After spending years tuning in and staying up-to-date with the different parts of the Dragon Ball Franchise, one might think that there’s nothing more to know about the Dragon Ball World, but the latest addition to the series proves otherwise. Dragon Ball Daima has finally premiered, and its much-awaited arrival has sparked a wave of joy among fans of the series. While the animation is spectacular, the anime takes a huge risk in its first episode.
In theory, a Dragon Ball series is incomplete without Goku, but Daima takes its sweet time introducing the fan-favorite character. This new approach has worked surprisingly well and not that anyone had a doubt, but it reinstates Goku’s prominence once again after decades. Daima has begun its run on the right footing and here’s everything it did right with its premiere.
The Biggest Risk in Dragon Ball Daima Works Surprisingly Well
Dragon Ball Daima starts with the villains as the central focus, and no sign of Goku. Gomah and Degesu are introduced to us and their motives are explained. For a major part of the episode, we’re not aware of Goku’s status. This helps in creating an air of intrigue about his eventual introduction in the series. Moreover, we see a recap of the Buu Saga from the villains’ perspective. Their opinion of Goku evolves as they become familiar with his previous feats.
The Saiyan transformations surprise them and they contemplate what it truly is, hinting that they are unfamiliar with the iconic power-up. Despite the unfamiliarity with the specifics of how the Z warriors fight, Gomah and Degesu realize that Goku and his friends are not to be taken lightly, kicking off the main theme of the series. All these events familiarize the audience with the setting of the series and how the villains perceive the world.
It prepares fans for what’s coming up their way with the subsequent episodes We get some new revelations about the Demon Realm and its former king. With all of that information, the first episode’s primary purpose was set up and world-building. A slow and exploratory start like Daima’s, and that too without Goku, bears the risk of being perceived as boring, but it was executed excellently in Dragon Ball Daima.
Goku is Back in All His Glory!
After the flashback, when the anime finally introduces Goku, his legendary status is established right off the bat. His banter and face-off with Vegeta instantly reminds us of the good old days. Seeing them train together after a great feast is reminiscent of the original series and its charm. But before fans can absorb the true impact of their return, the characters are turned into children.
The dramatic transformation interrupts their face-off and is another great example of the series’ silly humor. The new revelations and the old faces balance the elements of nostalgia, with the intrigue caused by the unknown. The spectacular animation makes one excited about the upcoming fights in the series.
The reception of the first episode is fairly positive with some fans still skeptical about the superimposition of new information over the pre-existing details. Besides these minor doubts, Dragon Ball Daima Episode 1 instills confidence that fans are in for a great ride. A new adventure has begun and it would be interesting to see how the Super Saiyans shake up the world this time around.
Dragon Ball Daima is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
