Spoiler Alert !!!
This article contains spoilers for Dragon Ball DAIMA
When Dragon Ball DAIMA was first announced, fans were unsure of how to receive it. On one hand, it was a step back from the already much-awaited Super anime. On the other hand, it became the perfect beginning of Akira Toriyama’s legacy following his passing. The two phases that the development of the series was divided into pertained to the time that was before the mangaka’s death and after. All the hatred that came before was gone in an instant.
The first three episodes of the series come with a gradual increase in factors that ensure that as long as you stick to the anime, it will not disappoint. While I felt the series premiere was lackluster, the thought quickly reminded me not to judge a book by its cover. The first episode had a few issues that were also quickly gone as the series progressed.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Brings Back the Old Ways
As the first episode of Dragon Ball DAIMA began, one thing became clear to me, it was going to be a slow ride. It took the entire episode to establish the very thing fans knew was going to happen: Goku and everyone else becoming children again. However, it was a good thing too.
They took their time in setting just why he was being turned into a kid again so that no plot holes remained. King Gomah of the Demon Realm sees Goku and all those close to him, people who are capable of defeating Majin Buu, to be threats. The fear of them botching his plans forces him to go on the hunt to collect Earth’s Dragon Balls.
It is something fans haven’t seen for a long time and also something that reminds us just why Akira Toriyama’s franchise kicked off in the first place. The animation would also be something I was doubtful about, but once I started watching the series, I knew my doubts were in vain.
It is from the second episode that their journey begins properly. What I found increasingly interesting was how Vegeta was put to the side. It wasn’t necessarily that he wouldn’t play a part in the upcoming episodes at all but that his role would come later. This ensured that no character would be overshadowed and none went to waste.
Goku’s Growth Once Again
An aspect that was introduced in the episodes of DAIMA was that Goku has to somewhat start from scratch. He is used to having the body of a grown-up and navigating the smaller body is proving to be difficult. His kicks don’t go far enough and his flying is completely off balance. To work with that, he finds his Power Pole once again.
The third episode features the opportunity for Goku to showcase his skills in a classic bar fight. The anime makes good use of its environment and how well it could work with the characters as they find themselves in uncharted territory. Moreover, the contrast of making the Demon Realm something so vibrant was a decision I am all here for. Goku got to take his pole on a spin and utilize his smaller body to his own advantage.
He, Glorio, and the Supreme Kai team up to defeat King Gomah as the new King of the Demon Realm. The Realm has always been a mystery, even before DAIMA came into the picture, and now, to get more insight on it is something I am more than welcome to experience. Knowing that every character that has pointy ears is a part of the Demon Realm comes as an eye-opener.
Even so, much about the Nameks, who fans assumed to have already known a lot about, were also revealed to have more than what the story had told. All in all, the series promises a lot for Dragon Ball fans and everyone who had been looking forward to seeing the last of what Akira Toriyama had to offer.
Rating: 8/10
Dragon Ball DAIMA is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
