2024 was a landmark year for theDragon Ballfranchise. In March, the world mournedthe unexpected passing of Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator behind the series. Later, in October,Dragon Ball Daimamade its debut on Japanese television. This original series, set about a year after the defeat of Kid Buu inDragon Ball Z, became the final anime project that Toriyama contributed to as a writer.
AsDragon Ball Daimacontinues to air, more details have emerged about its influences, particularly its connection toDragon Ball GT, which aired from 1996 to 1997.In a recent interview,Daima’s executive producer Akio Iyoku revealed howGThelped shape Toriyama’s finalDragon Ballstory:
“I was mindful of viewers in their early 30s and older—those who grew up with Dragon Ball and now have children of their own. I wanted to create an anime that parents and children could watch together. This generation watched Dragon Ball GT as kids, so I took that into consideration.My effort to create a new series in the spirit of GT became the starting point (for Daima).”
Dragon Ball Daima Revives GT’s Divisive Legacy
A New Take on a Familiar Idea
Dragon Ball GThas long been a topic of debate among fans. Many see it as a creative step down fromDragon Ball Z, while others appreciate its non-canon storytelling. Despite its mixed reception,GTwas successful, particularly in Japan, where it introduced the franchise to a younger audience. One of its biggest departures was transforming Goku back into a child, a concept thatDragon Ball Daimarevisits by depicting major characters—Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and others—in smaller forms.
Iyoku elaborated on this creative choice:“A big theme of this work is to have a wider audience, and although this is hindsight, I feel that by making Goku smaller, the entry point has become wider. I never thought that (all the characters) would be small, but of course, it was (Akira Toriyama’s) idea.“While some fans may have been put off byDaimahaving a similar premise toGT, they were encouraged by the fact that, unlike the latter,Daimasaw significant involvement from the franchise’s creator.
Dragon Ball Daima Is a Different Kind of Adventure
By looking toDragon Ball GTfor inspiration,Daimasets itself apart from recent installments likeDragon Ball Super(2015–2018) and the recentSuper Dragon Ball Heroesweb series. Iyoku explained:
“‘GT’ stands for ‘Grand Touring,’ symbolizing a grand journey, and similarly, Daima also aims to depict an adventure. Unlike Dragon Ball Super, which focuses on Goku relentlessly pushing his strength to new heights, this story follows a different path. Seeing a smaller Goku use the Power Pole to leap and bounce around in battle feels fresh and offers a distinct appeal from Super.”
Considering fans are still waiting to see the two most recent arcs ofDragon Ball Superadapted into an anime, this decision surely ruffled some feathers in the fandom. However,Daimahas still captured the attention of many with its unique identity that pays homage to the franchise’s history while still trying to tell a new, original story.
WithDragon Ball Daimaabout to end, fans will soon see how Toriyama’s finalDragon Ballstory resonates with both longtime viewers and a new generation. Whether it divides opinion likeDragon BallGTor earns its own place in franchise history remains to be seen.
