Dragon Ball Daima’s final episodes sent the series' massive fan base into a frenzy. Many enjoyed the intense action and incredible animation work, while others were disappointed by the lack of a new fusion and overall humorous tone ofthe anime’s final scenes. Though the reception of the finale is somewhat split, nearly everyone is wondering the same thing:how does this all connect withinDragon Ball’s canon timeline?
Theories of separate, alternate timelines have gained traction within the anime community, while some fans are dismissingDaima’s canon status altogether. However, series' producer Akio Iyoku made it clear in a February interview that Goku’s latest adventure"is a continuation, and is connected to the Majin Buu Saga,“while making sure to remind fans of Akira Toriyama’s involvement. While this statement would lead to the conclusion thatDaimais canon to the series' main timeline, it isn’t quite that simple.
Dragon Ball Daima Is a Continuation of Akira Toriyama’s Original Manga
The Anime’s Producer Wants to “Show the Various Connections to Dragon Ball”
When askedby MANTANWEBhow exactlyDragon Ball Daimaconnects to the larger story ofDragon Ball, Iyoku didn’t get into specifics. Instead, he referred to the story as being a continuation of the Buu Saga and a creation of Akira Toriyama’s, and that while he was sure Toriyama knew how it all tied together,he wasn’t overly concerned about the finer details. Instead, he said, “I’m sure you’re wondering whereDaimafits in theDragon Ballseries, but I’m trying to show the various connections toDragon Ball.”
The answer was somewhat ambiguous, and while he confirmed its relation to Toriyama’s originalDragon Ballmanga, he didn’t touch on its connection toDragon Ball Super. It’s clear that the team’s focuswas placed on celebrating the various iterations ofDragon Ballthroughout the years, as Iyoku said. However, in doing so,Daima’s place in the series' canon becomes unclear, despite having its canon status confirmed. While Iyoku’s statements clarify the anime’s connection to Toriyama’s work, they also make the entire situation more confusing.
There Are Several Possible Explanations for Daima’s Canon Status
The Dragon Ball Team Has Options for Explaining Daima’s Placement in the Canon
Though Iyoku confirmedDaimaas being a canon continuation of the Majin Buu Saga,the series' fan base is left with more questions than answersabout how it fits within theDragon Ball Supertimeline of events. Until the subject is directly addressed, either by Iyoku himself or in Toyotarou’sDragon Ball Supermanga, all fans can do is speculate, though there are possible ways to make it all fit nicely. The simplest route would be to have Toyotarou’s manga reference the events ofDaimawhenever it returns, and give some sort of quick explanation for why the series had never been referenced before.
The most shocking and unlikely next step would be to officially state thatDragon Ball Superis no longer canon, though it wouldn’t make much sense to walk back on the long-running series at this time, and it would most certainly leave fans unhappy.The series could venture into the multiple-timeline route, as much of theDragon Ballcommunity has speculated. While this would make for a clean and easy explanation of events, following multiple timelines may lessen the impact of any given story.
Dragon Ball Daima Is Officially Over, So What’s Next For the Hit Anime?
Dragon Ball Daima’s finale has been released, bringing Akira Toriyama’s final vision of the series to an end. What’s next for the iconic franchise?
Iyoku and theDragon Ballteam might also just never explain the connection between each series, as it’s become clear the subject wasn’t exactly on the minds ofDragon Ball Daima’s creators. The franchise’s next steps will almost certainly add to the discussion of canon and non-canon works, but whether future projects will clarify the timeline or further muddy it remains to be seen. Until then, it seems fans will have to wait patiently forDragon Ball Super’s returnfor any clue about how exactlyDaimafits.
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.
