The recently completedDragon Ball Daimadoesn’t care to keep its influences a secret. In turning its cast of characters back into children and sending Goku on a journey to mysterious far-off lands, the similarities between the franchise’s newest anime adventureand 1996’s divisiveDragon Ball GTare abundantly clear. Aside from theatrical films,GTwas the first entry into the series without Akira Toriyama at the helm, and has become notorious for having some great ideas but poor execution.
In an interviewconducted during the lead up toDaima’s finale, series producer Akio Iyoku revealed the latest anime to be targeted towards fans from theGTgeneration. Now that it’s reached its conclusion,Daimawas able to take many ofGT’s ideas and build upon them, offering an experience that righted many of the franchise’s past wrongs. However, the anime differed fromGTin a key way, and one ofDragon Ball’s legendary animatorsmade that a point in a recent interview.
Dragon Ball Daima Benefited From the Creator’s Touch
Akira Toriyama Left His Mark on Dragon Ball Daima
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, a longtime animator ofDragon Ballandthe creator of the original Super Saiyan 4 design, recently sat down for an interview withX user SofianLeGEEK, which was translated by another user,Venixys. When asked aboutDaimaand its updated Super Saiyan 4 design, he revealed, “ForDragon Ball GT, Toriyama-sensei only provided a few guidelines for the character’s creation, whereas for theDaimaversion, he was much more involved.”
He then added, “We really wanted to create a character that fully represented Mr. Toriyama’s vision.“Dragon Ballhas a rocky history without Toriyama in the picture, andDragon Ball GTwas the first project to stumble without his guidance. But Nakatsuru, who last worked on aDragon Ballseries during the production ofGT,made it clear thatDaimabenefited from the creator’s presence, and was able to capture the spirit of the series with his guidance beyond just the return of Super Saiyan 4.
Dragon Ball Is Once Again Facing a Future Without Its Creator
The Series Will Have to Navigate Without Toriyama Once More
Dragon Ball Daima, which premiered only months after the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, was a fitting send-off to the creator, blending the series' trademark action with the comedy that always lay close to its heart. Now, the franchise once again faces a future in which Toriyama will no longer be able to steer it away from any missteps.However, fans should feel optimistic aboutDragon Ballgoing forward. Current producer Akio Iyoku was a trusted business partner to Toriyama, and worked alongside him to bring the series to screens.
Dragon Ball Daima Director Addresses Super Saiyan 4’s Return, Debunking a Major Theory
A recent interview with the director of Dragon Ball DAIMA’s episode #18 debunked a popular fan theory about Super Saiyan 4.
Iyoku expressed the difficultythat comes with Toriyama’s absence, but revealed that he and the rest of the team now leading the franchise are carefully planningDragon Ball’s next moves. Though the future of the franchise is unknown,it’s fair to believe it’s been left in good hands, and will be able to avoid many of the issues a show likeDragon Ball GTfaced in the past, even if Toriyama is no longer around to make the key difference.
Sources: Interview bySofianLeGEEK on X(translated byVenixys on X)
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Cast
Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
