Dragon Ball Daima: Learning from Dragon Ball GT's Missteps

Article Overview

Dragon Ball DAIMA is already avoiding Dragon Ball GT's mistakes, despite controversy among fans regarding their similarities

DAIMA utilizes the premise of Goku turning into a child more effectively, with authentic stakes and consequences for the characters.

With Akira Toriyama fully involved, Dragon Ball DAIMA promises better quality control, consistency, and a more faithful portrayal of the Dragon Ball franchise.

Dragon Ball DAIMA is liberated from the burden of delivering a satisfactory conclusion to an internationally beloved franchise.

Despite its release date set for 2024, Dragon Ball DAIMA is already steering clear of the pitfalls that plagued Dragon Ball GT. Upon its announcement, the similarities between DAIMA and GT were immediately evident, as both depict Goku transforming into a child. Although the details of the narrative remain largely undisclosed, this initial parallel has already sparked divisive opinions among fans.

The overlap between Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball GT cannot be overlooked, but DAIMA immediately distinguishes itself by avoiding the detrimental mistakes made by GT. Not only does it effectively utilize the premise of Goku reverting back to being a child, but the series also offers a more captivating overall story and superior production quality compared to GT.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Makes GT’s Gimmick Actually Relevant

Given this consideration, DAIMA's chances of encountering the same problems as GT are slim to none. If it maintains this trajectory upon its release, it will undoubtedly be hailed as a significantly more valuable addition to the Dragon Ball franchise.

Dragon Ball DAIMA effectively avoids the mistakes made by Dragon Ball GT in a significant way. Unlike GT, where Goku's transformation into a child was merely a premise with no real impact on the story, DAIMA makes it a crucial element with profound consequences. In this series, Goku's quest to return to his adult form becomes the central focus, adding depth to the narrative. Additionally, his strength is noticeably diminished as a child, unlike in GT where it remained unaffected except for his initial use of Super Saiyan 3. By reintroducing Goku's staff as a necessary tool, DAIMA establishes genuine stakes and a sense of urgency, showcasing the significant repercussions of Goku's return to childhood.

Adding to

Dragon Ball DAIMA Can Fix Dragon Ball GT’s Villain Problem

, it should be noted that Goku is not the sole character to undergo a transformation into a child in Dragon Ball DAIMA. In fact, all of Goku's friends and family have also experienced this phenomenon, which intensifies the sense of urgency within the narrative. This stark contrast to Dragon Ball GT, where Goku was the only one affected, eliminates the option of simply disregarding the situation. It becomes evident that DAIMA goes beyond exploiting nostalgia for the original Dragon Ball series and incorporates GT's gimmick in a more substantial and significant manner, thus enhancing the overall story.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Can Fix Dragon Ball GT’s Villain Problem

One advantage that Dragon Ball DAIMA has over Dragon Ball GT is its ability to create more compelling villains. While Baby, the main villain in GT, was challenging and intimidating, the opponents faced prior to him were generally not very formidable. The Shadow Dragons, for example, only posed a real threat in the final three arcs, making it difficult for GT to maintain a sense of urgency throughout. However, the trailer for DAIMA introduces a villain who is aligned with a Supreme Kai and potentially responsible for the heroes' transformation into children as part of a larger plan. As a result, DAIMA is able to establish a more serious tone earlier on and captivate the audience from the beginning.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Has Akira Toriyama’s Full Involvement

Dragon Ball DAIMA will avoid repeating Dragon Ball GT's mistakes by ensuring Akira Toriyama's full involvement. GT faced criticism due to Toriyama's limited contribution, where he only provided character designs and wasn't responsible for the Super Saiyan 4 transformation. In contrast, Toriyama himself confirmed his heavy involvement in the production of DAIMA. He developed the story and setting, ensuring not only a better quality control compared to GT but also consistency with Dragon Ball's overall style.

This idea of Toriyama's involvement benefiting the production has a decade-long track record. Since Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Toriyama has directly participated in every major installment of the franchise. Despite some issues, these projects have consistently displayed a higher level of consistency and overall quality than Dragon Ball GT and other projects Toriyama wasn't involved in. Therefore, Dragon Ball DAIMA is expected to exhibit the same level of dedication in its production, giving it a significant advantage over Dragon Ball GT.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Has Less Pressure To Succeed Than Dragon Ball GT

Dragon Ball DAIMA avoids the mistakes of Dragon Ball GT by facing less pressure to succeed. GT was viewed as the grand finale of Dragon Ball before Dragon Ball Super was even conceptualized. Fans had high hopes for GT, expecting it to surpass Toriyama's original work and bring closure to the beloved franchise. However, GT's finale was met with controversy and disappointment, intensifying the criticism it received. In contrast, DAIMA takes place after the battle with Kid Buu and before Dragon Ball Super, which is still ongoing. DAIMA is meant to be a lighthearted, self-contained story, while the main story continues in other avenues. Unlike GT, the success or failure of DAIMA will not greatly impact the wider perception of the franchise. Therefore, DAIMA has the freedom to explore its own storyline without the burden of expectations that weighed on GT.

Given the extensive influence of the Dragon Ball franchise, any new addition is subject to intense scrutiny from the moment it is announced. It comes as no surprise, then, that Dragon Ball DAIMA is already facing such scrutiny. However, there is reason to believe that the new series is off to a much stronger start in terms of storytelling and production compared to Dragon Ball GT. Thus, it is unlikely to generate the same level of controversy. This is a fundamental aspect that any Dragon Ball fan would hope for, and even this alone presents numerous reasons to anticipate the release of Dragon Ball DAIMA in 2024.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the upcoming release of Dragon Ball DAIMA. I believe it has the potential to be a great addition to the Dragon Ball franchise and avoid the missteps of Dragon Ball GT.

One of the things I appreciate most about DAIMA is its willingness to take risks and introduce new ideas. The concept of Goku turning into a child is a bold one, but it has the potential to be very rewarding if done well. I am also intrigued by the new villain, who seems to be more complex and dangerous than any of the villains in GT.

Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about Dragon Ball DAIMA. I believe it has the potential to be a great anime, but it will need to avoid the mistakes of GT in order to succeed. I am confident that the team behind DAIMA is up to the task, and I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us.