Dragon Ball Daima is helping Vegeta prove why he’s the best husband in the franchise as he and Bulma have one of the strongest connections in the new anime. Dragon Ball has been building the relationship between Vegeta and Bulma for a long time. Ever since it was revealed that they had a child in the future during the events of the Android Saga, Vegeta and Bulma have been a couple ever since. But while it’s largely happened in the background through the years, fans have seen how dedicated of a husband and father Vegeta is compared to his Saiyan rival, Goku.

This has also clearly been the case with Dragon Ball Daima as well as Vegeta and Bulma have been adventuring with one another through the Demon Realm. Showing off more of their unspoken connection as husband and wife, the newest episode of the series takes it further as Bulma’s already fully confident that Vegeta will help save her when their plan starts crashing into the First Demon World. And that’s only the latest example of how much trust the two have for one another.

Vegeta and Bulma Really Are Dragon Ball’s Best Couple

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 14 sees Goku and the others trying to make their way to the First Demon World, only to find that Supreme Demon King Gomah had shut off the Warp Fish service that would let them transfer between worlds. After Neva revealed his ability to remove the spell that was keeping the worlds apart (and had apparently been the one to create it in the first place), Glorio had taken their ship down through the gate to the First Demon World. And soon enough it was revealed that their ship wouldn’t make the rest of the flight and they’d need to abandon it.

Bulma realized that she was the only one on the team that couldn’t fly, and although Hybis hilariously declines carrying her, Vegeta made it clear he had intended to grab her the entire time. But Bulma never once questioned that fact. It’s just one of the moments we’ve seen in Dragon Ball Daima such as when Vegeta had quickly moved to protect her when Glorio first came to Earth. The two of them are so close that they quickly move to cover one another, and pretty much know what one another are thinking.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Final Episode Release Date Accidentally Revealed: What We Know So Far

Bulma Cares Just as Much For Vegeta Too

Bulma and Vegeta stand out as such an important couple for Dragon Ball as not only do the two of them play key roles in many of Dragon Ball’s arcs over the years (and thus get more opportunities to showcase their connection on screen compared to other couples), but it’s made clear that it’s a connection that’s shared by the both of them. The biggest example came when Vegeta had actually transformed into the Super Saiyan 3 form for the first real time in the series.

Vegeta using this new form as a surprise to Goku and the others, but Bulma had known all about it. Not only did she reveal that Vegeta had been training in secret, she was proud of seeing this form in action. It’s a small moment in the grand scheme of things, but it really goes to showcase that their marriage is a two way street. They both care for one another, and Vegeta (despite seeming frustrated by it on the outside) always puts Bulma first above everything else. That’s not something every husband and father in the series can say.

The post Vegeta Proves Why He’s Dragon Ball’s Best Husband appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Cell was Gohan’s biggest foe in Dragon Ball Z, and now the franchise has come full circle as Cell shared his reaction to seeing Gohan’s new Gohan Beast form for the first time in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero brought Gohan back up to Goku and Vegeta’s level in a new fight against a new version of Cell. The feature film had pushed Gohan to a point where he had never been before, and brought out a new transformation that was entirely unique to him. Seemingly having the same godly power as Goku and Vegeta’s newest forms, Gohan Beast was a beast unto itself.

It was a big full circle moment for Gohan as like when he had initially defeated Cell during the Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z, Gohan used his rage to bring about a powerful new transformation that completely overwhelmed Cell. But Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has helped bring that even further as it reveals how Perfect Cell would react to seeing Gohan Beast in action. And Gohan’s response is just icing on the cake. Check it out below as spotted by @varebarra on X.

What Cell Thinks of Gohan Beast

As Cell sees Gohan Beast for the first time, he says “W-what is this otherworldly strength?! Were Saiyans always capable of such unbelievable power?” Then Gohan Beast appropriately rubs salt in the wound with the highly aggressive response of “Wow. I’d never imagined I’d get the pleasure of wiping the floor with you again.” It’s a good reflection of the kind of rage based mentality that Gohan is in when using this powerful new form, and it’s clear that Cell isn’t ready for this match up. Gohan was already much stronger than Cell when he was at Super Saiyan 2, and the gap now is much wider.

Thanks to the Dragon Ball Super manga having additional materials to serve as an epilogue to the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, fans have gotten to get more details about Gohan Beast itself. Gohan explained that the form is him bringing his rage to right before he loses control. In his unleashing of his power, Goku and Vegeta recognize the form to be on par with Goku’s Ultra Instinct and even Broly’s Berserk power when they all sparred for a bit at peak level.

RELATED: 10 Best Dragon Ball Super Gallery Covers Toriyama Would Have Loved

Is Dragon Ball Super Coming Back?

It has yet to be revealed if Dragon Ball Super‘s anime is ever going to be making a proper comeback, but those behind the scenes have teased that a new Dragon Ball Super movie could be in the works. But there is still something new on the way for Dragon Ball Super fans in the immediate future, however, as the manga is planning to come back from its own hiatus soon. The manga had gone on hiatus since the passing of original creator Akira Toriyama last year, but is coming back next month with a new entry.

Dragon Ball Super’s manga is set to return next month with a new one-shot story on February 20th in Japan. This will be a brand new story not seen before, and is teased to be focused on Trunks and Goten as they are once again going about on their super hero adventures as seen through the manga. The Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc included more scenes of Trunks and Goten as heroes not seen in the original movie, and this new story could be an expansion of this idea with a new adventure.

The post Dragon Ball Comes Full Circle With Cell’s Hilarious Reaction to Gohan Beast’s Power appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has kicked off the endgame for its new anime series this Winter, but it’s really looking like Majin Kuu and Duu are not going to be the final villains for the series. Dragon Ball Daima has sent Goku and the others on through a brand new adventure through the Demon Realm for the first real time in the franchise, and with it has shaken up what fans had previously known about the Majin Buu arc. The biggest of which was that there was originally a much different creator behind Majin Buu, and that it was possible to make another one.

Not only did Dragon Ball Daima reveal the original mage who created Majin Buu, but also went through the process of making not one, but two new successors. Majin Kuu and Duu have demonstrated that they had abilities that make them fall in line with what we have seen from Majin Buu in the past, but it’s increasingly looking like they are not going to be the final villains either. They’re just not as inherently as evil as Majin Buu was either as the two of them just seem to like hanging out when not ordered by Dr. Arinsu to do something.

Majin Kuu and Duu Don’t Seem Evil

Majin Kuu and Duu both had very different introductions than Majin Buu ever did. Majin Buu was initially a very intense threat from the very first moment he was on screen, and was such a chaotic force that it was revealed that even those in the Demon Realm were afraid of the creation. It’s something that the original creator Marba had wanted to avoid in a follow up creation, and thus had crafted Kuu and Duu with Dr. Arinsu’s help to make a being that was much more controllable. But as a result, the two of them just aren’t as threatening as they could (or should be).

Every instance we have seen from them outside of battle, they are usually seen just hanging out with one another and eating chocolate. They seem much more like the good Majin Buu that’s now a part of the Z Fighters, and Episode 14 even sees them mingle with the Gendarmerie’s Ginyu Force with a childish like delight. The two of them are happy to get the single bits of chocolate that they’re offered, and don’t seem to have the evil intent that Majin Buu had to eat as much of it as possible. They’re basically unbothered.

RELATED: 6 Questions Dragon Ball Daima Needs to Answer Before It Ends

Who’s the Real Final Villain?

But if the two of them aren’t as inherently evil or as threatening as the original Majin Buu was, Dragon Ball Daima is likely not going to have them as the final foes that Goku and the others need to face. That’s in their current forms, anyway. Dragon Ball Daima has been teasing that characters like Dr. Arinsu and even Neva have something under their sleeves that has yet to be revealed yet. That could involve the Majins in a unique way.

With Dragon Ball Daima previously teasing elements such as a new way of Fusion that has yet to be explored in previous episodes, this could bring the Majins literally together to form a creature that’s more like the original Majin Buu. But even if that’s the case, that would mean they’re still not the final villain but instead a tool that the real final villain uses for the final battle. It’s something Goku and Vegeta can face off against while Arinsu or another character enacts their grander plan. It’s just that now, the two just don’t seem like they’re going to be the final ones to defeat.

The post Dragon Ball’s New Majin Buus Won’t Be the Final Villains appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been introducing all sorts of major shake ups to the Dragon Ball franchise ever since the new anime premiered last year, and it’s been to such an extent that there are several questions it needs to answer before the anime ends. Dragon Ball Daima kicked off its run last year to help commemorate the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and it has been a blast from the past. While fans have gotten to see Goku going on a brand new adventure, the new anime has also greatly expanded the lore.

As Goku and the others are traveling through the Demon Realm for the first time in the Dragon Ball franchise years after it was first teased to exist, the previous episodes have revealed that this new region has been far more important to the wider multiverse than fans have ever expected. This has gone to such an extent that with the anime apparently wrapping up soon, there are some big questions that need some answers before the franchise moves onto something else.

Will There Be a New Fusion Soon?

Dragon Ball Daima has been making all sorts of reveals about the Demon Realm, and some of them are more nonchalant than the others. One of these reveals were the Medi Bugs, these were bugs that not only restored stamina like the Senzu Beans but one was much more interesting. The Join Bug was introduced to the series as a way for demons to quickly fuse with one another, and Dragon Ball Daima has been hanging this possibility over fans’ heads for the entire series thus far. Nothing has necessitated this fusion yet, but that’s something that needs to be seen before the anime ends.

What’s Dr. Arinsu’s Plan?

Dr. Arinsu has been moving in the shadows since Dragon Ball Daima began, but it’s yet to be revealed exactly what this mysterious scientist is going for. In creating a new Majin Buu with Kuu and Duu, Arinsu wanted to claim the Dragon Ball from the First Demon World. She’s also been having Glorio keep tabs on Goku and the others as they collect the other two, so it’s clear that she’s angling to make a wish on the Dragon Balls herself. She’s troubling enough that Supreme King Gomah is wary of her, and knew how Majin Buu was originally created, but we’ve yet to get any hint of what she actually wants. Now’s the time.

What’s Going to Happen to Majin Kuu and Duu?

As part of Dr. Arinsu’s mysterious plan, she’s created two new Majins from the remnants of Majin Buu. Majin Kuu and Duu have turned out to be much different than fans might have expected from the new foes at first as it’s not exactly clear whether or not they are as inherently evil as their predecessor. The two of them are going to be listening to Arinsu’s orders, but outside of that all they seem to be into is eating chocolate. They’re not a threat, so it’s not like they need to be wiped out before Dragon Ball Daima ends. It’s just that whatever happens to them needs to be figured out soon.

Where Are All These New Dragon Ball Daima Characters Going to Go?

Dragon Ball Daima has introduced the Demon Realm in full for the first real time in the franchise, but what really sets it out from the previous Dragon Ball anime releases is where it’s set in the timeline. It’s both a sequel to Dragon Ball as it’s set a few months to a year after the end of the Majin Buu arc, but it’s also set before the Battle of Gods arc that helps kick off Dragon Ball Super. Which means that every new face we meet here has to go somewhere that we haven’t seen before. They will likely be relegated to staying within the Demon Realm, but it’s not a goodbye that’s going to come easy after such an extensive adventure like this.

What Is Really Going On With Neva?

Neva has been one of Dragon Ball Daima‘s most intriguing new characters since the start of the series revealed that Namekians could have a much greater control over the Dragon Balls and their magic than seen before. But as each episode reveals more about what Neva can do, and how much influence he seems to have within the Demon Realm, the series seems to be teasing that Neva has something else in mind. He might be casually observing everything for now, but he also seems like he could turn on a dime and reveal why he’s keeping such a close eye on Goku and the others while they seek the Dragon Balls. Something’s going on.

What’s After Dragon Ball Daima?

If the leaked release date for Dragon Ball Daima holds true, then the anime will be coming to an end with Episode 20 airing on Friday, February 28th. So the biggest question heading into these final episodes is what is coming after all of this. It’s place in the timeline makes this an issue as its events likely lead into Dragon Ball Super, so fans just need more of that connective tissue to make it work. We just need a greater explanation of what the Demon Realm’s status is while Goku and the others head back to the outside world.

Whether the anime is followed by a potential Dragon Ball Daima Season 2 or a potential return from Dragon Ball Super instead, there can’t be any real leftover story threads left unanswered. The anime can’t leave things off on a cliffhanger because we all know what’s coming next, and instead need to see how these adventures are going to inform future arcs. Will there be more involvement from the demons? We’ll just have to hope and see if that’s something the anime bothers answering before it ends.

The post 6 Questions Dragon Ball Daima Needs to Answer Before It Ends appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Gohan has been through a lot in Dragon Ball’s history, going from a toddler in Dragon Ball Z to one of the strongest Z-Fighters in Dragon Ball Super. In the latest film of the shonen franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Goku’s son achieved his highest power level to date thanks to achieving the transformation, Gohan Beast. As fans wait to see this form’s return in both the anime and the manga, there is another avenue that fans can experience this powerful new technique. Thanks to Gohan Beast’s video game return, anime fans can now witness the Z-Fighter confirming who is truly the strongest warrior in Universe Seven.

Much like how Gohan achieved Super Saiyan 2 during the Cell Games, the arrival of Cell Max allowed the Z-Fighter to hit his strongest form to date. Even with Piccolo achieving his own ultimate form in Orange Piccolo, the Namekian wasn’t enough to defeat the resurrected villain on his own. Witnessing Piccolo near death, Gohan was able to achieve a new level of power thanks to once again tapping into his own anger. For those wondering whether this iteration of Gohan is more powerful than his father’s Ultra Instinct, the manga did pit the two against one another but a definitive answer regarding who would take the top spot remains a mystery.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Announces Return Date]

The Strongest Z-Fighter Revealed

Thanks to Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, the fighting game that has been tearing up the fighting game community, Gohan Beast has returned. A new DLC pack sees Gohan’s newest form take center stage along with the likes of Orange Piccolo, Cell Max, and the Gamma twins from the recent movie. During one interaction with the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly, Gohan confirms that the former villain turned ally might be the strongest being in the world.

While Broly was defeated by Gogeta in his premiere film, it’s hard to deny that he is the strongest Z-Fighter in the roster if you don’t count fusions. The manga laid out that Frieza’s new transformation is more than enough to take out Goku and Vegeta in their Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms, but how the villain would stand up to the Legendary Super Saiyan is anyone’s guess. When last we saw Broly, he wasn’t trying to become more powerful but instead, was trying to manage his mental state while accessing his wild strength.

Where is Gohan?

One of the biggest questions in Dragon Ball Daima, the latest anime series on the small screen, is where on Earth Gohan is. Goku’s son hasn’t been featured at all as of yet, with his friends and family transformed into children thanks to the wish of the Demon Lord Gomah. With Daima only having six episodes left in its first season, viewers are still wondering if Gohan will make a surprise appearance as the Z-Fighters attempt to turn back to normal and survive the Demon Realm. Since the series takes place before the events of Dragon Ball Super, Gohan Beast most likely won’t make an appearance but Daima has revealed quite a few bombshells in its episodes so far.

