Dragon Ball Daima: The Perfect Evolution for the Franchise

Accepting change can be quite the challenge, especially when you’re trying to align years of deep-seated feelings with the current situation. Honestly, I was right there with the skeptics when news broke back in October 2023 about the upcoming release of Dragon Ball Daima. After patiently waiting for five and a half long years since Dragon Ball Super’s unforgettable Tournament of Power arc wrapped up, the thought of diving back into episodes with a child-like Goku and the crew again felt like a letdown. Yet, as I reluctantly began watching those first few episodes, it didn’t take long to see that I was wrong—and I wasn’t alone in that realization.

Fast forward to 2025, and it seems like bashing the Dragon Ball series has become a sort of trend, and it’s not without reason. When comparing the fight animations to those in Attack on Titan or Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball often falls short; the animators tend to cover this by portraying battles as if they’re moving too fast for viewers to fully grasp the action. Much of Dragon Ball Super revolved around shifting power levels, diluting the suspense by simply rolling out yet another transformation (Super Saiyan Blue Evolved, really?). Goku’s often portrayed as naive, Gohan gets significantly nerfed, and Vegeta hardly ever claims a win. That’s where Daima steps in to quiet the critics.

Over an impressive span of just 15 beautifully animated episodes, this latest series has taken the Dragon Ball universe back to its roots. Remember when Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation was a thrilling, rare moment signifying immense power? In Daima, Goku doesn’t even tap into the golden glow until the fifth episode, just to swiftly deal with King Kadan’s followers. And even after that, he only adopts that legendary form sparingly in the episodes that follow. The focus has returned to pure hand-to-hand combat, peppered with some Power Pole action to keep the fantasy grounded in reality. Fans were collectively blown away when Vegeta pulled off his Super Saiyan 3 transformation in episode 12, defeating Tamagami Number Two and reclaiming a major gap in Dragon Ball lore. It served as a message that Daima was willing to revise Dragon Ball’s canon thoughtfully.

The choreography in the fight scenes has reached new heights, perhaps some of the finest since the epic showdown with Broly in the 2018 Dragon Ball Super: Broly film. Watching Goku nimbly avoid Tamagami Number Three’s ki blasts, delivering crippling kicks, and performing aerial maneuvers to dodge Tamagami’s mighty hammer—only to shatter its handle with a swift Power Pole strike—was nothing short of tear-inducing. In Daima, battles carry true weight and significance, not just added in as flashy filler to pass the time.

The storyline also complements the classic Dragon Ball Z arcs we adore without veering into the divisive territory that some Dragon Ball Super plots tread. For the record, Dragon Ball Super is indeed underrated, with the Tournament of Power arguably standing as one of the franchise’s crowning achievements. Even so, Super sometimes dug a bit too deep into deities manipulating existence. Remember the Fused Zamasu confrontation? Vegito Blue was spectacular, but the abrupt resolution with Zeno erasing the villain felt cheap. Daima skillfully picks up post-Buu saga, enriching the narrative without undermining its legacy.

Yes, Goku remains his lovable, goofy self—not quite the focused warrior from Z’s Cell or Frieza encounters. Most episodes dwell more on exploration rather than constant fighting. But the addition of intriguing characters like Glorio, Dr. Arinsu, and Panzy makes these journeys through the newly unveiled Demon Worlds feel like exciting, treasure-laden adventures instead of mundane tasks.

With only a month left before Daima wraps up its season finale, I urge everyone—fans and critics alike—to give this remarkable series a genuine shot. Then, take a moment to reflect on its merits. It might be time to acknowledge that Daima delivers exactly the refreshment the Dragon Ball series needed, right when it was most deserved.