Dragon Ball Daima Subtly Confirms the REAL Reason He Turned Goku Into a Child, and It’s Heartwarming

I don’t think I was ready for how wonderful Dragon Ball DAIMA it was like an anime, with its brilliant homage to Akira Toriyama’s worlds and characters. Each episode is among the most anticipated event releases of the week, loaded to the brim with new details about a series of worlds to experience, with a distinctly humorous tone as it transforms its protagonist back into a child. But shrinking Goku Dragon Ball DAIMA it’s more than just a way of stripping him; it’s a way for viewers to revisit the series with their inner child.

As a fan of the original Dragon ball series is over Dragon Ball Z and other iterations, I prefer the mix of action, manga style comedy and adventure to the melodramatic and almost comical spectacle of his future sagas. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying Dragon Ball Zsignificantly because its popularity influenced the rest of the franchise in the North American public domain with a legendary multimedia and merchandise presence. But Dragon Ball DAIMA explores what made the original series so great, while also doling out generous helpings of references to the wider universe Dragon ball timeline, making it a special treat worthy of the 40th anniversary.

The opening of Dragon Ball DAIMA signals a jovial and light-hearted adventure

Jaka Jaan perfectly recovers Toriyama’s energy

Following an increasingly significant trend of anime premieres revealing their opening theme in the end credits, Jaka Jaan, a collaboration between composer Zedd, vocal duo C&K and lyricist Yukinojo Mori, is nostalgic gold for Dragon Ball DAIMA. In its lyrics, constant electronic beat and joyful delivery, there is a sense of wonder and youthful antics that touches the hearts of adults like me watching this series. This signals that the child in me has not yet completely disappeared and that I can feel a combined sense of joy and wonder in Dragon Ball DAIMA.

But even the series’ humor radiates a childlike joy thanks to the veteran Dragon Ball Z lyricist Yukinojo Mori, who also wrote the lyrics for Cha-La Head-Cha-La. Lyrics that talk about thousands of scams and silly jokes while saying “whoopsie daisy” and “hee hee hee” seem sufficiently reminiscent of Dragon Ball true origins of the gag manga, while also inviting me as a viewer into a great new adventure. But even the animation Dragon Ball DAIMA the opening feels tailor-made for the viewer in mind as fans of Toriyama’s creation.

The opening title sequence of Jaka Jaan revealed in episode 2 onwards, shows the first twenty-eight seconds seemingly in first-person point of view, with what are likely Goku’s arms stretched outwards, grasping the Dragon Balls. What follows is a joyful interstellar journey through the gaping maw of DAIMA Warp-sama, a new character who is the gateway to the Demon Realm, where we get a bird’s eye view of the vast world below before joining Goku and his friends. Dragon Ball DAIMA It’s not just about bringing Goku to new worlds, but also about taking us as an audience with him.

Dragon Ball DAIMA keeps the humor alive for longtime fans

Gag Manga Energy Returns

As I said before, I was a big fan of Dragon ball than I once was Dragon Ball Z because I liked the humor more than the quick fights of Goku’s adulthood. My favorite quote from Dragon ball about Krillin’s non-existent nose perfectly exemplifies the series’ mastery over its gag manga roots, even as it pivots toward shōnen battle territory in the Tournament Saga. With Dragon Ball DAIMAthis nonsense comes up in moments like Goku’s fart jokes aboard Glorio’s plane in episode 3, Roshi carelessly using Goku’s Nyoibo as a clothesline in episode 2, or the recurring retcons.

Akira Toriyama is famous for his many retcons of the series, recognized for TV Tropes like Onda de Mão. This includes high-profile nonsense in DAIMA, such as Shenron depriving Gomah of his second and third wishes under a previously non-existent house rule that effectively resembles an “eternal dragon loyalty program”. Majin Buu was written to have his internal gases capable of separating Potara Fusions, conveniently explaining Vegito and Kibito Kai’s separation in episode #1. These retcons made me laugh the first time they appeared because of how smart they are, even though Dragon ball the canon therefore remains a moving target.

But most of all, I appreciated how unserious his tone was. Dragon Ball DAIMA is that despite a would-be despot of the Demon Realm having ended all threats to his rule, the humor is still alive. Goku’s first proper fight in the series is where he defends his burgers from being crushed in a bar fight due to his lack of heritage in the Demon Realm, where he defeats his opponents with makeshift weapons and demon meat hanging from his mouth. Dragon Ball DAIMA It doesn’t take itself seriously in tone, but in paying homage to its creator, it couldn’t be more loyal.

Akira Toriyama’s legacy lives on beautifully in Dragon Ball DAIMA

Everything about him shows reverence for a beloved creator

I was shocked by how perfect the interpretations of the classic are Dragon Ball Z moments were in the opening sequence of DAIMA episode #1. Cell, Gohan and Buu have never looked so handsome. The renderings of these characters looked the closest they’ve ever come to taking Toriyama’s fantastic art straight from the pagewith respect to the hard-working animators who brought the new series to life. There’s a reason why Toriyama’s designs are kept the way they are, even other veteran manga artists hilariously apologize when they draw Dragon ball characters incorrectly.

But it still feels authentic to Akira Toriyama’s worlds and characters thanks to so many stories for viewers paying attention in each episode. It unites the worlds and even the universes of the various Dragon ball media we grew up loving as if to thank us for reading the manga, watching the anime and much more. The tasteful homage at the end, however, with the shape of the bird forming a clear homage to Toriyama, with “Tori” meaning “Bird” and “Yama” meaning “Mountain”, did not go unnoticed by me or the viewers.

Dragon Ball DAIMA could be the last Dragon ball anime project that Toriyama was attached to before he passed away. Still, it delivers on its stories and character designs in a way that few other franchises could imitate. My favorite game of all time, Chrono Triggercarries its legacy into its character designs, as does the Dragon Quest franchise. But when I look back at the lyrics Jaka Jaanspecifically, “I want to meet someone amazing again tomorrow”, I can’t help but feel that Dragon Ball DAIMA hopes for a future brighter than the moon at the time Piccolo destroyed it.

Source: TV Tropes