At New York Comic Con 2023, Toei Animation made a surprising announcement for the next anime installment of the popular Dragon Ball franchise. Introducing Dragon Ball: Daima, a unique twist where Goku and his friends undergo a transformation, becoming younger and smaller.
Monica Rial, the English voice actress for Bulma in the popular series Dragon Ball Super, took on the role of moderator for a special Dragon Ball panel. With a humorous remark about taking a break from Bulma’s fiery Saiyan husband Vegeta, she excited the fans with a promise of an exclusive and mysterious video that had not been announced anywhere else. The panel also welcomed Ian Sinclair, the English voice actor for Whis, who had never seen the footage before.
Sinclair and the fans were treated to a sneak peek teaser of the upcoming series, Dragon Ball: Daima, which commemorates 40 years of the franchise. With the involvement of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama in the writing and designs, Daima promises a Dragon Ball story unlike anything seen before. Goku, Bulma, Piccolo, Yamcha, and other beloved characters have been transformed into adorable, pint-sized versions of themselves. The series is set to be released in the fall of 2024.
As fans eagerly questioned the transformation, executive producer Akio Iyoku, with the assistance of a translator, remained tight-lipped about the details. He teased the audience by stating, “Yes, it’s very curious. There are some things I can’t reveal… Akira Toriyama has been significantly involved, going beyond his usual contributions in character design and artwork.”
The title of the new series, Daima, was only decided a few days ago, according to Iyoku. But why choose Daima?
A letter from Toriyama, displayed on the screen during the panel, provided a vague explanation along with a hint of the plot:
“DAIMA” is a term I made up, which can be interpreted as “Evil” in English.
Due to a mysterious conspiracy, Goku and his friends are magically transformed into small versions of themselves. To restore their original forms, they embark on a grand adventure in a newly discovered world full of unknown and enigmatic elements. In order to compensate for his reduced size, Goku utilizes his Nyoibo (Power Pole) in battles, an ability not seen for a long time. I have put a lot of effort into crafting the story, settings, and many of the designs. More so than usual.”
Returning to his diminutive self from his earlier days, Goku, the Saiyan warrior, reunites with his Power Pole. This serves as a reminder for fans that Dragon Ball draws inspiration from the epic tale, Journey to the West. The teaser trailer hints at the involvement of the wish-granting Dragon Balls in the characters’ transformation, but the culprit behind the wish remains a mystery.
Sinclair seized the opportunity to ask about another beloved character, Whis, whether he will appear in the new series. Iyoku responded, “I won’t say no, but maybe, I will say that Bulma will definitely be part of it.”
The panel also teased upcoming Dragon Ball video games and a role-playing video game based on another work by Toriyama, Sand Land. Additionally, they announced the home and digital video release of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero on November 11, as well as the return of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods to movie theaters on October 17 and 18, featuring 20 minutes of bonus content.
Iyoku emphasized, “Remember this name, Dragon Ball: Daima. Dragon Ball: Daima. Dragon Ball: Daima.”
Finally, the panel concluded with a video message from Masako Nozawa, the Japanese voice actress for Goku, who posed and performed a KamehameHAAAAAAA in her signature classy manner. This marked the end of Toei’s Dragon Ball panel, but fans were encouraged to explore Polygon’s coverage of all the news, trailers, and highlights from New York Comic Con 2023.
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