Few would argue against <em>Dragon Ball</em> being the most recognizable anime and manga franchise in history. Throughout the last four decades and counting, Goku has transformed from lovable Shōnen Jump hero to undeniable icon of the industry, leading the charge in helping anime become a worldwide mainstream form of entertainment.
Different generations of anime fans have had their own versions of Dragon Ball with which they’ve become attached, but the most recent installment in the franchise has proven divisive since it finished airing earlier this year. Dragon Ball Daima was a direct continuation of Akira Toriyama’s original manga, and though fans are mixed about it, the series perfectly achieved what it set out to do.
Key Insights on Dragon Ball Daima
- Franchise Legacy: Dragon Ball is a historic franchise that has shaped anime culture over decades.
- Recent Reception: The latest series, Dragon Ball Daima, has received mixed reviews from fans.
- Creative Direction: Akira Toriyama aimed for a lighthearted tone reminiscent of earlier works.
- Expectations vs. Reality: Fans anticipated a continuation of Dragon Ball Super, but received a different narrative style.
Dragon Ball’s Latest Anime Proved Divisive Among Fans For All the Wrong Reasons
After six years of sporadic movie releases and relative silence, Dragon Ball returned in 2024 with the series’ first TV anime since the conclusion of Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Daima was Akira Toriyama’s final vision for his four-plus decade-old franchise, and it aimed to fill some empty space in the official timeline following the defeat of Majin Buu.
For the most part, the series was a whimsical journey into a new, unexplored world filled with wacky hijinks and powerful fighters—a true Akira Toriyama specialty. To wrap things up, Goku achieved an all-new version of Super Saiyan 4 and took part in some of the flashiest action Dragon Ball has ever seen. And for some reason, fans weren’t all that happy with it.
It seems viewers were expecting something a little closer to Dragon Ball Super, and instead were met with a spiritual successor to Dragon Ball GT that avoided many of the mistakes of the past, delivering mostly lighthearted fun with some pretty action sequences. Already the difference in tone threw many in the fandom off, but when Daima began contradicting established lore, fans were thrown into a frenzy.
However, those expecting a wild, action-packed, super serious entry into the franchise weren’t exactly right for doing so, and could only have been entirely unaware of Akira Toriyama’s preferences as an artist. First and foremost, Toriyama was a gag artist who enjoyed comedy and kung fu movies. Following Dragon Ball‘s conclusion, much of his recent work reflected those preferences.
Dragon Ball Daima was a lighthearted and mostly comedic affair that nicely incorporated the best of Dragon Ball while also returning to its earlier adventurous roots, offering fans a faithful follow-up that was different enough to keep things fresh.
Daima Wasn’t Dragon Ball Super, and It Wasn’t Supposed to Be
Dragon Ball Super was more in line with the later tone taken in Dragon Ball, focusing heavily on action and ultra-powerful fighters while leaving behind some of the adventurous sense of wonder that defined the series early on. Though fans likely shouldn’t have expected that sort of series when it came to Daima, they weren’t wrong for their disappointment that Super was not continuing.
The manga series continued far beyond the anime’s Tournament of Power and has yet to be adapted despite the fanfare surrounding it. Nevertheless, <em>Dragon Ball Daima</em> was perfect at achieving what it set out to do, which was to offer the fan base an enjoyable spin-off sequel to the original story. Fans not liking it had more to do with them than it did the series itself.
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