Highlights
Toei Animation announced a new Dragon Ball animation project called Dragon Ball DAIMA, set to debut in fall 2024, to commemorate the franchise's 40th anniversary.
The teaser trailer hints at the possibility of the series delving into the Demon Realm, showcasing a enigmatic Kai-like character. Akira Toriyama, the mastermind behind Dragon Ball, has unveiled that DAIMA will embark on an epic adventure filled with thrilling action, where the characters undergo a transformation back into their childlike selves as a result of a conspiracy. To overcome his diminished stature, Goku relies on his Power Pole.
Toei Animation unveiled a teaser trailer at New York Comic Con on Thursday, announcing an exciting new Dragon Ball animation project set to launch in 2024. Titled Dragon Ball DAIMA, this installment is a special tribute to the franchise's 40th anniversary and features concept, storyline, and character designs crafted by the creator of the original series, Akira Toriyama. Alongside the teaser, the title logo and a statement from Toriyama were also made available. Fans can anticipate the debut of Dragon Ball DAIMA in the fall of 2024.
The teaser opens with a nostalgic recap of the Dragon Ball franchise's significant moments from 1984 to the present. It then jumps to 2024, unveiling a new anime project named "DAIMA." From the visuals and the project's name, it suggests that the series might delve into the Demon Realm that was once ruled by characters like Dabura and Babidi. It showcases a mysterious being resembling a Kai. Akira Toriyama, the author of the series, also provided a statement introducing the upcoming anime and explaining the title. "DAIMA" is a fictional term created from the Japanese characters 大魔, which individually signify "big/great" and "evil."
In English, Toriyama translates it as "Evil" and summarizes the upcoming series as a journey to a new world in order to correct the consequences of a conspiracy where a mysterious wish upon the Dragon Balls causes the characters to revert back to childlike forms - a similar catalyst to the events in the non-canon installment, Dragon Ball GT. He describes it as "a thrilling adventure with intense action" and mentions that Goku will utilize his Power Pole to compensate for his reduced size.
Toriyama excitedly claims to have put more effort into this project than usual. Masako Nozawa, the voice actor for Goku, shares her excitement and expresses curiosity about the mystery behind the events of DAIMA. However, the specific details are still being kept a secret. Along with the teaser and title card, new visuals featuring Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, and other characters have been released. These visuals showcase the crisp animation style of the upcoming Dragon Ball DAIMA, which falls somewhere between the quality of the Broly movie and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Although this may not be the long-awaited continuation of the Dragon Ball Super anime that fans have been eagerly waiting for, the enthusiasm from Toei Animation and Akira Toriyama for this project is clearly evident.