Want to see if Gohan will make an appearance in the shonen franchise’s latest anime? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball: Gohan Beast Reveals The Anime’s Strongest Character appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been ramping up its intriguing nature with each new episode of the series over the last few weeks, and the newest episode of the series is teasing more of Neva’s hidden legendary level of power. Dragon Ball Daima kicked off this new adventure for Goku and the others with the Supreme Demon King Gomah making a wish on the Dragon Balls to turn all of them into children. But he would never have been able to make this wish on the Dragon Balls without the mysterious elderly Namekian, Neva, using his magic on them to activate them for use.

Dragon Ball Daima introduced Neva at the beginning of the series as the final Namekian who has been living in the Demon Realm for thousands of years. Neva seemed like he was senile, but clearly shifted when he began using his powerful magic. Not only has the mystery of his true intentions deepen even further with his previous reveal that he was faking that senility all along, but the newest episode teases he’s got some real legendary power still hidden as he formed the barriers in between Demon Worlds.

Dragon Ball Daima Reveals More of Neva’s Power

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 14 sees Goku and the others prepare to make their way to the First Demon World at last, only to find out that Gomah has shut down the Warp Fish in between them. This means that their only option to get to the First Demon World is to somehow make it through the now closed off gates, and Neva soon activates a spell to get rid of them. Not only does he quickly wipe out the shields keeping the worlds apart, but he reveals that he’s the one that actually put them up in the first place.

But that’s not the key part of the reveal of Neva’s hidden power, however. Fans have already seen Neva using his spells either casually or not, and they have really shaken up the rules that had been set in place before. This reveal thus does not seem like as much of a surprise as it should as we have already seen Namekians like Piccolo who have been able to master different types of skills. So Neva using his thousands of years of life to master different kinds of magic makes sense. But the real twist is he made the decision to cut off the worlds.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Final Episode Release Date Accidentally Revealed: What We Know So Far

What Is Neva Really Planning in Dragon Ball Daima?

Neva revealed to Goku and the others that due to those from the Third Demon World and First Demon World overrunning those on the second, he’s the one that shut the doors between the worlds. It’s not that he was told to do so by a powerful Supreme Demon King, and his doing so didn’t seem to be an issue. We’ve seen Supreme Demon Kings of the past have the kind of authority to order seemingly powerful demons to create the multiverse, so Neva just dramatically changing the Demon Realm of his own accord is a huge deal.

Neva has been teasing that he might even be outside of the authority of the Supreme Demon King as his whole senility act was just him playing around, and the fact that he was not only the one who created the Tamagamis but likely created the Dragon Balls in the Demon Realm in the first place. There’s something different going on with Neva, and Piccolo being shocked at seeing Neva’s display (even going as far as calling it “legendary”) only further teases that there’s still something we don’t know about this sorcerer.

The post Dragon Ball Teases Neva’s Legendary Hidden Power appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It looks like it’s going to be harder than ever to watch your favorite Dragon Ball episodes as huge chunks of the franchise are scheduled to leave a major streaming service soon. Dragon Ball is now in the midst of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original manga hitting the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and fans are getting to celebrate the late Akira Toriyama’s legacy with a brand new anime, Dragon Ball Daima, airing new episodes each week. That also means it’s been the perfect time to go back and check out some of the series’ classic episodes.

There seems to be a major hiccup coming fans’ way, however, as it seems like Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super are scheduled to be leaving Hulu in 13 more days. If this turns out to be the case as these anime releases leave the streaming service at the start of the next month, then fans will be losing one of the most accessible options for checking out their favorite episodes of these now classic Dragon Ball anime releases. Which probably isn’t so great with Dragon Ball Daima potentially ending soon too.

Is Dragon Ball Leaving Hulu?

For anyone who might be checking out Dragon Ball on Hulu, the current options include Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and the now airing Dragon Ball Daima. But with the current licenses for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super apparently expiring in 13 days from the time of this publication, this is only going to be leaving Dragon Ball Z Kai and Dragon Ball Daima as the last shows accessible from the franchise on Hulu. But that’s only if these licenses expire as Hulu has had reversals of these kinds of listings in the past.

The “Expires in XX days” listing on Hulu is just an indication of when the licensing deal to stream a series is up, but there’s a chance it could be renewed before its removal (which has happened with other popular animated franchises). But at the same time, it also might be time for fans to get ready just in case these shows are removed from Hulu. Luckily, Dragon Ball’s anime is still streaming on services like Crunchyroll for fans who have access to other streaming options. But for those who exclusively use Hulu, it’s going to be a lot harder to check out this classic.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Dub Brings Back Classic Kid Goku Voice: Watch

Is Dragon Ball Daima Ending Soon Too?

This is a tough time for the Dragon Ball franchise, however, as Dragon Ball Daima is seemingly going to be ending its new anime run too. It’s the first new Dragon Ball TV anime since Dragon Ball Super came to an end back in 2018, and has been following Goku and the others on a brand new adventure set in between the events of the Majin Buu and Battle of Gods arc. But it seems like it’s going to be ending in February as well.

According to a leaked listing from Hulu (that was quickly removed after it was spotted), Dragon Ball Daima will be ending with Episode 20 on Friday, February 28th. Toei Animation themselves have yet to confirm whether or not the show will be ending on this date, but this coupled with the potential loss of these classic Dragon Ball shows in the same month is going to be a one-two punch of bad news for fans of the Dragon Ball anime.

The post It’s Going to Be Harder Than Ever to Watch Your Favorite Dragon Ball Episodes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has made it to the First Demon World at last, and the cliffhanger from the anime’s newest episode has sparked the anime’s endgame plans as it gets ready for its finale. Dragon Ball Daima has been playing coy about how long this new anime series would last when it premiered last Fall, but fans had been suspecting that it would have a relatively shorter run when compared to other Dragon Ball releases of the past. Now that seems likelier than ever before with what went down in the newest episode of the series as Goku and the others make it to the First Demon World.

Dragon Ball Daima will reportedly be airing its final episode at the end of February according to a leaked listing with Hulu, and that’s becoming all the more true as Goku and the others’ Demon Realm adventure has taken a very intense turn. Now that they have made their way to the First Demon World at the end of the newest episode, it’s clear that Goku is now on a speeding collision course towards the Supreme Demon King Gomah as the final clash between the sides is imminent.

Dragon Ball Daima Kicks Off Its Endgame Plans

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 14 picks up right as Goku and the others are ready to finally head to the First Demon World, but they find that Gomah has shut down the Warp Fish in order to keep them from getting to the planet. It doesn’t hold them back for long, however, as Neva reveals that he was the one that closed off the Demon Worlds from one another in the first place. He had placed the shields in between the paths between worlds due to the First and Third Worlds overwhelming the Second, so it was just a matter of removing the spell closing them off.

With the spell removed, Goku and the others fly into the First Demon World. It’s not long before their ship goes down, and they all start freefalling down to the planet. But with Gomah watching along, he sets out the entire Gendarmerie forces against them as Goku and the others are now running for their lives while Gomah’s army shoots at them from afar. So while it’s been a fairly relaxing adventure so far, things are about to get more intense from here on out.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Preview Brings Back Surprising Z-Villain

When Is Dragon Ball Daima Ending?

According to a leaked listing from Hulu’s offerings in February (that was quickly removed shortly after it was spotted), Dragon Ball Daima’s final episode will be releasing on February 28th. If this turns out to be the case, then the anime will be wrapping up with only 20 episodes under its belt. It’s starting to look like the case too as the anime is clearly ramping up its intensity for Goku and the others. All three Demon Realm Dragon Balls are in hand, the characters are all gathered in the First Demon World, and now it’s all going to explode.

There are some big changes that have been made to the Dragon Ball multiverse with the introduction of the Demon Realm in Dragon Ball Daima, and that also means there are a number of questions that still need to be answered before it’s all over. Because this takes place in between the events of the Majin Buu and Battle of Gods arcs, the anime also has to explain where all of the new characters we’re meeting now are up to by the time we get to the Dragon Ball Super timeline.

The post New Dragon Ball Daima Cliffhanger Sparks the Anime’s Endgame appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima accidentally revealed the release date for its final episode, so here’s everything you need to know to be ready for its potential end. Dragon Ball Daima kicked off its run last Fall as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the original debut of the late Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. This new series sends Goku and the others on a brand new adventure through the Demon Realm with a brand new story and new characters from Toriyama himself. But fans have been wondering how long it was going to actually last for.

Those behind the scenes have been playing coy about how long of a project Dragon Ball Daima was going to be as it kicked off the second half of its run this year, and some had suspected it was going to be around 20 episodes. It appears that this is the case for it, however, as Hulu accidentally listed that the final episode of the series will be making its streaming premiere on Friday, February 28th. While this has yet to be confirmed by Toei Animation themselves, this would bring it to 20 episodes in total as fans had suspected.

When Is Dragon Ball Daima Going to End?

If this leak holds true, then Dragon Ball Daima will be ending with Episode 20 releasing on Friday, February 28th. This also means it’s going to be a relatively short Dragon Ball project within the anime franchise as a whole. It’s not only much shorter than Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and especially Dragon Ball Super but it’s even shorter than the last spinoff that fans can’t stop comparing it to, Dragon Ball GT. So while Goku and the others are now traveling through the Demon Realm at a much speedier pace than before, it’s all going to be wrapping up sooner than expected.

When Dragon Ball Daima first began with an extended premiere episode that featured a longer run time than any of the other episodes released thus far, there was a tease that fans were going to be in for a grandiose new adventure. It seemed to be the case with the first half of the series, but this finale coming in just a few more weeks means that the anime is going to be ramping up its intensity with each of the new episodes thus far rather than exploring more of the Demon Realm’s quieter opportunties.

What’s Next for Dragon Ball Daima?

There’s also the question of whether or not this will be a full finale for Dragon Ball Daima too. Because while the early listing on Hulu had it labeled as “Finale” before it was quickly removed, it’s not clear as to whether this is actually a season or series finale. Its potential series finale seems more apt considering that Dragon Ball Daima is only set in between the events of Dragon Ball Z‘s Majin Buu Arc and the Battle of Gods arc that kicks off Dragon Ball Super, but the adventure also seems like it can go on for much longer.

There’s quite a lot of story seemingly left to go as Goku and the others have made their way to the First Demon World, and now it’s only a matter of time before they clash with Gomah. That’s even before factoring in what Dr. Arinsu has planned for her own endgame as she has Majin Kuu and Duu ready for action (along with her own Dragon Ball), and what even more fleshing out of the Demon Realm means for the anime’s future in Daima, Super and potentially beyond.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Final Episode Release Date Accidentally Revealed: What We Know So Far appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima‘s English dub is now airing its new episodes every week, and the newest episode of the dub has debuted Stephanie Nadolny making her comeback as the voice of Goku Mini after nearly 15 years. Dragon Ball Daima is now airing this year as part of the celebration for the 40th anniversary of the late Akira Toriyama’s manga first making its debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. This is a brand new anime series featuring a story never seen in the franchise before with new characters and designs from Toriyama himself as Goku goes on a new adventure through the Demon Realm.

As one of the many big shake ups that kicked off Dragon Ball Daima, however, was that a new wish made on the Dragon Balls turned Goku and the rest of the Z Fighters into children. Now needing to explore the Demon Realm in order to defeat Supreme Demon King Gomah, rescue Dende, and return to their adult forms, the new anime has introduced a new voice cast for these Mini versions of all of the fan favorites. But for Goku’s return to childhood, however, Stephanie Naldony (who voiced Kid Goku and Gohan in Dragon Ball before Dragon Ball Z Kai) has been brought back for the role. Check it out as highlighted by @DBPerfectShots on X.

What’s New for Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub?

Making their debut in full with Episode 2 of Dragon Ball Daima’s English dub after Gomah wishes that Goku and everyone involved with the Majin Buu arc are turned into children, the new voice cast for Dragon Ball Daima includes:

• Goku (Mini) – Stephanie Nadolny
• Supreme Kai (Mini) – Nia Celeste
• Vegeta (Mini) – Paul Castro Jr.
• Piccolo (Mini) – Nasim Benelkour
• Bulma (Mini) – Taylor Murphy
• Krillin (Mini) – Lara Woodhull
• Chichi (Mini) – Brittany Lauda
• Master Roshi (Mini) – Jordan Dash Cruz
• Trunks (Mini) – Celeste Perez
• Dende (Mini) – Emi Lo
• Mr. Popo (Mini) – Trisha Mellon
• Kibito (Mini) – Aaron Michael
• Mr. Satan (Mini) – Corey Phillips
• Majin Buu (Mini) – Dusty Feeney

Goku and the Supreme Kai are now preparing to head into the Demon Realm to start their journey in this new region, so fans of the English dub still have quite a lot to enjoy as fans of the original Japanese broadcast are now over halfway through the anime and speeding towards its final episode. But Naldony’s return for the role of tis new kid Goku is one reason to keep tuning into the dub for sure.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Finale Release Date (By Accident)

Who Is Dragon Ball Daima’s New Kid Goku Voice Actor?

Stephanie Naldony previously voiced Kid Goku and Gohan for Funimation and ADV Films’ English dub release of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. Naldony’s final recorded performance for the character was back in Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo in 2009, and Colleen Clinkenbeard then took over as the voice of Gohan in Dragon Ball Z Kai and other subsequent releases. It’s been quite a long time since the star was heard as the voice of this younger Goku, so it’s a blast from the past.

When it was first announced that Naldony would be returning to voice Goku last year, the star shared the following statement, “It’s a tremendous honor to once again lend my voice to Goku, and this new chapter, Dragon Ball DAIMA, is filled with exciting adventures that fans of all ages will enjoy.” As Dragon Ball Daima has been shown to include shout outs to the entire Dragon Ball franchise for this new series, hearing Naldony at the center of this new dubbed adventure just makes all the sense in the world.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Dub Brings Back Classic Kid Goku Voice: Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima might be an anime that arrived following Dragon Ball Super’s initial run, but the story of the Demon Realm takes place before the events that introduced Super Saiyan God and Ultra Instinct. Taking place shortly after the defeat of Kid Buu, Daima is a series that has been heavily steeped in the lore of Dragon Ball Z, with the new Toei production even recreating pivotal scenes from the Majin Buu Saga. While the latest episode of the shonen series had plenty of revelations in its runtime, perhaps the biggest shock was the preview for the next installment as an old anime villain will return to the screen.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the latest Dragon Ball Daima episode, Episode 14, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into spoiler territory. The Demon Realm, for those who need a refresher, is currently run by the pint-sized dictator known as Lord Gomah. Working alongside the villain is Degetsu, the Supreme Kai of this underworld locale, with the two being the ones responsible for transforming Goku and his friends into children. Since they saw the Z-Fighters as a threat to their rule, the decision was made to make them younger in an effort to “nerf” them. Unfortunately for the demons, the plan didn’t go as they hoped. In the newest preview, Gomah’s successor made an appearance, having a big history with the anime heroes.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Introduces The Demon Realm’s “Ginyu Force”]

Dabura Returns

Dragon Ball Daima’s fifteenth episode preview gives us a look at Dabura, the villain that aided the sorcerer Babidi in releasing Majin Buu from his prison. As Dragon Ball Z fans know, the former demon lord was killed when Buu had an outburst and decided to transform Dabura into a piece of chocolate. In the newest preview, it’s unknown whether Dabura has been brought back from the dead or if this is a flashback to days gone by within the Demon Realm.

