Dragon Ball built his reputation on his fightsoften featuring exaggerated displays of power, large, colorful beam clashes, and some of anime’s coolest and most iconic signature moves. By the time of the Saiyan Saga in the original series, the focus had shifted almost entirely to action, moving away from the lightheartedness that defined Goku’s childhood. When Super Saiyan was introduced, the series’ legacy as an all-time battle shōnen was cemented. Now, Dragon Ball Daima carries the burden of living up to that reputation.
Dragon BallThe original manga often showcased the late Akira Toriyama’s proficiency as a fight choreographer and his immense talent in telling his story. When adapted into the anime that popularized the series outside of Japan, many of these iconic fights have come to life with mixed results. While the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z Anime series are remembered fondly, they show their age.
Now this Dragon Ball returned to deliver Akira Toriyama’s final vision for his series, Dragon Ball Daima is already showing, albeit briefly, what modern visuals can do for the series. The recently released episode 4, titled “Chatty,” pits Goku against a bunch of Demon Realm soldiers for the series’ first real fight, and the action is smooth and polished in a way that Dragon Ball never seen in any of its TV anime adaptations.
Dragon Ball Daima’s First Big Fight Shows Off Her Stunning Visuals
Smooth animation and carefully choreographed combat deliver solid results
When it was announced that the main cast of heroes would be reduced to children, fans expressed some concern about what exactly Dragon Ball Daima would bring to the long-running franchise. Exaggerated displays of power in battles between muscular warriors have long been synonymous with Dragon Balland some found it questionable to move away from what had become such a successful formula over the years.
Daimahowever, it brings an unusual element to the series beyond its more recent films: modern visuals. Dragon BallThe long-standing formula of having two characters practically stand still while their arms act as lethal weapons traveling “too fast for the eyes to follow” has been eliminated and replaced with fluid and creative fight choreography. Goku’s first major battle in the series, transitioning between claustrophobic alleys and open desert spaces, makes use of his historically neglected Power Pole to glorious results.
The battle isn’t all that challenging for Goku, but the sheer number of enemies allows the Saiyan to show off his acrobatics and fighting sense, resulting in a sequence that packs a punch. excitement, pacing, and satisfaction that were missing from many of the series’ previous adaptations. In some ways, largely through improved visuals alone, Goku’s first big fight in Daima showcases the warrior’s fighting skills in ways they don’t Dragon Ball TV anime has done this before.
Daima’s improved visuals promise more excitement in the future
The fighting will only get better as the series progresses
However Dragon Ball Daima established its main villain, the Demon Realm’s newest ruler, Gomah, the series has yet to turn any of the main cast members against him. And while its modern visuals have been impressive throughout the anime’s early run, the series has only managed to stretch its legs so far in low-stakes battles with weaker enemies. Goku’s first large-scale fight is undoubtedly visually impressivealthough there is still a large skill set of different techniques that were unnecessary for the Saiyan to use.
As the main trio’s adventure continues, Daima You’ll have the opportunity to showcase your fighters’ skills in a whole new way. What were essentially long, drawn-out sequences in which the characters were mere blurs on the screen in Dragon BallOlder anime adaptations can now be fascinating, well-thought-out fight sequences. The series has always emphasized the differences between certain characters’ combat styles, namely Goku’s instinctive fighting style and Vegeta’s more analytical and calculated style. Now, Daima have the opportunity to really show their differences.
While the series has yet to throw any fierce competition Goku’s way, its first extended combat sequence offers promising results in terms of what to expect from Goku. Dragon Ball Daima from now on. Since trailers and promotional material have confirmed that he has access to Super Saiyan in his lesser form, it’s reasonable to expect the stakes to rise as the series progresses. However, Daima finally gave the first taste of the fight and the result is already fantastic.
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the fifth series overall in the action-adventure anime franchise. It features most of the classic cast members as aged versions of themselves, including Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma. The series was announced at NYCC 2023, with creator Akira Toriyama returning to manage DAIMA.
- Seasons
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1
- Writers
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Akira Toriyama