Dragon Ball DAIMAbrought many exciting moments to the franchise, offering fans iconic elements of nostalgia while expanding the established lore. Among these moments, Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 was a standout, but it was Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 that truly stole the show. Fans were very excited to finally see this form return after decades, and withDAIMAnow considered canon, the excitement surrounding this transformation was through the roof, as it also makes Super Saiyan 4 canon by extension.
WithGoku’s Super Saiyan 4being the talk of the series, it’s no surprise there were numerous questions about its inclusion inDAIMA. However, one particularly significant interview was with Aya Komaki, the director of Episode #18 ofDragon Ball DAIMA. Komaki’s insights were invaluable, as they confirmed the origins of this transformation and addressed the lingering fan question:HadDragon Ballbeen hiding Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 all along?
Dragon Ball DAIMA Director, Aya Komaki, Confirms Super Saiyan 4’s Origins
Dragon Ball Wasn’t Hiding This Transformation On Purpose
After the release ofDragon Ball DAIMAEpisode #18, Aya Komaki was interviewed about the epic moment of Goku’s transformation into Super Saiyan 4. The interview was accurately translated by X (formerly Twitter) user @JordanLDurham. In it,Komaki explains the inspirationbehind the scene where Goku undergoes the transformation. After Neva uses magic on Goku, fans are treated to a special visual that highlights a chemical reaction taking place inside Goku’s body. Komaki emphasizes that this visual was intentionally included toshowcase the birth of a new technique for Goku.
This is evident in the vibrant colors used during the scene, with blue and red blending to create Goku’s new transformation. Emphasizing Komaki’s words, it becomes clear that the blue represents Goku’s energy, while the red signifies his Saiyan heritage, likely the Great Ape form. By combining these two elements,Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 is awakened and brought to life at that moment, debunking fan theories suggesting he already had access to the form prior to this event. In fact, Goku himself confirms this inDAIMAs finale, though many fans have misinterpreted it.
Goku’s Words States That He Never Transformed Into Super Saiyan 4 Before
Goku Wasn’t Sure About A New Transformation
TheDragon Ball DAIMAfinalefeatures a conversation between Goku and Vegeta, where Vegeta asks the same question many fans have wondered, whether Goku had been keeping his latest transformation a secret. Goku explains that after his fight with Buu, he relentlessly trained to become stronger, likely because Super Saiyan 3, despite its incredible power, wasn’t enough to defeat Buu. However, what Goku says next confirms he was never able to transform into Super Saiyan 4 before, as he admits he wasn’t sure the transformation would even work.
Many fans have misinterpreted Goku’s words, speculating that he had access to Super Saiyan 4 prior to this moment and simply needed Neva’s help because he had been turned into a child, which they believe prevented the transformation. In reality, Goku implies that even after training relentlessly following his battle with Buu,he was still unsure whether a new transformation, such as Super Saiyan 4, was possible.This suggests that during his training, Goku likely reached a limit that made him doubt whether he could ever surpass Super Saiyan 3.
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With both Goku’s words and Komaki’s insights about the transformation, it’s now clear that Super Saiyan 4 was never hidden inDragon Ball, but it was born in this pivotal moment. Furthermore, deeper insight into Super Saiyan 4’s origin fromGTmakes it even more apparent why Goku was never able to access the form before.
Training Alone Isn’t Sufficient To Acquire Super Saiyan 4
Though there are many differences betweenGoku’s Super Saiyan 4 transformation inDAIMAandGT, one key similarity stands out: both versions required assistance from an external element rather than training alone. InGT, Goku had to expose his retinas to 17 million zenoes of Blutz Waves, the special energy that transformed him into the Great Golden Ape. After gaining control over that form, he was able to achieve the Super Saiyan 4 transformation. Meanwhile, inDAIMA, Neva assists Goku using his demonic magic to unlock the transformation.
When compared, it’s likely that Neva’s magic triggered a similar process to what Goku experienced inGT, but more directly and much quicker. While the methods differ between the two series, one thing is clear, a special process is required for a Saiyan to achieve Super Saiyan 4 for the first time. So, fans left wondering ifDragon Ballhad been hiding Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 transformation can rest assured knowing that Goku couldn’t have transformed on his own as this form is unique and always requires a special catalyst, one that training alone could never provide.