Most likely, Dabura’s return is a flashback as he appears to be holding the “Evil Third Eye,” an item of great power that Gomah has had his eye on. Dragon Ball Daima, reportedly, only has twenty episodes to tell in its first season, meaning that items like the Evil Eye and the many characters populating the series are going to wrap things up shortly. With only a few episodes left, it will be interesting to see how Daima bridges the gap between Z and Super.

Dabura’s Other Anime Appearances

Much like many other villains created by Akira Toriyama, Dabura’s days weren’t over once he died during Dragon Ball Z. In fact, Dabura played a big role in the side story, Dragon Ball Heroes, since those tales had a heavy role for the Demon Realm. While Heroes’ Demon Realm was far different from the one we’ve come to know in the latest series, it gave Dabura not only the chance to make a comeback but gain a power boost that garnered a new look for the now deceased demon lord.

Want to see how Dabura will return to the Dragon Ball franchise in Daima? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Preview Brings Back Surprising Z-Villain appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima hasn’t just been taking the chance to reveal new lore surrounding the likes of the Namekian race and the Supreme Kais, the anime series has been introducing more new characters to the shonen franchise than we can shake a stick at. As Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Z-Fighters new and old explore the Demon Realm, a new gang of villains has arrived to cause mayhem and mischief. Following in the footsteps of Frieza’s flashiest underlings, the Ginyu Force, the Demon Lord Gomah has assembled a powerful force of his own that handle his Goku problem. While not the Ginyu Force resurrected, the Gendarmerie Force is certainly following in their footsteps.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the fourteenth episode of Dragon Ball Daima, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into spoiler territory. Gomah and Degetsu have been at the end of their rope not just thanks to the Z-Fighters but Dr. Anisu as well. The mad scientist has been working in the background to assemble the Dragon Balls for herself, creating two new Majins in Majin Duu and Majin Kuu to make her mysterious ambitions come true. While the new force certainly doesn’t appear to be as strong as Majin Buu, they might still cause a headache for the de-powered Z-Fighters all the same.

The Gendarmerie Force Rises

Luckily, the Gendarmerie Force was more than happy to give Gomah and Degetsu an introduction in the same vein as the Ginyu Force. Arriving in style with a flashy display, the Force consists of team captain Kadem, Member Number Two Danima, Member Number Three Hillia, Member Number Four Mashim, and finally, Member Number Five Gaimoi. When informed that Goku and the Z-Fighters were responsible for the defeat of both Majin Buu and the Tamagami, they believe Gomah is joking, meaning that the villainous force is in for a rude awakening.

Hilariously, the Gendarmerie Force does encounter Majin Duu and Majin Kuu while replenishing their snack supply. Believing Anisu’s servants to be two kids looking to pick up a chocolate bar at the convenience store, the Force attempts to buy them much more chocolate than the Majins expected. Unfortunately for the Gendarmerie, their paychecks don’t appear to match their self-esteem and they were forced to put back the chocolate they were looking to buy for Kuu and Duu.

Daima’s Mysteries Abound

On top of the Gendarmerie Force’s arrival, the new anime series is one that continues to weave some big mysteries into the Demon Realm. Dragon Ball Daima once again proved that the Namekian known as Neva has far more tricks up his sleeve than anyone anticipated. Revealing more about the Namekians’ departure from the Demon Realm, Piccolo is shocked to see that the elderly Neva has powers that he could only dream of.

As Dragon Ball Daima continues, it will be interesting to see who the final main villains turn out to be and what other surprises the sequel has in store. With the preview for the next episode even bringing back a big villain from Dragon Ball Z, the sky is the limit.

Want to stay up to date on the Z-Fighters’ journey through the Demon Realm? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Introduces The Demon Realm’s “Ginyu Force” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been answering all sorts of questions with each new episode of the new anime series, and with it has finally explained why the Dragon Ball series seemed to skip over one of Vegeta’s own Super Saiyan forms. He just didn’t use it before. Dragon Ball Daima is now airing new episodes to further explore the Demon Realm for the first real time in the franchise. With a new story from late series creator Akira Toriyama, this new anime has been showcasing all sorts of answers to questions that fans have had been asking for quite a long time.

Dragon Ball Daima has been showcasing all sorts of new information about the Demon Realm, and it turns out this realm has a much bigger role in the wider Dragon Ball universe than ever expected. This has also come with some big reveals for Goku and Vegeta too as they have needed to make up for their lack of power in the new anime series. With their new mini forms changing how they need to fight, Vegeta also had to pull out some new tricks with the reveal of his Super Saiyan 3 form. And with this reveal showcased that Vegeta never actually skipped over the form as fans suspected. He just didn’t use it openly.

Vegeta Could Always Use Super Saiyan 3

Even with everything that fans have seen go down in Dragon Ball Super, Vegeta has only used the god forms after using Super Saiyan 2 abilities. It always seemed like for whatever reason that Vegeta had skipped over the use of the Super Saiyan 3 form in favor of the stronger god powers that had been in use later. But as seen in Dragon Ball Daima, Vegeta always had access to Super Saiyan 3 form. It’s just that he decided to keep it a secret the entire time as it’s something he had trained by himself to unlock on the side after seeing Goku use it months before.

Dragon Ball Daima takes place a few months after the events of the Majin Buu arc, and before the Beerus and Whis appear during the Battle of Gods arc that helps kick off Dragon Ball Super. This means in that in the time since seeing Goku use Super Saiyan 3, Vegeta has been secretly training on his own to unlock the form himself. It’s something that Bulma had noticed as well as she pointed out Vegeta had been working on it in secret, and with its place in the timeline, Dragon Ball has now confirmed that Vegeta has had access to this form all along. We just didn’t see it yet.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub Is Now Streaming, But Has One Glaring Problem

What Else Has Vegeta Been Hiding?

As Dragon Ball Daima has revealed that Vegeta had access to Super Saiyan 3 all along but just didn’t use it, it’s also made Vegeta all the more intriguing than ever before. Vegeta had this form but just decided to not really use it likely as a result of seeing how inefficient of a transformation it really is. But this also does the work of making sure that Vegeta has always been on Goku’s level. He was able to keep up with Goku’s power in his own ways, and eventually unlocked brand new forms exclusive through his own training later.

With Dragon Ball Daima, the late Akira Toriyama was not only able to fill in a gap of Vegeta’s power that had been bugging fans for years, but was able to really cement part of Dragon Ball’s history that had been missing before. Now it’s time to see what else Vegeta has been keeping up his sleeves the entire time.

The post Dragon Ball Finally Answers a Major Vegeta Question After Years of Waiting appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been making some big reveals about the Demon Realm with each new episode, and the series as a result has made Piccolo and the Namekians stronger and more crafty than they ever have been before. Dragon Ball Daima is a brand new series celebrating the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original manga making its debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and it features a brand new story from late creator Toiriyama himself. As Goku and the others make their way through the Demon Realm for the first real time in the franchise, it’s revealed how important this realm actually is to everything seen before.

Dragon Ball has teased elements from the Demon Realm in the past with surprising foes and allies coming from this region, but Dragon Ball Daima is the first real time that the series has spent any real time to flesh it out. With this also revealing that the Namekians are indeed originally from this realm instead of outer space, Dragon Ball Daima has also begun to reveal more about Piccolo’s past and latent abilities. And they’re much different than any other demon in the Demon Realm.

Namekians Are Unique Demons in Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Daima previously revealed that the Namekians are actually originally from the Second Demon World in the Demon Realm. While it had previously seemed like they had come from the Planet Namek, they actually fled to that planet years before the events of the original Dragon Ball series. Piccolo has ties to the Demon Realm too as he previously also revealed his real name in the region, Katatz, and it’s clear that the Namekians have a much more notable thread through the Demon Realm than previously expected. Especially when it comes to using magic.

Dragon Ball fans have seen Piccolo using all kinds of abilities over the course of the franchise as he not only has access to Ki power, but also seems to have magic techniques of his own. He’s been shown to have the ability to grow giant in size, clone himself in multiple ways, and can even make clothes magically appear. And other Namekians like Neva have been shown to have their own magically abilities such as having a full range of control over the creation and use of the Dragon Balls. There’s just one small fact about all of this that stands out, however. This seems to be unique to Namekians.

Dragon Ball Daima has also explained that those in the Demon Realm are fairly unique. Rather than being able to use Ki as seen with Goku and the others in the outside world, Majin can only use magic. It was also teased that the Majin could only use one type of magic ability on top of that, so their powers are fairly limited in terms of what they can do. That doesn’t seem to be the case for Piccolo and the Namekians, however, as it’s been revealed through both Piccolo and Neva that they can increase their relative powers.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub Is Now Streaming, But Has One Glaring Problem

What Does This Mean for Piccolo and the Namekians?

Like Piccolo, Neva has been shown to have incredible power at his disposal. He not only originally created the Tamagamis that protect the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls, but he’s able to quickly make them stronger in the middle of a fight too. He’s also been shown to have incredible control over the Dragon Balls in the outside world, and can even activate them while they were still in hibernation. It’s something that he’s able to do after living for thousands of years, and it seems like these powers had grown stronger over time.

We’ve seen dozens examples of Piccolo growing stronger through training. His fully transformative forms have come through fusion and a result of a wish on the Dragon Balls, but he’s been able to get himself to that point with his own power. His training has gotten his Ki levels to a new kind of mastery, and that’s something no other Namekian or being in the Demon Realm has shown the capability for. If that’s the case, then this new series has been secretly bringing Piccolo up to the level of everyone else.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was the first real example of Piccolo getting a boost up to the power of the gods that Goku and Vegeta had used, and now Dragon Ball Daima is getting him further to that level with its exploration of the Demon Realm. Piccolo has the power of a demon, and has been steadily reaching Goku and Vegeta’s levels on the outside of their paths. With each new reveal in this new anime series, Piccolo’s only going to be getting stronger from here on out if he’s such a unique demon too.

The post Dragon Ball Has Made Piccolo & The Namekians Stronger Than Ever Before appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mike McFarland, who has been seen in shows like Dragon Ball Z, One Piece and more, is now getting support for a new crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe following a successful surgery removing a brain tumor. If you have been enjoying English dubs for a while, then there’s a good chance you’ve heard McFarland’s work. Not only has the actor providing work for memorable characters like Master Roshi and Yajirobe, but has also worked as an ADR director and more to help direct performances behind the scenes. And many across the voice acting industry have gone to social media to share their support.

Voice actors J. Michael Tatum and Brandon McInnis have started a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign earlier this week on behalf of McFarland. Noting that following the actor going through a successful surgery to have a brain tumor removed, the campaign is to get support for the star to hire a live-in medical assistant for as long as he can while on the path to recovery. As of the time of publication on Monday, January 13th, this fund has reached over $88,000 USD towards its now extended goal of $100,000 (after quickly passing over its previous goal of $65,000 USD). You can find the GoFundMe here for more information.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Is Finally Making the Kamehameha Powerful Again

Anime Fans and Stars Rally Around Mike McFarland

“As some of you may know, earlier this week Mike McFarland, the English voice of Master Roshi, underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor,” the GoFundMe listing begins. “The procedure was successful, and Mike’s spirits are high as he sets out on the road to recovery. But in the meantime he’ll need a little help from us. Proceeds will go toward hiring a live-in medical assistant for as long as necessary to help get this legend back on his feet.”

“Mike’s been an integral part of this industry for decades, not just breathing life into beloved characters like Master Roshi, Buggy, and Jean Kirstein, but directing landmark dubs such as the Full Metal Alchemist franchise, Tokyo Ghoul, and Attack on Titan,” the listing continues. “Those who know him best count Mike among the sweetest, funniest, most compassionate humans on the planet; always quick to lend a hand, give sage advice, advocate for the underdog or share in an adventure.

“He’s given a lot of himself over the years, quietly and asking for nothing in return. It’s time for us to give some of that back. Please consider donating. Every little bit helps. And by all means, get the word out!” As the fund has quickly reached its initial goal, fans are clearly rallying around the star in this tough time. We here at ComicBook wish Mike McFarland a speedy recovery.

The post Dragon Ball Star Mike McFarland Launches GoFundMe Following Brain Surgery appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been shaking up the Dragon Ball franchise in some pretty significant ways since the new anime began last year, and it’s really putting the work in to finally give the Kamehameha Wave the impact it used to have in the classic series. As part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the late Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball manga hitting the pages of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, Goku and the others are now on a brand new adventure through the Demon Realm. Getting turned into children again as a result of a new wish on the Dragon Balls, it’s been a real return to form.

Dragon Ball Daima has forced Goku and Vegeta to rely on their skills in order to make up for the lack of combat ability in their new smaller forms, and the anime thus far has seen the two of them reaching new heights of power in order to overcome new threats in the Demon Realm. This has put more of an importance on what they are capable of as of the end of the Majin Buu arc, and it’s made the Kamehameha Wave more important than it has been in quite a long time. It’s back to being special again.

Goku’s Going Back to Basics in Dragon Ball Daima

Dragon Ball producer Akio Iyoku explained in a recent interview that Goku and the others were turned into children again both because it serves as a way to ease in both lapsed fans of the classic Dragon Ball anime yet still offers something new for more dedicated fans. The team thought it would be fun for the Z-Fighters and their families to go through this new transformation to kick off this new anime series, and it’s been the case so far with the first cour of the new series that aired through the Fall 2024 anime schedule last year. As the anime continues with new episodes this month and beyond, we’re seeing even more examples of this mentality in action.

The action in Dragon Ball Daima thus far has been both intriguing for dedicated fans, and fun to watch in general. Goku and Vegeta have had to adjust to fighting within their much smaller bodies, and had thus been limited in terms of what they could do. Coupled with the fact that this new series takes place after the events of the Majin Buu arc but before the Battle of Gods arc that kicks off Dragon Ball Super, Goku and Vegeta are also without many of the god powered transformations that they get later in the franchise. Goku even had to go back to using his Power Pole in the Demon Realm to make up the difference.

It’s made Super Saiyan all the more important than ever, and Vegeta even showed off a missing Super Saiyan form to compensate for all of the changes. But even more so, it’s made the aspect of fighting itself all the more cool. Fights in the franchise been blown up to massive proportions over the years, and Dragon Ball Daima has returned to that classic Dragon Ball essence where fans can easily follow every punch and kick thrown while also being able to keep track of the immediate area around the fighters. It means that even the smallest bits of Ki use seem more grandiose as a result. Thankfully, that also means the Kamehameha Wave has gotten a visual and physical upgrade in this new style too.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub Is Now Streaming, But Has One Glaring Problem

Goku’s Kamehameha Wave Feels Big Again

As Goku is fairly limited in what he can do, it also means that his techniques are fairly limited too. Each use of the Kamehameha Wave in Dragon Ball Daima feels huge as it’s technically now the strongest move in his arsenal. Goku isn’t going to be able to layer on it with stronger abilities as we’ve seen in other series, and it takes a greater amount to charge because of those limits placed on his body. So with all of this extra effort put in to help build it, each use is that much cooler like how Goku used it to push back a giant dog in the latest episode (even going as far as to use familiar sound effects for it).

