Dragon Ball GTis undoubtedly controversial among many fans, with the majority of this controversy surrounding the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga for failing to effectively replicate the original series' focus on the search for the eponymous spheres. InDragon Ball Daima, one of the main initial appeals beforethe potential return of Majin Buuwas that it recontextualized this very same story line, mostly by limiting these seven balls to three (thoughDragon Ball Superdid this first by reducing them to two on planet Cereal) and by having them protected by guards called Tamagami.
On first watch for bothDaimaandGT, the manner in which Goku and his friends find the first Dragon Ball is critically important because it defines the tone for the rest of their search.HowDaimaintroduces the first Tamagami(and its first Dragon Ball by extension) fails to live up to the expectations thatGTsets in the episode “Like Pulling Teeth.” While there may be more than a few fans who will always fail to appreciateGT’s tone,GT’s first Dragon Ball introducesone critical variation to the series' established formula on how Goku and his friends acquire them.
Dragon Ball GT Innovated The “Search for the Dragon Balls” Trope More Effectively
In GT, Goku’s Personality Is the Reason Why the First Dragon Ball Is So Hard to Retrieve
In “Like Pulling Teeth,” Goku and his traveling companions arrive on a planet of giants, where the first Dragon Ball ends up being right out in the open on the ground. Trunks finds it almost immediately. In fact, the episode would have ended much soonerif Goku hadn’t been fooling around. Goku is too busy eating a giant apple hanging from the top of a tree to help.
During this time, Trunks is focused on the mission at hand and attempts to pick up the Dragon Ball he just found, but the apple that Goku is hanging from falls right on top of itdue to some carelessness on his part. From then on, a series of unfortunate events that begins with the Dragon Ball getting lodged inside the giant fallen apple complicates their ability to obtain it.
This is noteworthy because it’sthe only instance in the franchise where Goku is the reason that prevents the immediate acquisition of a Dragon Ball. More importantly, it comes as the result ofwell-known and celebrated aspects of Goku’s character: his carefree, sometimes oblivious attitude, and insatiable voraciousness. This is relevant, especially when taking the original series into account.
SinceGT’s Black Star Dragon Ball Saga is a retelling of the original series' focus on adventure, there was a caveat that it would needlessly repeat every way in which a Dragon Ball was obtained in the original series, especially since there were two separate hunts for them. It’s actually remarkable thatGTis able to create a whole, new scenario.
Dragon Ball Daima’s First Tamagami Fails to Introduce Anything Worthwhile
In Daima, the Only New Concept Is the Goofy “Cups and Balls” Challenge
By comparison,Daima’s formula that requires Goku to fight the Third Demon World’s three Tamagami for each Dragon Ball is justa spin on a scenario from the original series. Early on, Goku and his friends need to defeat Baba’s champions so she can help them locate a Dragon Ball. While the only difference between this instance andDaimais that each champion doesn’t give them a Dragon Ball, the main theory is the same. Goku and his friends have todefeat more than one boss as part of a more structured challenge to obtain one or more Dragon Balls.
InDaima, the one unexpected twist is thatthe Tamagami challenges Gokuto another test, to participate in the well-known “cups and balls” game. Although this is the first time Dragon Ball has featured “cups and balls,” there have been instances where Goku must overcome something other than a fight to receive a Dragon Ball. In fact, the first time that Goku meets the Ox King, the Ox King only agrees to give the Saiyan his Dragon Ball if Goku retrieves a fan from Master Roshi.
InGT, Goku’s ubiquitous carefree-like mentality gets in the way of him retrieving a Dragon Ball. InDaima, Goku is able to spot the hidden ball because he can keep up with fast movements, a skill that’s necessary for winning battles.GT’s contribution is more effective because it uses Goku’s personality against him. Even thoughDaimaforces Goku to rely on an ability fans have seen him exercise when fighting countless times, the fact that Goku succeeds as a result of it diminishes the effect thatGTcreates. The skill Goku employs inDaimafunctions how it always has,even though it’s used in a different type of battle.
Dragon Ball GT’s Episode Structure Was Much More Complex
Daima Sacrifices Plot and Effective Setups for Fighting
Daima’s simple plot structure doesn’t do Goku’s fight against the Tamagami any favors, either. Leading up to the confrontation, Goku and his friends had mostly been journeying towards the first Tamagami, including random encounters with the villainous Gendarmerie along the way. Meanwhile, the actual episode where Goku attempts to win the first Dragon Ball from the Tamagamisacrifices more nuanced forms of storytelling for fighting.
By comparison,GT’s “Like Pulling Teeth” episode createsa more layered setup that concludes pleasingly by combining two separate storylines. While Goku and Trunks are looking for the Dragon Ball that Goku later loses, Pan, who had disguised herself as a bug, is misrepresented as a queen bee by a local bee colony that takes her to their hive. Both stories intertwine satisfactorily when Goku and Trunks, who had rescued a bee they mistakenly believed was Pan, run into her when she’s flying away from the bees who are in hot pursuit.
Even though most Dragon Ball fans love a good battle, and the one between Goku and the first Tamagami is no exception, the franchise is so much more than just fighting. When taking into account how the focus in both series is the gathering of Dragon Balls,fighting should take a backseat during the pursuit thereof. As such,Dragon Ball Daima’s fight fails to live up to the more expansive journey inDragon Ball GT.
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.
