn’t mean there was a lack of action, since the original Dragon Ball the anime still features some of the best fights the franchise has ever seen. But as the villains grew in strength and the stakes continued to rise, the lightheartedness that defined the early parts of the series took a backseat to the grand displays of power.

Dragon Ball Daimain the few episodes currently available, it has apparently recovered what was lost. Immediately, characters that had become so familiar to fans were released into the Demon Realm, a wonderful world previously unexplored by the franchise. With the addition of comedy, another feature of the series abandoned over time, Dragon Ballthe original spirit shines in spades. The anime’s first glimpse of action also gives a strong impression that Daima will be able to avoid the mistakes of the series’ past.

Dragon Ball Daima Could Succeed With GT’s Ideas

Shrinking Goku is not a new concept for Dragon Ball, as GT I toyed with a similar concept almost thirty years ago in an attempt to also recapture the original magic of the series. Not very different Daimathe series formed a team of underutilized characters around Goku, before sending them on an adventure through unknown lands. The idea is undeniably interesting and fresh for a series that already covers around 40 years of its protagonist’s life.

GTmain issue, however, among many, was that he sacrificed action in his return to adventure. Following Dragon BallWith the shift to a battle-based narrative, the complete turnaround is something of a whiplash, and unfortunately for GTthe anime wasn’t interesting enough to stand on its own in the early parts. Daimahaving the distinct advantage of Akira Toriyama at the helm, along with smooth modern animation, seems to have found the right balance. And thanks to a talented team and an all-new setting for the series, DaimaThe third episode of shows a fight sequence that is largely new to Dragon Ball.

The series’ fights have always typically taken place in vast, open spaces to allow the characters’ abilities to really shine. DaimaThe first real battle, however, takes place in a bar and features excellent choreography exclusive to a confined space. If the series’ fights continue to feel fresh and exciting, the anime will be able to achieve what the franchise hasn’t managed since the original. Dragon Ball; a perfect balance between adventure and action.

Returning to Dragon Ball’s past opens up exciting opportunities for its future

Daima’s balance between adventure and action brings new possibilities

By returning to his roots while maintaining the action he is known for, Dragon Ball has the opportunity to venture down paths never before taken by the series. Already, in DaimaIn the third episode, aptly titled “Daima,” the anime strongly resembles a Space Western of sorts as Goku and the Supreme Kai travel to the Demon Realm. The newly introduced Glorio plays the role of a Han Solo type, as the brooding and mysterious resident of the Third Demon World shows the two Earthlings around.

In a new land that is so distinctly Akira Toriyama’s creation, the possibilities are endless in terms of what Goku and company do, or who they might have to fight. So far, Daima featured magicians such as Gomah, Glind as Supreme Kai, Namekians as Neva, hostile troll-like bandits, and other unspecified beings belonging to the Demon Realm. It seems Dragon BallThe newest anime in the series has endless potential characters for the cast to interact with, many of whom have never seen the spotlight before.

Dragon Ball Daima has already proven to capture the adventurous wonder previously unique to parts of the series prior to the Saiyan Saga. Featuring modern visuals and writing courtesy of Akira Toriyama, the anime has all the tools needed to become the best entry into the franchise in over 30 years. Next episodes promise to capture Dragon Ballthe old magic, making Daima an unmissable anime this season.