Dragon Ball Daima has been a return to basics in many ways, and those basics have been elevated in order to provide a fresh experience. It’s giving all of the action a shot in the arm as the action has gotten muddier over the course of the series releases. But with this new yet familiar take on Goku, we’re also getting a familiar, yet fresh take on everything Goku is capable of.

The post Dragon Ball Is Finally Making the Kamehameha Powerful Again appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima is continuing Goku and the others’ adventure through the brand new Demon Realm, and the newest episode of the series actually has a cool tie to one of Piccolo’s coolest but forgotten powers! Dragon Ball Daima has been a major hit with each episode as they have been changing what we know about the Dragon Ball world as a whole. As Goku and the Supreme Kai have been visiting the planets of the Demon Realm for the first time in franchise history, it’s been revealed just how influential the Demon Realm actually has been for Dragon Ball’s multiverse as a whole.

This is the case with the newest episode too as it not only brings in more elements from Dragon Ball GT, but also has a secret way to further flesh out the Namekians’ ties to the Demon Realm. It’s here that Goku (and fans) are introduced to a plant full of giants known as the Megath, and it’s yet another tie to the Namekians’ own ability to turn into giants themselves. As these reveals continue to showcase more of what the Namekians can do, it’s a sign that Piccolo could be growing much stronger than ever before.

Dragon Ball Reveals New Race of Giants

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 13 introduces the planet of Megath, a planet in the Second Demon World where things are massive compared to Goku and the others (especially in their much smaller forms). Goku, Piccolo and Vegeta face off against a Megath child, but this giant still towers over them with massive proportions. They even have trouble with the Megath child’s puppy, and it really takes all of their power and a keen strategy to keep from getting squashed by the giant. But this is just the beginning as there seems to be a tie with the Namekians too.

When they first get on the planet, the mysterious Namekian Neva quickly realizes that they are going to be out of their depths. Neva has been hard to pin down as he’s clearly more knowledgeable than he lets on thanks to how long he’s been alive within the Demon Realm, and he not only knows all about this giant planet but also about a planet of even bigger giants known as Gigath. So why are the Namekians so clued into all of these different abilities within the Demon Realm? Maybe it’s because it informs their own powers.

Namekians Can Turn Into Giants Too

The last time we had seen Piccolo using his ability to turn giant was during Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Although he had already unlocked the god level abilities of the Orange Piccolo form, he notably had forgotten that he was able to turn giant in order to deal with Cell Max on an even level. It’s timing that perfectly works out as we had been reminded of this power heading into Dragon Ball Daima, and with everything we’re learning about the Demon Realm, it makes all too much sense that there are other giants in that realm too.

With how much we’re learning about the Namekians, it seems they might have gained the ability to learn to become giants from seeing these giants in action. As the anime continues to reveal more about the Demon Realm, the Namekians are getting stronger with each new episode. Now that the series has revealed a giant key to the Namekians’ powers, the demons are getting much more intriguing as the series continues to lay the groundwork for how big of an impact that they’ll have on the rest of the franchise.

The post Dragon Ball Reveals New Demonic Secret Behind Piccolo’s Coolest Ability appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima fans are now going to be treated to a double dose of new episodes every week, but the English dub is going to have some trouble getting off the ground for a while thanks to its release schedule. Dragon Ball Daima kicked off its run last year as a brand new anime telling a brand new story from late series creator Akira Toriyama, and it has been surprising fans with all sorts of big events that have changed what we think of the Dragon Ball franchise forever. And now even more fans are able to take the chance and jump into the new series themselves.

Dragon Ball Daima has officially kicked off the streaming premiere for its English dub release, and this will be the first time many fans get to check it out for themselves. Much like with Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super‘s anime releases, many fans wait for the English dub to dip their toes into new Dragon Ball stories. But unfortunately, the wait for the dub is going to be even tougher as we’re only going to get one episode a week that’s months after the original premiere of the episode.

Dragon Ball Daima’s Dub Schedule Is Too Slow

Dragon Ball Daima has kicked off its English dub release with its first episode now streaming with Crunchyroll, and it’s a great first impression. Much like when fans saw the premiere episode last year, Dragon Ball Daima reintroduces fans to the Dragon Ball world with an extended first episode that kicks in the big hook for this new series in its final moments. Episodes will be releasing at a weekly pace, so barring any major schedule hiccups behind the scenes, fans of the dub will be able to catch up soon enough. But that’s the issue.

Dragon Ball Daima is now 13 episodes into its run of the original Japanese language broadcast, and some huge things have happened with each one thus far. Each episode has either offered up some new piece of Dragon Ball lore expanding what was previously known about the franchise, or brand new characters, transformations, and moments that have been talked about by fans online quite a bit. It’s fair to say that anyone waiting to watch the dub has likely already seen all of the big surprises.

Which means that anyone seeing the Dragon Ball Daima dub will also likely see some of the big events that will be happening when the anime comes to an end far before their own watching experience gets to that point. It’s a shame too because anime as a whole has had a lot better luck when it comes to releasing their English dubs much closer to the release of the Japanese language drop. Sometimes it’s even on the same day of release, and it’s made for a much bigger response with all sorts of fans being able to take part.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima’s Changes To The Universe Have Strengthened The Franchise

It’s Going to Stall Bigger Conversations

This staggered release for Dragon Ball Daima’s English dub had been seen before with the likes of Dragon Ball Super, but it’s a different case this time around. Not only did Dragon Ball Super’s English dub eventually make its way to Adult Swim for its television broadcast (which is highly likely for Dragon Ball Daima as well), but it had the lead in from its adaptation of the Battle of Gods and Resurrection F movies. So it’s not like fans waiting for the dubbed episodes weren’t entirely out of the loop.

This staggered conversation and response is going to hurt Dragon Ball Daima‘s longevity in the long run. Holding back its English dub for such a long time (and then releasing weekly after showing off the first three episodes last year), means that the fandom can’t capitalize on the full power of its hype with each new episode. In the streaming age where even franchises like Dragon Ball have to compete for views, the conversation around each episode is even more important than ever before. Especially when big things happen like Vegeta unlocking a brand new form that fans have been waiting years to see in action.

Dragon Ball might be one of the biggest action franchises in the world, but staggered releases for the anime are holding it back from even bigger successes. That was something the franchise could get away with years ago, but it’s much different with this new demographic that’s getting into anime in the last few years. The new generation of fans is more involved with the current conversation, and will move on to the next thing when the next seasonal anime wave hits. So if there’s anything holding a series back, it’s like it never leaves the starting line. And that might be happening here.

The post Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub Is Now Streaming, But Has One Glaring Problem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has finally made its official English dub streaming premiere, so now is the perfect time to jump into the new series if you have been missing out. Dragon Ball Daima is a brand new story from late series creator Akira Toriyama that sets out a new version of Goku and the others into the Demon Realm in order to reverse a surprise wish made on the Dragon Balls. While this new series has been running through the Fall 2024 anime schedule, and is now continuing with its second half this Winter, there are lots of fans who have yet to check it out for themselves.

Dragon Ball Daima had an early premiere of its English dub with a special event in theaters last year, but now the anime has officially come to streaming. Crunchyroll is now offering the English dub release of the new anime, and that’s where you’ll be able to find its new episodes. The first episode of the dub is available to watch now, and it features a return of the classic Dragon Ball dub cast before everything continues to shake up with the real start of the new series that turns everyone back into children. Check out this clip of Goku and Vegeta in action in the dub as spotted by @DBPerfectShots on X.

Who Stars in Dragon Ball Daima’s English Dub?

The returning Dragon Ball English dub stars that can be heard in the premiere include the likes of:

• Goku – Sean Schemmel
• Bulma – Monica Rial
• Vegeta / Yamcha / Shenron – Christopher R. Sabat
• Krillin / Korin / Turtle – Sonny Strait
• Trunks / Gotenks – Alexis Tipton
• Goten / Gotenks – Kara Edwards
• Dende – Justin Cook
• Mr. Popo – Chris Cason
• Supreme Kai – Kent Williams
• Kibito – Chuck Huber
• Majin Buu – Josh Martin
• Babidi – Duncan Brannan

The new voice cast for Dragon Ball Daima‘s newly introduced Demon Realm include:

• Narrator – Doc Morgan
• Glorio – Aaron Dismuke
• King Gomah – Tom Lafiin
• Degesu – Landon McDonald
• Dr. Arinsu – Morgan Lauré
• Neva – Garett Schenck
• Sir Warp / Small Sir Warp – Kristian Eros
• Additional Voices – Van Barr Jr., Sean Letourneau, Corey Wilder, Derick Snow, Matthew Elkins, Belsheber Junior Rusape

The new voice cast for all of the “Mini” versions of the Dragon Ball Daima cast include:

• Goku (Mini) – Stephanie Nadolny
• Supreme Kai (Mini) – Nia Celeste
• Vegeta (Mini) – Paul Castro Jr.
• Piccolo (Mini) – Nasim Benelkour
• Bulma (Mini) – Taylor Murphy
• Krillin (Mini) – Lara Woodhull
• Chichi (Mini) – Brittany Lauda
• Master Roshi (Mini) – Jordan Dash Cruz
• Trunks (Mini) – Celeste Perez
• Dende (Mini) – Emi Lo
• Mr. Popo (Mini) – Trisha Mellon
• Kibito (Mini) – Aaron Michael
• Mr. Satan (Mini) – Corey Phillips
• Majin Buu (Mini) – Dusty Feeney

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Creates Surprising GT Connection With New Episode

What’s Next for Dragon Ball Daima?

With Dragon Ball Daima‘s English dub is now available for streaming with Crunchyroll, it’s the perfect time for fans who might have been waiting to catch up with the new series. The anime only currently has the first episode of this new dub streaming at the moment, but it’s the first introduction to the wider world that the new series embarks on. This first episode is even an extended event with ten more minutes of runtime than all of the others, so it throws you right back into the vibe.

It’s yet to be revealed just how long this new anime will be running for, but it’s clear that those behind the Dragon Ball franchise have greater plans to continue with new projects after its over. It takes place after the events of the Majin Buu arc and the Battle of Gods arc seen in Dragon Ball Super, so there is still quite a lot of runway to explore with anything that might be coming our way next.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Dub Premieres With Goku & Vegeta’s Biggest Return Yet: Where to Watch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery project was initially set to celebrate the shonen franchises forty year anniversary, but following the passing of creator Akira Toriyama, it held another purpose. The collaborative art initiative was one that would go on to honor the deceased mangaka, with other big name creators sharing their talents in recreating some of the best covers in the manga’s history. Each one of these covers is a piece of art but for us here at ComicBook.com, there are some examples that have been able to perfectly capture the spirit of the Dragon Ball franchise.

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery, for those who might not be familiar, first began in 2021, with the ball getting rolling with none other than Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. Following Masashi’s work in recreating a cover from Goku’s childhood days, the artist was joined by creators who might be best known for works such as Bleach, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, Gintama, Dr. Stone, and more. The project recently came to an end in the perfect way as One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda recreated the cover that originally brought Dragon Ball’s manga to a close. Even though Akira Toriyama has passed, the artist’s work will never be forgotten in the anime medium, as this project proves.

[RELATED: The Dragon Ball x One Piece Crossover Has Landed (And It’s Heartwrenching)]

10.) Hiroyuki Asada – Tegami Bachi

This striking visual is a perfect entry way to what we’re looking for in these rankings, in that we want to honor the artwork that captures the feel of the Dragon Ball series with the outside artist’s aesthetic. Hiroyuki Asada does just that with this tearful farewell to Toriyama, sharing the following commentary, “I had the privilege of serving for six years as a judge for the Tezuka Award, so twice every year I would get to meet Akira Toriyama-sensei, exchange opinions, dine together, and hear lots of delightful stories. Toriyama-san was always easygoing and relaxed, and I loved that about him. The news of his passing came right before my deadline, and having to draw this volume’s illustration at this timing was heartbreaking. More than anything, I can’t get Toriyama-san to see it. Still, I drew this with a prayer that it might reach him. Thank you for everything. I love Dragon Ball.“

9.) Gege Akutami – Jujutsu Kaisen

While not a direct recreating of a Dragon Ball Z cover, the creator of Jujutsu Tech lent their own spin on the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project here. Capturing the hilarity of Toriyama with the likes of Piccolo, Gotenks, and Majin Buu, Akutami nailed what they were going for here. In addition to the art, Gege shared their own ode to Akira Toriyama, “Whenever I was at the pub that a friend of my father’s used to run, the only reason I was able to wait my way through the adults’ late-hours drinking without so much as a peep was thanks to the fact that they had all the Dragon Ball volumes available to read. To think that, 25 years later, I would be able to participate in a project like this fills me with such deep emotion that I think it’s transcended the concept of “deepness” at this point.”

8.) Tite Kubo – Bleach

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a big name in the anime world at the moment, but that didn’t stop creator Tite Kubo from lending his talents to this project. The manga artist was able to depict the likes of Goku, Frieza, and Piccolo in such a way that they look like they’d fit right into the Soul Society. Like other creators, Kubo had touching words for the deceased Dragon Ball creator, “The truth is, I didn’t know what I ought to write here, so I took a look at the author comment for the original Volume 27, and it said something like, “I’m supposed to write about what I’ve been up to recently, but I’ve been so busy with the serial that I don’t have anything to write about.” ‘I know, right?’ I thought, but at the same time, it also said something like, “I have my editor write the comments in the Jump table of contents,” which is a killer move that I would have loved to know about during my own serial. That reminded me once again of how awesome Toriyama-sensei is. To think I could’ve done it like that…”

7.) Tatsuki Fujimoto – Chainsaw Man

While Denji’s manga story is one that is fit to bursting with blood and gore, it also has its fair share of heart. In working as a part of the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project, Fujimoto shows once again how they can capture emotion. Here’s what Tatsuki had to say for the project, “I am honored to be able to participate in this project! Dragon Ball was such a part of everyday life that I remember having heard the names of the characters somewhere before ever having read the manga, to the point I memorized them! Before serializing my own manga, I went through the entire series again, and it was really helpful for me to see how putting this sort of “dry” character in a shōnen manga would make it so appealing. I suggest you read Dragon Ball again yourselves!”

6.) Shinohara Kenta – Sket Dance

Kenta truly got the assignment with this one. Creating art from the very early days of the shonen series, Sket Dance’s creator captured the feel of the original Dragon Ball with a detailed cover that’s all their own. Here was Shinohara’s message as a part of the project, “Both my art style and my comics have been strongly influenced by Dr. Slump, and I just love the sense of traveling through bucolic scenery in early Dragon Ball. I especially like the character Bulma, and I still recall the feeling of excitement as they set off on their journey, riding together on one motorbike. Goku, Bulma, a dragon, and travel! I love the illustration from Volume 9. To think the day would come when I’d be able to take part in a project like this… I want to go back and tell my school-age self, buying color inks and imitating Toriyama-sensei‘s illustrations. Congratulations on 40 years of Dragon Ball!”

