Summary
- Dragon Ball DAIMA premieres on Crunchyroll October 11, 2024, attracting new and old fans alike.
- The series coincides with the Dragon Ball 40th anniversary and is likely to be canon.
- DAIMA emphasizes action over comedy, featuring de-aged characters in a new story without Toriyama's involvement.
With all the different new anime premiering in the fall, one of the bigger releases is almost certainly Dragon Ball DAIMA, the newest installment in the long-running Dragon Ball franchise. Unlike other legacy sequels, the content of Dragon Ball DAIMA has largely been shrouded in mystery, and few people seem to know what it will even be about.
Thankfully, some behind-the-scenes information proves why fans should be excited about the series when it premiers on Crunchyroll on October 11, 2024.
Dragon Ball Daima Coming to Crunchyroll This October
Crunchyroll will stream the series in the United States, Canada, and more starting October 11.
The Legacy of Dragon Ball
The original Dragon Ball anime premiered in 1986 and followed Goku's adventures as a child. Its sequel, Dragon Ball Z, shifted to a more action-heavy tone, chronicling Goku’s life as an adult, his battles against powerful enemies like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, and introducing new characters, including his son Gohan and Vegeta. After the conclusion of Dragon Ball Z, Toei Animation produced a sequel (largely without creator Akira Toriyama's involvement) called Dragon Ball GT, a series that was met with mixed reviews. More recently, the franchise came back with Dragon Ball Supe r, which continues Goku's story beyond the Z series.
Dragon Ball's Newfound Popularity
As a result of Dragon Ball Super and a few high profile movie releases, Dragon Ball has achieved a newfound popularity in line with Star Wars and Marvel. New fans are being introduced to the franchise on a weekly basis, and the excitement for products such as shirts, toys, and video games seems to be higher than it has ever been before. There is little doubt that Dragon Ball DAIMA is likely to contribute to the renaissance Dragon Ball has been having for the past several years.
Death of the Author
Sadly, the release of Dragon Ball DAIMA is tainted a bit by the death of its creator and author Akira Toriyama, who died due to an acute subdural hematoma. By all accounts, he was very hands on with this series, and many in the industry consider it his swan song for the franchise. Though this information has raised the anticipation of the series by a considerable degree, it is bittersweet to know that this is the last fans will get from the franchise's creator. Going forward, any new Dragon Ball projects will be made without Toriyama's involvement, making this release a special one for longtime fans.
Dragon Ball Daima: The Timeline Of The New Anime, Explained
Dragon Ball fans will get a new anime soon. Dragon Ball Daima will be a success, and here's where it fits into the franchise.
What is Dragon Ball DAIMA About?
Details regarding what Dragon Ball DAIMA is ultimately about are being kept largely under wraps. There are a few things fans can glean from the teaser trailer though. Some of these things include:
- The story will coincide with the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball. As a result, you can bet there will be many throwbacks to previous adventures of Goku and his friends.
- The story, character designs, and concept come from Akira Toriyama. This means that nothing in this will likely contradict other Dragon Ball projects, and the events in the series are likely to be canon.
- While fans all know that the entire cast will be "de-aged," judging from the trailer, this is an unexpected development for everyone involved.
- The series will take place in a new world. Furthermore, there seems to be a command center where a figure is viewing events from past series. This likely means the antagonist will have been keeping an eye on our heroes for quite some time.
- Unlike Dragon Ball GT, this series seems to be emphasizing the action above comedy. Also, Goku is seen using his staff again, suggesting that de-powerization will also come with de-aging.
- Characters from Toriyama's semi-Dragon Ball spin-off Jaco the Galactic appear to play a role in Dragon Ball DAIMA.
Finally, Toriiyama himself likely clued audiences in on what the new series could be about. When asked what DAIMA meant, he had this to say:
"DAIMA" is a made-up term, which in Japanese characters would be "大魔" or in English would be something like "Evil."
For the time being, this is what is known of the series.
Notable Dub News
Although casting has largely been kept under wraps, several sources have indicated that Stephanie Nadolny will return to voice young Goku in the series. Stephanie previously voiced young Goku for the dub of Dragon Ball GT, and this will be her first involvement with the Dragon Ball franchise since that project came to an end. Other casting news has not been announced, but one thing will be different from previous releases: Crunchyroll plans to release dubbed episodes days after the premier, as opposed to fans having to wait months for a TV airing.
The Takeaway
Dragon Ball DAIMA is likely to be a huge hit one way or another. The franchise is as popular as it's always been, and the added element of Toriyama's involvement before his death is likely to put this on the radar of even the more casual anime fans. While fans still don't know exactly what the show will contain, there are enough teases in the trailer to hold fans over until the series premiers on Crunchyroll in October. Coupled with a dub that won't require months of waiting, this may be the best worldwide release of a Dragon Ball series to date.
Dragon Ball Z: Seasons 1-9 Collection
Dragon Ball Z picked up from the original Dragon Ball series to continue the Manga adaptation of Son Goku as an adult. It saw the alien defender of Earth and his companions fight off villains, including Vegeta, Frieza, the android Cell, and magical creatures like Majin Boo, all while Goku raised his son, Gohan. Initially released between 1989 and 1996, the series formed a definitive chapter of the Dragon Ball saga.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Dragon Ball Z Dragon Balls Collector Box
What is the sound of seven dragon balls in a single satin-lined display box? No collector wants to miss out on this prop replica themed after the iconic Dragon Ball. After all, what is a Dragon Ball collector without his collector box? The package stands at approximately 9.50 inches in height and will serve as a perfect storeroom for any Dragon collector.