5.) Boichi – Dr. Stone

Much like Gege Akutami’s cover, the artist responsible for Dr. Stone, doesn’t do a direct recreation but creates an action-packed ensemble piece that depicts the Namek Saga. In a short and sweet message, Boichi shared his statement on drawing the Z-Fighters, “It’s an absolute honor to be able to draw a Dragon Ball cover. That’s all there is to it.”

4.) Kohei Horikoshi – My Hero Academia

Recreating one of the most iconic Dragon Ball covers, Horikoshi is able to lend his unique style normally focused on Class 1-A to Son Goku. The cover here is one that not only highlights Kohei’s unique style, but gives some dazzling detail and color to the original iteration. Here’s what Horikoshi had to say, “It’s an honor to get to be involved with Dragon Ball like this! I’ve drawn my comics in admiration of Goku’s light-hearted, strong, and reassuring character! No matter when and where I read from, he’s right there, looking cool with a sense of humor — he’s the greatest character!”

3.) Yusuke Murata – One-Punch Man

Yusuke Murata has always had an energetic style that fit perfectly into the world of Saitama, and it just so happens said art style also works for Dragon Ball. Like the other artists in the Gallery Project, Murata had kind words for the series and Akira Toriyama, “While obediently following his masters’ teachings, Goku seeks to win the Tenkaichi Budōkai. After training hard, he then enters and wins the tournament, and, in so doing, ends up defeating Demon King Piccolo, saving the Earth from his designs on world domination.” This is the plot of the first half of Dragon Ball (right before the Saiyan arc). Even with just the plot, don’t you think the fun of Goku’s unassuming nature — being somehow laid-back despite being insanely strong — comes right out? He manages to defeat the Demon King, who’s trying to destroy the world, all without actually breaking the tournament rules. That’s what’s so great about him. Since he’s so strong, he ends up prioritizing things other people don’t. This might be what “being above it all” is all about, in the end. And this might be the same attitude that characterizes Toriyama-sensei himself, someone who created an international mega-hit while famously thinking things like, “I wanna get this manuscript over with so I can go build more plastic model kits!” or “inking his hair black all the time is a pain, so I’m just gonna make Super Saiyan have white hair.” And this isn’t limited limited to just manga – “the person” shows through in anything one makes. If you want to make a comic this thrilling, then you first need to be a thrilling person yourself. That’s how I see it.”

2.) Masashi Kishimoto – Naruto

As mentioned earlier, Kishimoto kicked off the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project and started things with a bang. Here’s what Masashi had to say in lending his talents to the project, “Out of all the many characters in Dragon Ball, my favorite is Kuririn. As I read, I could really empathize with the guy desperately chasing behind the stronger Goku, who was always out in front. I could hardly contain my love for chapters where Kuririn got to play a major role. Congratulations on Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary!”

1.) Eiichiro Oda – One Piece

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project saved the best for last with the creator of One Piece. This heartwarming image and commentary from Eiichiro Oda is both the perfect cap for the project and homage to Akira Toriyama. Here’s what Oda had to say, “I bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga series when I was in elementary school, but I didn’t buy the second volume! I always read the chapters through WSJ magazine, and when the final volume 42 was released, I went to the bookstore and saw it, but I didn’t buy it! I thank you for giving me this opportunity to redraw it! And now, I wish I could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei is still alive.”

The post 10 Best Dragon Ball Super Gallery Covers Toriyama Would Have Loved appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Grand Tour might not be considered canon in the overall scale of all things Dragon Ball but Dragon Ball Daima sure has been finding more ways than one to pay homage to Dragon Ball GT. While anime fans have yet to see Goku go Super Saiyan 4 and/or the villainous Baby arrive in the Demon Realm, the overall premise of Daima is one that had many fans thinking of the “black sheep” of the shonen series. Surprisingly enough, the latest whimsical installment of Daima actually has another GT connection as the pint-sized Goku continues to pay tribute, inadvertently, to the anime that gave us Super Saiyan 4.

Dragon Ball Daima’s thirteenth episode is now available to stream on Crunchyroll, with the anime making a comeback following its New Year’s one-week hiatus. Rather than seeing Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo taking on the Tamagami, Majin Duu, and/or Majin Kuu, the Z-Fighters and their allies arrive on the “second” most dangerous world in the Demon Realm. Populated with giant beings known as the “Megaths,” the fact that these creatures are laid-back doesn’t mean that Goku and company are completely safe. Episode thirteen doesn’t see any major changes made to Dragon Ball lore but it does give us one of the funniest battles of Daima to date and pays hilarious homage to the Grand Tour, either knowingly or unknowingly.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Producer Explains Why Goku & Friends Were Turned Into Kids]

The Grand Tour Connection

Much like in Dragon Ball Daima, Dragon Ball GT saw Goku and his allies exploring some wild new terrain. While the anime heroes weren’t exploring the Demon Realm, they were traveling to places that they had never seen before in the galaxy. In the sixth episode of the Grand Tour, Goku, Pan, and Trunks arrive on the planet Monmaasu. Just like in episode thirteen of Daima, the Z-Fighters encounter a plane wherein everything around them is far larger than what they’re used to. Fans might be a little disappointed that the latest episode doesn’t have any changes to the lore based on Daima’s track record but the anime still has Toriyama’s sense of humor along with Toei Animation’s gorgeous art to rely on.

One of the biggest questions that many Dragon Ball fans have had is whether or not the Z-Fighters will receive new transformations in this story that’s a sequel to Dragon Ball Z. While many have believed that the possibility of implementing Super Saiyan 4 would be impossible, Daima’s twelfth episode might have changed minds on that. For decades, many believed that Vegeta would never achieve Super Saiyan 3 but the Saiyan Prince proved them all wrong with his fight against the Tamagami.

What is Daima Planning?

Considering this is one of the last projects from deceased creator Akira Toriyama, many fans are left wondering how many episodes Dragon Ball Daima will have in total. With many seasons of anime consisting of over twenty episodes, there are still a handful of installments left to focus on the Z-Fighters in the Demon Realm. With the likes of Gomah, Degetsu, Dr. Anisu, Majin Duu, and Majin Kuu still active threats, there are sure to be some big battles that remain in the future of Dragon Ball Daima’s first season.

Want to stay up to date on how Dragon Ball Daima pays homage to the Grand Tour? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Creates Surprising GT Connection With New Episode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For any anime, it takes the talent and dedication of countless animators to help bring some of your favorite stories to life and the Dragon Ball franchise is no different. When the shonen franchise made a comeback with Dragon Ball Super, it quickly became one of the biggest anime television series running today, thanks in part to the creatives working behind the scenes. One of the biggest animators for the sequel series was Yoichi Onishi, a long time veteran in the anime world. Unfortunately, it has been announced by one of Yoichi’s closest friends that the animator has passed away.

Onishi’s passing was revealed by friend Eisaku Inoue, a fellow animator in the anime industry who might be best known for his work on One Piece, Saint Seiya, Tenchi Muyo, and Dragon Ball Z. In a sorrowful Facebook post, Inoue revealed that Yoichi had died and regretted missing a past opportunity to meet with his fellow animator. Here’s what Inoue had to say, “Yoichi Onishi has passed away. Every time I go to pour coffee since it’s in the neighborhood from my desk. I checked you in your seat but it’s been a couple days agoToo bad I didn’t show up.” Cause of death has yet to be revealed regarding Yoichi’s passing but fans are already mourning and celebrating the work of the legendary animator.

Yoichi Onishi’s Body of Work

Onishi worked on several episodes of Dragon Ball Super, getting his start on the sequel series in the 49th episode of the anime adaptation during the Goku Black Arc. The recent anime series wasn’t the first time that Yoichi entered the Z-Fighters’ long running story. The animator also took part in several of the feature-length films that helped populate the shonen series, first beginning with the original Dragon Ball movie, The Path To Power. From here, Onishi was a key animator for the likes of Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13, Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, and Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound.

Dragon Ball was far from the only anime franchise that Yoichi helped bring to life. His vast resume includes the likes of Assassination Classroom, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Saint Seiya, Edens Zero, Digimon Adventure, World Trigger, and many more. Spending decades in the anime industry, Onishi’s works won’t soon be forgotten.

Our thoughts are with Onishi’s friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

Via Eisaku Inoue Facebook

The post Dragon Ball Animator Yoichi Onishi Dies appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dale Wilson, voice actor behind Cell, Android 8 and more in the Ocean Productions English dub for Dragon Ball Z, has sadly died at the age of 74. Wilson’s wife took to the actor’s Facebook page to announce (as reported by Anime News Network) the unfortunate news that Wilson had passed away on Tuesday. Although the specific cause of death was not revealed, Wilson had been battling metastasized prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease for many years. Wilson was a voice many animation fans from a certain generation will recognize for his work not only in Dragon Ball, but also other animated franchises and hits such as G.I. Joe, X-Men: Evolution, and more.

The statement on Wilson’s passing reads as such, “Hi Everyone. This is Gail, Dale’s wife. It is with an aching heart that I must tell you. Last evening Dale moved on from this Earthly existence. Having lived with metastasized prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease for many years, he was ready. He was my heart, my soul, my North Star. In the words of Bonnie Raitt, ‘He taught me how to live….how to be myself……and how to give.’ I know he has for many of you as well. And I know he treasured each one of you; his relatives, friends and fans.”

R.I.P. Dale Wilson (1950-2025)

Dale Wilson will fondly be remembered by fans for his many contributions to the animation world. Wilson’s biggest roles came with the Ocean Productions English dub release of the Dragon Ball franchise. Wilson provided voices for not only classic villains like Cell, but also notable characters such as Yami, King Yemma, and Android 8. But that’s not the only series he was a part of, however, as fans will also likely remember Wilson as the voice of Clow Read in the Nelvana English dub of Cardcaptors, or Duke Fried in The Vision of Escaflowne.

Along with starring in other anime projects such as Transformers Armada, Zoids Fuzors, and Black Lagoon, but the entire world of animation too with roles in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Reboot, Mummies Alive!, X-Men: Evolution, Dragon Tales, Iron Man: Armored Adventures and many more.

Wilson’s loss is an undoubtedly heavy one, and we wish to share our condolences to Wilson’s family, friends, and loved ones at this time as the animation world mourns one of its heavy hitters. Wilson has left behind a body of work that will be enjoyed for years to come.

HT – ANN

The post Classic Dragon Ball Z Dub Star Dale Wilson Dies at 74 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima kicked off its run with a brand new wish on the Dragon Balls to turn Goku and his friends into children, and the producer behind it all explained why as it was meant to be approachable for both old and new fans of the franchise. Dragon Ball celebrated the 40th anniversary of the late Akira Toriyama’s original manga making its debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and it all sparked off with a brand new anime featuring a story not seen in the series before. But it’s a lot different of an experience than fans might have expected it to be.

Dragon Ball Daima features a wholly original story from the late Akira Toriyama complete with brand new character designs, and it begins with the Supreme Demon King Gomah making a wish on the Dragon Balls to turn Goku and everyone involved during the Majin Buu arc into children. As it turns out, Dragon Ball producer Akio Iyoku explained that this move was meant to serve two purposes (as noted by @peraperayume on X). To bring in older fans with a familiar experience, and to have something new for current fans to enjoy.

Why Goku Was Turned Back Into a Kid, Explained

As Dragon Ball producer Akio Iyoku explained during a special radio show celebrating Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary, Dragon Ball Daima serves as a good returning point for older fans, and a smaller Goku was meant to serve as a different setting and circumstances from Dragon Ball Super for newer fans. When it came to turning the entire cast into children instead of just Goku, the team behind the anime just thought it would be more fun to just make the entire cast smaller when they got together after the events of the Majin Buu arc.

Iyoku played coy when it came to revealing when Dragon Ball Daima would come to an end, and couldn’t reveal how long this new anime would be running for either. But at the same time, Iyoku did drop some curious teases for Dragon Ball Daima’s future. Not only did he reveal that there’s a secret message building with each of the episode titles, but there are likely already more plans in place for Dragon Ball’s future overall. It’s unclear if this will be a continuation of Dragon Ball Daima or other projects like Dragon Ball Super, but the anime future is bright nonetheless.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Finally Gives Vegeta The Edge Over Goku With Super Saiyan 3

What’s Next for Dragon Ball Daima?

Dragon Ball Daima took a brief hiatus at the start of the year, but will finally be returning for new episodes on January 10th with the premiere of Episode 13. Although it has yet to be revealed how many episodes this new series will be running for, the anime will be continuing through the Winter 2025 anime schedule with many of the new anime series making their premiere over the next few weeks to start the year.

This won’t be all Dragon Ball Daima has to offer, however, as the long awaited English dubbed release of the new series will be kicking off its run on January 10th as well. Dragon Ball fans who have been holding out for the dub will finally be able to see what’s been happening in this new series, and it even brings back classic stars like Stephanie Naldony as the voice of the much younger Goku once more. So fans will be treated to all sorts of new Dragon Ball Daima material very soon.

HT – @peraperayume on X

The post Dragon Ball Daima Producer Explains Why Goku & Friends Were Turned Into Kids appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Piece’s creator shared an emotional tribute to the late Akira Toriyama with a heartfelt tribute to Dragon Ball for the franchise’s 40th anniversary. Dragon Ball officially celebrated the 40th anniversary of the manga’s original debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine last Fall, and it capped off years worth of build up to the event with the reveal of the final volume makeover for a special exhibition. Dragon Ball was being honored with special covers with featured art from other famous Shueisha creators and artists taking on the original 42 volumes. And the final volume featured art from One Piece series creator Eiichiro Oda.

Dragon Ball’s special 40th anniversary covers project ended with the release of Volume 42, which featured new art from series creator Eiichiro Oda. This isn’t the first time Oda has shared official art for Dragon Ball’s characters, but unfortunately this is the first real time that Oda has a new tribute shared without Akira Toriyama. It’s something Oda takes into account as well as along with the special art, Oda shared a heartfelt message of tribute (as spotted by @Herms98 on X) as the creator notes the absence of one of his heroes.

One Piece Creator Pays Tribute to the Late Akira Toriyama

“I kept on buying the Dragon Ball comics ever since the first volume came out when I was in elementary school, but actually I don’t have Volume 42,” Oda’s special tribute to Akira Toriyama began. “I read the story in Jump, and I knew the day the final volume came out, but when I went to the bookstore and saw this cover, I didn’t buy it. So I’m thankful to have been given this opportunity. I wish I could have shown this picture to Toriyama-sensei while he was alive!!” There’s a melancholy in Oda’s message, and it’s one that’s shared by fans all over the world.

This is one of the many tributes from Shueisha’s creators and many others that have come flooding in following Akira Toriyama’s passing last year. It was clear that Toriyama’s work with Dragon Ball and other series had a huge impact on fans from many different mediums and walks of life, and will continue to have an impact on creators like Eiichiro Oda for years to come. And given that these creators have inspired others with their works, Toriyama’s legacy will continue on for a long, long time.

RELATED: Netflix Is Now Streaming Anime’s Biggest Crossover Ever

Shueisha Honors Akira Toriyama’s Legacy

Shueisha has been celebrating Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary with this special exhibition, and will be releasing physical versions of the volumes featuring the new art in Japan. It’s yet to be revealed as to whether or not these new versions of the Dragon Ball manga will be releasing in international territories but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on in the future. But it’s not the only way that Shueisha continues to celebrate Akira Toriyama’s lengthy career either.

Dragon Ball Daima is now halfway through its run with new episodes premiering this month as part of the Winter 2025 anime schedule. This is a brand new series featuring a story from Toriyama with brand new characters, locations, and more never seen in the series before. This is likely the final brand new story from Toriyama before his passing, and the episodes shown thus far really showcase that influence with some significant reveals that have changed the Dragon Ball franchise forever.

It’s yet to be revealed how Dragon Ball will continue following Toriyama’s passing, but as long as creators continue to honor Toriyama’s passing then fans are in for a bright future.

The post One Piece Creator Honors Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama With Heartfelt Tribute appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima will be continuing through its new anime series later this week as part of the now airing Winter 2025 anime schedule, and the producer behind it all is not revealing any concrete information about just how long this new series is going to last. When Dragon Ball Daima was first announced as a brand-new anime project crafted for the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original series debut, there was an anticipation over what kind of series this would be. And as we’ve seen each episode, these expectations have been flipped entirely on their head as Dragon Ball Daima continues to shake up the Dragon Ball world.

Those behind the series have been flipping those expectations as well as Dragon Ball producer Akio Iyoku recently revealed more details about Dragon Ball Daima during a special “All Night Nippon – Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Special” radio show (as noted by @peraperayume on X) at the beginning of the new year. But while he was fairly open about some of the secret materials that fans can look closer at leading into the anime’s finale, Iyoku wouldn’t reveal just how long this new anime is going to be running for.

Dragon Ball Producer Can’t Reveal When the New Anime Ends

When asked about how long Dragon Ball Daima could end up running for, Iyoku noted that he couldn’t talk about when the final episode would air or how long the series will go on. This is both not a tease, and a tease about the anime’s future. The series will likely be running longer than fans might expect, but it will also likely tie into future projects that the Dragon Ball team is now working on at the moment. Before Dragon Ball Daima even premiered, Iyoku revealed that they were already in the planning stages for what’s coming next.

Stating before Dragon Ball Daima‘s premiere, “We’re still coming up with various plans, brainstorming many things and will keep moving forward. I want to continue giving it my all alongside [Goku voice actor Masako] Nozawa-san.” This could explain why Iyoku can’t reveal when Dragon Ball Daima ends as its ending could lead directly into what’s coming in the pipeline for the franchise next. It might not look exactly like Dragon Ball Daima, but Dragon Ball fans are likely going to be in for a treat in the future.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Finally Gives Vegeta The Edge Over Goku With Super Saiyan 3

How Long Will Dragon Ball Daima Actually Be?

With Dragon Ball Daima wrapping up its first cour of episodes last Fall, the anime will be returning for its second half this Winter. If it’s scheduled to run for a full two cours of episodes, we could be seeing a full 24-26 episode season. But the common sentiment from fans online has 20 episodes being potential for the series. With the anime making quick progress with the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls in the last couple of episodes especially, this 20 episode run looks more likely than ever.

But that will lead directly into Dragon Ball’s plans for the future. Not only will Dragon Ball Super’s manga return with a brand new story not seen before, but there are already in plans for something even bigger for the franchise. It’s likely that Iyoku can’t reveal when Dragon Ball Daima will end because it directly factors into Dragon Ball’s future schedule overall. We’ll start to see forward momentum on other projects fueled by the new information revealed in Dragon Ball Daima‘s story, and it likely won’t be too much longer before everything gets bigger.

The post Dragon Ball Producer Teases How Long Dragon Ball Daima Is Going to Be appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has fully unleashed Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta for the first time in the Dragon Ball franchise, and with it has given Vegeta the edge over Goku for once. Dragon Ball Daima has been making some massive shake ups to the franchise with each new episode of the ongoing anime series, and with them has been filling in some major gaps from the end of the Majin Buu saga. The latest reveal is one of the most significant yet as it was revealed that Vegeta indeed also unlocked the Super Saiyan 3 form not long after seeing Goku use it before.

Dragon Ball Daima revealed that Vegeta had indeed also unlock the Super Saiyan 3 form rather than seemingly skipping over it as teased by the future events seen in Dragon Ball Super, and this form actually gives Vegeta the edge over his longstanding rival for once. Not only is Vegeta the first one to use this form while the two of them are within their currently small child forms, but he was also able to unlock through normal training on Earth rather than needing to go to the Other World to accomplish it.

Vegeta Got Access to SSJ3 on His Own, On Earth

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 12 saw Vegeta unleashing his own take on the Super Saiyan 3 form, and it was immediately different from Goku’s. When Goku had first used Super Saiyan 3 in the fight against Majin Buu, he revealed that he had mastered this transformation during his time training in the Other World but had been hiding it from Vegeta in order to spare his feelings about the gap in their power. Though it was a form that used up his energy very quickly in exchange for its quick burst in power, it was clearly a notable form.

It’s revealed in the episode that much to Goku’s surprise, Vegeta had also acquired the Super Saiyan 3 transformation but had been hiding it from Goku too. The difference between the two is that Vegeta didn’t need to go anywhere else in order to unlock the form. After seeing that Goku had used this new transformation, Vegeta knew intrinsically that he would be able to use this new form as well and got it through some secret training in the months following the Majin Buu arc. And given that Dragon Ball Daima only takes place about a year after that arc, Vegeta got this form on his own rather quickly.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: The Extensive History of Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta Explained

Vegeta Might Be Stronger Than Goku Right Now

There’s been a question of Goku and Vegeta’s relative power levels within Dragon Ball Daima. We have only seen Goku fight for an extended amount of time, so fans saw as he was able to grow beyond the limits placed on him in the Third Demon World and get used to his child like body. Vegeta has had a different path as by the time he was fighting the Second Demon World’s Tamagami, it had only been his first real fight in this realm with his child body. So some adjustments needed to be made.

It’s arguable that Vegeta had to go straight to the Super Saiyan 3 form in order to deal with the boost that Neva gave the Tamagami. But this is also a different case than with Goku. He didn’t have to deal with a Tamagami boosted up to a new power level, and only needed to reach Super Saiyan 2 to get his victory. Now that Vegeta has broken the ceiling on Super Saiyan 3 use, it likely won’t be much longer until we get to see Goku use his version as well. Especially after seeing that Vegeta is now using this form, Goku’s going to be further inspired to use his own.

But this is still giving Vegeta the edge in their longstanding rivalry. Although Goku was able to reach Super Saiyan 3 on his own, it took him years’ worth of time within the Other World. It’s arguable that Vegeta seeing this form gave him more of a secret trick to actually getting to that level of power, but that’s still an edge. Vegeta saw it and was able to get that level in just a matter of months, and stronger with it or not, it’s still one way that Vegeta was able to surpass his rival in an interesting new way. It’s not often that Vegeta gets to enjoy victories over Goku, even moral ones, so Dragon Ball Daima has started to correct that even if it’s just a little.

The post Dragon Ball Finally Gives Vegeta The Edge Over Goku With Super Saiyan 3 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When a new Dragon Ball anime series was announced that would involve creator Akira Toriyama, the internet was lit on fire with excitement. However, this excitement was somewhat dulled when Toei Animation revealed a story that featured the Z-Fighters being transformed into pint-sized versions of themselves. With some fans looking at this story as a “pale imitation” of Dragon Ball GT and others wondering if this premise was far too “kiddy” for the Z-Fighters, Daima has turned the tables on many opinions. One of the big reasons has been the logical and exciting lore changes that the series has made and what they mean for the future of Dragon Ball.

Perhaps the biggest changes to the shonen franchise has surrounded the Namekians, with early Daima episodes confirming that even though the green-skinned race might be living on an alien world, this doesn’t mean that they are aliens. Piccolo and his race were revealed to actually come from the Demon Realm, escaping to be free of the demonic rulers who simply wanted to use them for their other worldly abilities. What makes this change work so well in the history of the Dragon Ball franchise is that Akira Toriyama is both having his cake and eating it too.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima: Neva’s Abilities Call Back to Iconic Namek Saga Character]

The Demon King Name Works Now

When the original villain Piccolo arrived in the first Dragon Ball series, he was much more evil than the Z-Fighter that we’ve come to know today. Introduced with the moniker of “Demon King,” this villain was able to create underlings on his own to help him in his initial goal of gathering the Dragon Balls to return to his youth. Both Piccolo’s title and his “children” now make that much more sense, while not doing damage to the Planet Namek and its people.

This same fact can also be applied to the Supreme Kai, as the guardian of the universe also hailed from the Demon Realm. Part of a race known as the Glint, Dragon Ball Daima also revealed the Kai’s real name, Nahare, to help add some much needed characterization to the protector who took a back seat throughout much of Dragon Ball Super. The additions to the lore not only change the universe, but they add new layers to the characters that we’ve know for quite some time but actually knew little about their respective upbringings.

Daima Gives Fans The Goods

One of the biggest recent moments that struck a chord with fans was Vegeta revealing that he had attained Super Saiyan 3. For decades, fans have been waiting to see if the Saiyan Prince would ever access this transformation and it seemed like a pipe dream. While there has been some controversy regarding why Vegeta never whipped out the form when fighting against Beerus in the earliest days of Dragon Ball Super, it’s a minor quibble for a moment that fans have been dying to see. Since Super Saiyan 3 is outshined by Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue, and Ultra Instinct, it makes sense that Vegeta wouldn’t unleash the form during events like the Tournament of Power.

Dragon Ball Daima also opens up the shonen universe in ways that many didn’t see coming, potentially planting the seeds for far more adventures in Super’s future. The Demon Realm is clearly a giant environment that will not be fully explored in this current anime series, leaving the current manga series a great chance to return. Remarkably, even though Daima is a prequel, the anime is one that will most likely be a major chapter in the franchise for years to come.

Want to see what the future holds for the Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima’s Changes To The Universe Have Strengthened The Franchise appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima’s twelfth episode was one of the biggest installments of the anime series to date. Alongside two of the Tamagami being defeated by the Z-Fighters and Dr. Anisu’s new Majin servants, Vegeta unleashed his Super Saiyan 3 form for the first time. Now that all the Tamagami have seemingly been defeated, it appears that a conflict between the main heroes and villains within the Demon Realm is inevitable. Unfortunately, anime fans will need to wait a little longer than normal to witness this potential conflict as Daima is taking a break. Luckily, there’s a good reason for the delay and anime fans won’t be waiting too long to see if Goku and the Z-Fighters get their hands on all three Demon Realm Dragon Balls.

In Japan, anime fans and non-anime fans are celebrating the New Year, as 2025 has arrived as the “Year of the Snake.” Taking to social media, countless manga creators have shared new art that sees their characters either wearing reptile outfits, riding giant snakes, and/or simply celebrating with a giant party. Thanks to this fact, Toei Animation’s latest anime is taking a break in the heat of the Demon Realm fights, though said hiatus won’t be a long one by any stretch of the imagination.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Super Producer Teases Upcoming Movie News]

When Will Daima Return?

Dragon Ball Daima’s 13th episode will arrive on the small screen on January 10th, continuing Goku, Vegeta, and the gang’s travels in the Demon Realm. The initial preview for the new installment is one that sees Goku facing down some rather unique opponents, which appear to be giant demonic hamsters. While Daima has had some big battles in its initial episodes, the anime clearly is also relying on Akira Toriyama’s sense of humor when it comes to some of its pivotal moments.

Reportedly, Dragon Ball Daima will consist of twenty total episodes. If this fact is true, we are over halfway through this latest offering for the Z-Fighters. With Dragon Ball Super’s manga returning to Weekly Shonen Jump next month, many shonen fans are hoping that once Daima ends, new word will arrive regarding Super’s anime comeback. Both the Moro Arc and the Granolah The Survivor Arc would give anime viewers several seasons of Dragon Ball mayhem, so fingers crossed that Daima’s conclusion will reveal the future of the franchise.

Want to stay up to date on the pint-sized Z-Fighters? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Where is Dragon Ball Daima? Why There’s No New Episode This Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima is the talk of the town in the anime world at the moment and it makes sense. Finally bringing back the canon Z-Fighters back to the small screen for the first time since the conclusion of the Tournament of Power, the latest anime hasn’t been shy when it comes to making big changes to the shonen universe’s lore. On the opposite end of the Dragon Ball spectrum, Super isn’t quite done with its story yet as there remains some big arcs to cover. In a new tease, a producer for the franchise hints that movie news might be arriving sooner than fans might expect.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero was the last time that the sequel series arrived on any screen, silver or otherwise. In the film, Goku and Vegeta took a break from the spotlight to give Gohan and Piccolo their chance to shine. In fighting against the new incarnation of the Red Ribbon Army, both Piccolo and Gohan were given new ultimate transformations in “Orange Piccolo” and “Gohan Beast.” With both the Moro and Granolah Arcs having yet to be animated, it remains a question as to whether a potential new film would be entirely original or attempt to adapt these past manga storylines.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball: Black Frieza Returns Ahead of the Manga’s Comeback]

2025 Dragon Ball Super Movie News

Akio Iyoku was once a big editor for Shueisha but rose in the ranks to become the Editor-In-Chief for the publications V-Jump and Saikyo Jump. Following this, he became both the President and Founder of Capsule Corporation, the current company that managa all works from deceased creator Akira Toriyama. Thanks to recently appearing on the radio show, “All Night Nippon – Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Special,” Iyoku managed to hint at things to come for Dragon Ball Super.

When asked regarding what Dragon Ball fans can expect in 2025, Akio hinted that there “may” be some announcements this year regarding upcoming movies. On top of this reveal, Iyoku also revealed that there might be new game news on the way as well as the shonen franchise continues to release a steady stream of entries on consoles, computers, and mobile devices.

Daima’s Future

For the latest anime series taking the world by storm, anime fans are about halfway through Dragon Ball Daima’s first season. Even though this series takes place before Beerus and Whis arrive on the Planet Earth, kicking off the events of Dragon Ball Super, Akira Toriyama and Toei Animation were more than willing to make major changes to the shonen universe. So far, viewers have witnessed changes to the Namekian race, the Supreme Kai’s lineage, and even seen the debut of Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta.

Alongside changes to the Dragon Ball universe’s past, the new anime has also introduced wild new villains thanks to the locale known as the Demon Realm. The nefarious Dr. Anisu has used past samples of Majin Buu himself, along with Saibamen seeds, to create two new powerhouses in Majin Duu and Majin Kuu. While the pair don’t seem to be the same power level as their pink powerhouse predecessor, they might be major threats to the pint-sized Z-Fighters.

Want to stay up to date on all things Dragon Ball? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

Via X

The post Dragon Ball Super Producer Teases Upcoming Movie News appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Vegeta is one of Goku’s biggest rivals in the Dragon Ball franchise, but the newest episode of Dragon Ball Daima revealed why he’s likely the biggest rival in all of anime. When Vegeta was first introduced to Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series as a major villain for the Saiyan saga. This saga not only shook the foundation for the Dragon Ball series in some significant ways as it revealed Goku’s ties to the Saiyans, but it also introduced Vegeta as a key character pushing Goku to new heights. Serving as his new rival, Vegeta really took Goku in a whole new kind of direction.

Goku and Vegeta’s desire for strength has pushed the two of them to higher heights through the Dragon Ball franchise, and each of them brings out both the best and worst in one another as a result of all of their time with one another. With Dragon Ball Daima’s newest episode revealed a brand-new form for Vegeta that he had been hiding from Goku, it once again is a great example of why Vegeta is such a great rival in action anime series like this overall as he’s always just on the verge of being stronger than Goku.

Why SSJ3 Vegeta Is Such a Great Rival

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 12 fully unleashes Vegeta’s own Super Saiyan 3 form for the first time in any Dragon Ball incarnation. Vegeta skipping over Super Saiyan 3 in favor of god forms in Dragon Ball Super always seemed like one of the big lingering questions of the Dragon Ball franchise overall, and Dragon Ball Daima instead revealed that Vegeta had access to the form all along. It turns out that after seeing Goku using this power during the Majin Buu arc, Vegeta had been training in secret to reach the new form himself. And through the fight with the Tamagamis, Vegeta revealed just how much control he had with this form even with his child body.

Vegeta was inspired by the brief time he saw Goku using this form, and knew he could achieve it himself. But the biggest reveal is that he had been secretly preparing to use the form, and wasn’t trying to just surpass Goku with it. Bulma stated he’d been training hard all this time, and even Goku was surprised to see that Vegeta had put in that much effort. So even though they spend so much time together training, Vegeta is clearly going a little harder in order to keep up. But that’s only going to inspire Goku further, and it’s why fans love seeing the two in action.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Original Designs for New Majin Buus

Goku and Vegeta Only Make Each Other Stronger

Vegeta’s role as Goku’s rival extends to make the two of them better as characters as a result. Vegeta’s such a good rival to Goku that he’s improving himself to be better than Goku, but also to be better than his own limits. Vegeta’s real desire from strength comes from his inferiority complex that comes through by seeing Goku’s success, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that he can keep up with Goku’s power. But the clear difference that makes Vegeta stand out from other rivals is that he’s doing it his own way.

It’s been shown through later Dragon Ball releases as while Vegeta and Goku fight on similar levels, the two of them reach higher powers in their own ways. Vegeta is still very much his own person. Despite his desire to be stronger than his rival, he’s always in search of his own way to power. This has taken him down some darker paths, but has also resulted in unique forms like Ultra Ego and Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Evolution. Episodes like this one continue to make Vegeta stand out as his own character, and that’s something that’s forgotten with other rivals.

Vegeta is very much his own person with his own desires for the future. He cares for his family and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them safe, but he also has more balance in his life than seen with Goku’s. He’s not lost in that connection with Goku, and episodes like this showcasing his own journey really highlight why he’s such a great rival. He stands on his own, and that’s not something you can say about many characters like Vegeta.

The post Dragon Ball Proves Why Vegeta is the Best Rival in Anime appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima’s twelfth episode changed the game in a series that has prided itself on throwing some major monkey wrenches into the shonen’s lore. Toei Animation did the unthinkable in finally giving Vegeta a Super Saiyan 3 transformation, a form that many thought the Prince of the Saiyans would never receive. While we only witnessed the Z-Fighter take advantage of this form in his child-like form in the Demon Realm, gaining this transformation is making serious waves in the anime world. However, while Daima might be the first time Vegeta has canonically gone “SSJ3,” the Saiyan Prince has had a long history with the transformation.

If you’re wondering when Vegeta went Super Saiyan 3 for the first time, you might be shocked to learn that it wasn’t in an anime. Dragon Ball Z: Dragon Battlers hit Japan in 2009 as an arcade game that incorporated cards into its design, much like the recent Dragon Ball Heroes. This was the first official time that any shonen fan had ever been given a glimpse of what the former villain would look like with a Super Saiyan 3 makeover. In the arcade game, Vegeta wasn’t the only one to receive this form for the first time as the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly would also go SSJ3. Dragon Battlers opened the door for Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta to make appearances quite frequently in the future.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima: Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 Holds a Major Difference From Goku’s]

Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 Was The Only The Beginning

Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta would quickly make a comeback in the game Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast but it was in Dragon Ball Heroes that nearly every Saiyan introduced in the franchise would hit this level. The outside-of-continuity arcade game focused on the shonen franchise’s multiverse, giving characters like Nappa, Bardock, Raditz, Trunks, Gohan, Goku Black, and more the ability to rely on this transformation. Hilariously enough, in Nappa’s case, SSJ3 only caused his beard to grow and turn blond since Vegeta’s former partner-in-crime had no hair on the top of his head.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes, the anime adaptation that accompanied the arcade game, featured two Vegetas that would either butt heads or team up to fight against the biggest threats to their universes. The Vegeta of the Time Patrol had the ability to transform into a Super Saiyan 3, while also going far beyond that to become a Super Saiyan 4, which would grow even more powerful with the boost known as “Limit Breaker.”

Vegeta’s Past Super Saiyan 3 Vs Daima’s

Before Dragon Ball Daima, Vegeta’s previous “outside-of-continuity” Super Saiyan 3 transformations took the majority of its influence from what we had seen with both Goku and Gotenks. Both Son and the fusion of Goten and Trunks were the only in-continuity characters in Dragon Ball history to use the form so it would make sense that the video games would be more than willing to model the Saiyan Prince’s look after them.

Rather than having his long hair stretch to his feet, Vegeta’s canon Super Saiyan 3 had it sticking back out. While not officially claiming to be a nod to the original design of SSJ3 by Akira Toriyama, there are mor ethan a few similarities between the original plan that the mangaka had for the transformation and Vegeta’s new look.

Want to see what other surprises Dragon Ball Daima has in store for the Prince of the Saiyans? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball: The Extensive History of Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta Explained appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been shaking up the Dragon Ball franchise in some major ways with each new episode, and now fans have gotten a much closer look at one of the biggest shake ups yet with Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta. Dragon Ball Daima has wrapped up its final episodes for the Fall 2024 anime schedule, and will be returning in January with the second half of its run. The series ended the year on one of its biggest reveals thus far, however, as Vegeta had been hiding his own take on the Super Saiyan 3 form right under Goku’s nose this entire time.

Dragon Ball Daima continued the fight between Vegeta and the Second Demon World Tamagami, and while it had seemed like Vegeta was getting ready to take another crucial loss to a big enemy, the tables were turned in Episode 12. Vegeta unleashed his secretly obtained Super Saiyan 3 form and quickly brought an end to the battle. Now this new design has shared a much closer look thanks to character design sheets from designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (as spotted by @kamisamaexp on X) that reveal a better look at this new Vegeta form.

Dragon Ball Debuts Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta

Dragon Ball Daima reset both Goku and Vegeta’s abilities with the start of the newest anime. The two of them have since not only figured out how to move within their smaller child bodies since being turned into children, but have also had to overcome some of the limits within the Demon Realm. With this new series set not long after the events of the Majin Buu arc, it also meant that Goku and Vegeta would not have any access to the god forms seen in Dragon Ball Super. So Super Saiyan and its stronger variants were going to be much more important as a result.

With Goku getting the majority of the attention in the fights thus far, we have seen him slowly regain his strength to the point where it was likely that he would return to Super Saiyan 3 form before it was all over. So it was certainly a surprise to see Vegeta using this form first as it was something we never got to see Vegeta use in either the original Dragon Ball Z series or Dragon Ball Super later as he seemed to skip right over this form for some reason. Now it’s been rectified with this debut.

Vegeta Using Super Saiyan 3 Is a Game Changer

Vegeta using Super Saiyan 3 is something fans have been wanting to see since the early Dragon Ball Z days. Dragon Ball Daima has been making some significant changes to ideas fans have had for a long time with each episode, but this is the strongest example of the king of material that fans who skipped out on the series have been missing just because Goku and the others were turned into children. It’s one of Vegeta’s biggest moments in the Dragon Ball franchise by far.

Now with this debut helping to fill in the gaps of time between the Majin Buu and Battle of Gods arc, Dragon Ball fans now have an explanation as to why Vegeta never used Super Saiyan 3 before. It’s not that he skipped over it in favor of the god transformations, it’s because he had mastered it already and saw no use for it in standard battles. It’s much like how Goku uses his own Super Saiyan 3 form. It’s not efficient when it comes to Ki usage in exchange for that burst of power, but in that child body, Vegeta had no choice but to go all out.

The post Dragon Ball Reveals Closer Look at Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta Design appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s hard to debate that Vegeta turning Super Saiyan 3 wasn’t the biggest event of the recent Dragon Ball Daima episode, as shonen fans have waited years, if not decades, to see this happen. This doesn’t mean that this is the only major event to happen in the recent twelfth installment of the anime. Dr. Anisu and her Majin creations were able to pull off a big win that you might not have seen coming and there is one villain to thank for this. While Majin Duu was able to show off his power level in the fight against the Tamagami, it was Majin Kuu who proved to be the ultimate victor in this Demon Realm squabble.

Warning. If you have yet to see the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, episode twelve, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Majin Kuu has been a unique villain and that fact isn’t just because he is a fusion of Majin Buu DNA and a Saibaman. While Kuu attempted to take on a Tamagami himself, he was ultimately unsuccessful but bounced back relatively quickly. In some hilarious moments, Kuu offered his services of going to the store for Dr. Anisu, even running quickly to make sure that his brother Duu would get the necessary chocolate he desired. With the latest fight against the Tamagami, Kuu netted a win thanks to his true power, which doesn’t involve destroying universes or taking down powerful opponents.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima: Neva’s Abilities Call Back to Iconic Namek Saga Character]

Majin Kuu’s Ultimate Strength

Following the physical fight between the Tamagami and Majin Duu, Dr. Anisu and her Majins ran into a bit of trouble in the recent episode. The Tamagami presented the Demon Realm inhabitants with a math problem that seemed impossible. Throwing countless numbers at Majin Duu and asking him to add them all together, the green villain seemed cooked. Luckily, Majin Kuu demonstrated his true ability in the nick of time.

Majin Buu was never a mental powerhouse, even when he was able to become “Super Buu” and absorb the likes of Piccolo, Gotenks, and Gohan. Majin Kuu however was able to add together all of these numbers, not only proving that he might be the smartest Majin of them all but his speed might be far beyond even the Z-Fighters at this point. In solving the equation, Dr. Anisu has gotten her hands on one of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls and just threw a major monkey wrench into the plans of the Z-Fighters.

The Majins Are Coming

Majin Duu and Majin Kuu appear to be two sides of the same coin, with the former having the brawn and the latter having the brains. Since both are made using the DNA of Majin Buu, the idea that they might be able to fuse to create an all-powerful opponent might be in the cards in Daima’s future.

Want to see what happens to Majin Kuu in Dragon Ball Daima’s future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Majin Kuu’s True Power appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The moment that many Dragon Ball fans thought they would never see has finally happened in Dragon Ball Daima. For decades, many believed that Vegeta simply would never transofrm into a Super Saiyan 3, as he leapfrogged from SSJ2 directly to Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue in Dragon Ball Super. In his recent fight against the Tamagami, the Saiyan Prince revealed that he has the ability to take on the transformation first used against Majin Buu. Ironically enough, Vegeta’s take on the form has a big difference when it comes to Goku’s, who has yet to employ the transformation in the latest Dragon Ball anime.

For quite some time, Vegeta going Super Saiyan 3 seemed like a pipe dream. Since the Saiyan Prince had never done so in Dragon Ball Super, many anime fans believed that the Z-Fighter simply never attempted to learn the transformation. As was explained by Bulma in the latest Daima episode, Vegeta apparently trained his way to the new form, doing so on his own which threw Goku for a loop. For Son, the transformation was learned while training in the afterlife, putting his body through rigorous conditions that seemingly would not have been possible were he alive. As viewers witnessed, Vegeta’s SSJ3 transformation looks a tad different from Goku’s and ironically harkens on the original concept design of the form.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Unleashes Brand-New Vegeta Form We’ve Waited Years For]

The Original Super Saiyan 3 Debuts

The Original Super Saiyan 3 concept art arrived as a part of the “Dragon Ball: Super History Book.” In this book that celebrated Dragon Ball’s 30th anniversary, Toriyama revealed his original idea for Super Saiyan 3, that would have still granted the Saiyans longer hair but would not curve downward toward their feet. With Vegeta’s new form, his hair sticks out sideways, sharing quite a bit in common with Toriyama’s original design for the transformation.

Of course, there is one major thing missing from the original design in that Akira Toriyama wanted Super Saiyan 3 to give Saiyans back their tails. Ultimately, this change didn’t arrive in either Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Daima, as we can see with Vegeta’s current transformation. Many shonen fans have wondered if Daima might do the unthinkable and bring in a canon version of Super Saiyan 4. While nothing has been confirmed, Dragon Ball Daima has proved that anything can happen in this new anime.

Daima’s Super Saiyan Future

Vegeta using Super Saiyan 3 scored him an easy win against the Tamagami, though the physical fight was only one part of the challenge to score the Demon Realm Dragon Ball. Presented with a tricky math question, the Saiyan Prince manages to answer the Tamagami riddle correctly, meaning that Goku and company now have two Dragon Balls to their names. Unfortunately for them, getting the third is going to be a little tricky.

In Dragon Ball Daima’s twelfth episode, Majin Duu and Majin Kuu were able to defeat a Tamagami and give Dr. Anisu her own Dragon Ball. While we have yet to learn exactly what Anisu wants to wish for, it would be bad news if the mad scientist captured all three. It seems inevitable that the Z-Fighters will take on these new twisted Majins in Daima’s future.

Want to see wha tthe future holds for Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima: Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 Holds a Major Difference From Goku’s appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For decades, there has been one thing that Goku could do in the Dragon Ball franchise that Vegeta couldn’t. While the Saiyan Prince was able to achieve transformations like Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, and even the god forms that made up Dragon Ball Super, there apparently was one form that he never quite seemed to get. In a shocking new episode of Dragon Ball Daima however, the unthinkable has happened. Vegeta has finally achieved a form that he never canonically was able to call upon and has changed the game in the Demon Realm, and the anime universe, forever.

Warning. If you haven’t seen the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, Episode 12, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into major spoiler territory. Despite the fact that Goku and the Z-Fighters were transformed into children thanks to Gomah’s wish, Son already demonstrated that he was able to call upon the strength of both Super Saiyan level one and two. With Vegeta looking to do the same in his fight against the Tamagami, many believed that Super Saiyan 2 was going to be the highest that the Saiyan Prince would go. To the surprise of anime fans worldwide, they would be mistaken.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Is Finally Going to Bring Back Goku’s Best Form]

Vegeta Achieves Super Saiyan 3

For the first time in the history of the series, Vegeta has unleashed Super Saiyan 3. While we don’t necessarily see the moment where he learned to harness this transformation, it’s clear that the Saiyan Prince was training hard following the defeat of Majin Buu. Shockingly enough, Vegeta’s SSJ3 looks a bit different from Goku thanks to his hair. Rather than falling to his back feet, the Saiyan Prince’s transformation sees his hair sticking back toward the sky.

Wielding this long-awaited transformation, Vegeta dismantles the Tamagami. In a display that mimics that of Vegito versus Buu, the Z-Fighter keeps his arms crossed throughout most of the battle. While Vegeta never employs this transformation in Dragon Ball Super, knowing that he could throughout the sequel series is a wild revelation.

Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 History

Vegeta becoming a Super Saiyan 3 has never happened before Daima in the official canon, but unofficially, we’ve seen the Z-Fighter use this power quite a bit. Dragon Ball Heroes has long seen Vegeta relying on the power that Goku first used against Majin Buu, with his hair actually looking far more like Son’s whenever he wielded it as a member of the Time Patrol.

Now that Vegeta has revealed that he can call upon the power of Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball Daima, it will be interesting to see if this power arrives in Dragon Ball Super’s future. While the anime adaptation has no word yet on a comeback, the manga will return next year with a one-shot special, presumably setting the stage for the printed story to start a new story.

Want to see what other secrets lie in wait for Vegeta and the Z-Fighters in this shocking series? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Unleashes Brand-New Vegeta Form We’ve Waited Years For appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Every Friday has unofficially become “Dragon Ball Daima Friday” with anime fans gathering to see what lies in wait for Goku and the Z-Fighters in the Demon Realm. Preparing to release its twelfth episode this week, a curveball has been thrown at shonen fans as it appears as though Akira Toriyama’s latest anime series is taking a break. In a surprising move, Dragon Ball Daima will be taking the first break of its run, right as things are heating up in the fight against the Tamagami. With the Prince of the Saiyans finally showing off his stuff against one of the Tamagami, it will be interesting to see if this current battle won’t come to an end in episode twelve.

When last we left the Z-Fighters, Goku and his crew finally reunited with Vegeta, Piccolo, and Bulma in the Demon Realm. Son already had the Saiyan Prince beat by defeating one of the Tamagami and swiping its Dragon Ball, meaning that Vegeta wants nothing more than to once again close the gap between the two rivals. Luckily, the Prince of all Saiyans is getting his chance as he is currently fighting against another protector of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls. Even with his power being nerfed as a result of his new diminutive form, Vegeta looks like he’s holding nothing back.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Introduces New Majin Buu Successor (But Are They Stronger Than Goku?)]

Daima Is Ringing In The New Year

According to Fuji TV, the company that helps air Dragon Ball Daima week after week, the anime will be taking next week off thanks to ringing in the New Year. Seemingly, this hiatus will be a short one as the shonen series will return the following week to continue its wild run. As mentioned previously, fingers crossed that the current fight between Vegeta and the Tamagami will end in episode twelve.

Daima’s Big Changes To Dragon Ball Lore

When Dragon Ball Daima was first announced, few fans could have imagined just how much this prequel series would change the shonen universe. Taking place before the events of Dragon Ball Super, this fact hasn’t stopped the new storyline from revealing some wild new secrets regarding the Majin race, the Namekians, and the Supreme Kai’s lineage. With episode twelve, the anime is about to hit its halfway mark, meaning there’s still quite some time left for the anime to continue throwing in some big changes.

In recent episodes, Dr. Anisu has been creating powerful followers of her won in Majin Kuu and Majin Duu. While this villainous duo aren’t as strong as Majin Buu, the fact that they use his DNA with that of Saibamen seeds has made them unique characters for the anime. While Kuu and Duu are still having trouble taking down their current opponent, it will be interesting to see how they stack up against the Z-Fighters in their inevitable confrontation.

Want to stay updates on the Demon Realm and the Z-Fighters’ adventures within it? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dragon Ball Daima and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Announces Surprise Hiatus appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Akira Toriyama might have really made a name for himself with the Dragon Ball franchise but it is far from the only creation that spawned from the mind of the legendary creator. The artist has created new demons in the realm of Sand Land, a Dragon Ball spin-off in Jaco The Galactic Patrolman, and even a parody of the Z-Fighters in the often forgotten Neko Majin. With the latest installment of Dragon Ball Daima, the latest anime in the series that was directly created by Toriyama himself, the television show managed to slip in a reference to one of Akira’s biggest stories that just so happened to not involve Goku and company.

For those who didn’t witness the birth of Majin Duu, he was created quite similarly to his brother, Majin Kuu. The villainous Dr. Anisu needs a powerful underling to steal the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls for herself. Discovering that Kuu wasn’t exactly a powerhouse strong enough to take down the Tamagami, Anisu and Marba went back to the drawing board to create a more powerful subordinate. Using more of Majin Buu’s essence and burying the Saibamen seed that much deeper in the ground, Majin Duu is far stronger than Kuu but it has yet to be seen if he will ultimately defeat the Tamagami.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Original Designs for New Majin Buus]

Dr. Slump Returns

When Majin Duu first hits the scene, birthed from a combination of various demonic elements, he bellows out a loud “Ncha!” If you’re familiar with Dr. Slump and its main character Arale-chan, you would recognize this as being one of her catchphrases. Considering the amount of influence Toriyama had on Dragon Ball Daima before he passed , it would make sense that Akira would be looking to inject some past references into the new anime.

The Dragon Ball x Dr. Slump Crossover

In Dragon Ball Super’s 69th episode, anime viewers were able to witness a hilarious meeting of two of Akira Toriyama’s worlds. The installment titled, “Goku Vs. Arale! An Off-The-Wall Battle Spells The End of The Earth?!” sees the Saiyan protagonist coming face-to-face with Arale the android in a fight that threatened to destroy the entire planet. While the Dr. Slump protagonist might look harmless, she is anything but as she came quite close to defeating both Goku and Vegeta in combat without eve trying. In fact, Arale even pulled out her “Ncha Cannon” to match the main Z-Fighter’s Kamehameha.

For Dragon Ball Daima, we have yet to hit the halfway mark for the new anime series, meaning that there could be far more easter eggs for Toriyama’s past works in the future. With the latest villains being a combination of Majin Buu and Saibamen, the new anime is one that has a story where anything can happen. While Kuu and Duu might not be as strong as their predecessor, Majin Buu, it looks like the Z-Fighters are still going to have some big battles against them in the future considering their current nerfs.

Want to see what the future holds for Daima? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Makes a Surprising Classic Toriyama Reference appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In one special anime episode, the Z-Fighters met the Straw Hat Pirates in an event that had plenty to offer both Dragon Ball and One Piece fans alike. Following the tragic passing of creator Akira Toriyama earlier this year, Eiichiro Oda was more than willing to share his thoughts on the mangaka that he looked up to throughout his career. With the start of the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project, numerous manga artists had the chance to lend their talents to the shonen universe that remains one of the most legendary to date. It is fitting that Oda bring this project to a close by offering his own heart wrenching take on Son Goku.

If you haven’t had the chance to watch this legendary crossover take place in an anime adaptation, the meeting of the Straw Hats and the Saiyans took place in the 590th episode of One Piece. Titled “History’s Strongest Collaboration Vs. Glutton of The Sea”, the installment imagines that Goku and Luffy’s worlds have somehow co-existed, refraining from introducing a multiverse meeting of these universes. Luckily, you can watch this episode on Netflix in both the original Japanese iteration and the English Dub to see one of the biggest anime crossovers of all time.

[RELATED: Netflix Is Now Streaming Anime’s Biggest Crossover Ever]

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project Ends

The Dragon Ball Super Gallery project began as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the shonen franchise but spent years in creating some amazing tributes to Goku and company. With Eiichiro Oda bringing the project to a close with his touching tribute, there are still quite a few covers to check out from some of the biggest names in the anime business. The creators of such hits as Naruto, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Bleach, Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, Black Clover, and Jujutsu Kaisen were only a handful of the overall artists involved. Ultimately, it seems fitting that One Piece’s creator would be the one to give us our final tribute to Toriyama here.

Oda’s Dragon Ball Tribute

Earlier this year, when Akira Toriyama passed, not only were anime artists and fans in mourning, but entire countries took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Dragon Ball creator. It was no secret that Oda himself was influenced by the story of Son Goku when it came to creating his own manga and was sure to share a touching statement on Akira’s passing. Here’s what Eiichiro had to say earlier this year,

““It’s too early. The hole is too big. The thought of never seeing you again fills me with sadness. I’ve admired you so much since I was a child, and I even remember the day when you called me by name for the first time. He is one of the people who took the baton from the era when reading manga would make you stupid and created an era where both adults and children read and enjoy manga. He showed us the dream that manga can do things like this and that we can go to the world. He gave it to me.”

Oda’s tribute continued, “It was like watching a hero push forward. The excitement and excitement he experienced when he serialized Dragon Ball is probably rooted in the childhoods of creators who are active in all industries, not just manga artists. That existence is a great tree. For manga artists of my generation who have stood on the same stage, the closer I got to Toriyama’s works, the more I realized that they had a greater presence. So scary. But I’m just happy to see the easy-going man himself again. Because we love Toriyama-sensei on a blood level. I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the world of creativity left behind by Professor Toriyama, and pray for his repose in peace. I hope that heaven will be a pleasant world just as you envisioned it.”

The post The Dragon Ball x One Piece Crossover Has Landed (And It’s Heartwrenching) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima continues to rock the foundation of the Dragon Ball franchise with each new episode, and the newest dive into the Demon Realm has revealed the real reason the Dragon Balls exist in the first place. Dragon Ball Daima has been one of the biggest new releases of the franchise yet as the new anime continues to send Goku and the Supreme Kai on a new adventure through the Demon Realm. Each episode of this new anime thus far continues to detail just how important the Demon Realm is as it’s literally the source of the entire multiverse seen in other Dragon Ball releases.

The final new story overseen by Akira Toriyama comes with some major reveals changing what fans understand about the series’ world, and that includes everything changing about the Namekians. Not only was it previously confirmed that the Namekians indeed originally came from the Demon Realm, but the newest episode revealed that their Dragon Balls were originally made with a much different purpose in mind than just granting anyone’s wishes. They were originally meant as a reward for hard working Namekians.

The Dragon Balls Were Meant for Namekians

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 11 sees Goku and the others meeting the mysterious Namekian, Neva. Although this Namekian was seen in the first episode helping the Supreme Demon King Gomah use the Earth’s Dragon Balls to turn everyone into children, Neva explained to all of them that he did this to keep Gomah’s wishes in check. He had been faking his senility, and was even planning to trick him if Gomah had made some other wish to harm the others. In fact, he’s going to be the only ones who will be able to use the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls.

Neva is the one who originally created the Tamagamis in the first place, and Neva then further explains why he made them. In this, Neva reveals that the Dragon Balls were originally created as something to reward Namekians for their efforts. But when bad people of the Demon Realm began using them for “foolish purposes,” Neva then crafted the Tamagami warriors to defend them to make sure they weren’t so easy to use. And as seen from the Tamagamis thus far, it’s clear that Neva’s plan has been working well for all these years.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Original Designs for New Majin Buus

What’s Really Going On With the Dragon Balls?

Dragon Ball Daima has made some big reveals about the Dragon Balls with everything we have seen in the new anime thus far, and it’s starting to open up a lot of questions about the nature of these mystical items themselves. It’s teased that the Demon Realm’s versions of the Dragon Balls were made by the Namekians for Namekians in this area first before they made their way out to the outside realm after the creation of the multiverse. But even Earth’s Dragon Balls have started to receive some changes as well.

The series opened with a joke that saw Shenron explaining that Goku and the others get multiple wishes on Earth’s Dragon Balls for being “regulars,” and it helped to explain how they worked before. But while it’s a joke, it’s also a very concrete rule that fans didn’t know before. All these new reveals about the origins of the Dragon Balls further emphasize how this adventure through the Demon Realm is changing everything, and it’s likely that there will be even more reveals down the line. If these were originally created to reward hard working Namekians that sought them out, what does it mean for the likes of the Super Dragon Balls? It remains to be seen.

The post Dragon Ball Reveals the Real Reason Why the Dragon Balls Exist appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball has introduced a new set of Majin Buu successors with Dragon Ball Daima‘s latest episodes, and Shueisha has revealed the original designs that the late creator Akira Toriyama crafted for Majin Kuu and Majin Duu. Dragon Ball Daima was originally inspired by the franchise’s 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball manga making its debut with Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Unfortunately while Toriyama himself had passed before the anime made its debut, fans can still see the creator’s work in action through the brand new story and characters being introduced with the new anime’s ongoing adventure.

Dragon Ball Daima has been paying tribute to the late Akira Toriyama with each episode of the anime that has aired thus far, and it’s been very clear that Toriyama was highly involved with this new story not seen before. The creator also crafted a number of new character designs to fill out the Demon Realm, and that includes the newly introduced duo of Majin Kuu and Duu. To celebrate their recent debut, Shueisha revealed what Akira Toriyama’s original designs for them looked like during the recent Jump Festa 2025 event.

Dragon Ball Reveals Toriyama’s Original Designs for Kuu and Duu

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 11 officially introduces the second of Majin Buu’s successors, Majin Duu. It was previously revealed that Dragon Ball Daima shook up the origins for Majin Buu by explaining that a sorcerer named Marba was the one who created the monster in the first place, and not Babidi as was previously detailed. These shake ups to Majin Buu’s origins continued even further then with Dr. Arinsu working together with Marba to make a new Majin of their own. But this time they were seeking to control the monster to avoid what happened with Buu.

The first of these experiments used a leftover piece from Majin Buu, and Marba and Arinsu made up the difference with other monsters from the Demon Realm. The final bit of new material was a Saibamen seed, and it created the brand new Majin Kuu. But unfortunately for Arinsu, Kuu turned out to be a much weaker creation than she ever had expected. This led to the creation using the final piece of Buu and Kuu’s new brother, Duu, revealed in the latest episode of the anime. Both of which carry visual similarities to both Buu and the Saibamen.

RELATED: Jump Festa 2025: Every Major Anime Announced

What’s Next for Majin Kuu and Duu in Dragon Ball Daima?

It’s clear looking at the late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s designs for Kuu and Duu that the Dragon Ball Daima anime team brought them to life perfectly. But with villains like this, it really does bring up the question of what Toriyama has planned for the duo. While Kuu was revealed to be much weaker than the First Demon World’s Tamagami warrior, he has an intelligence that neither Duu nor the original Buu had at their disposal. It makes for an interesting addition to all of this.

Duu seems to be the strong one of the two as he was seen giving the Tamagami a proper fight, and he uses a lot of the strange moments that the original Buu did as well. He likely is going to be strong enough to deal with Goku and the others later, but the two Majins could end up being a much stronger foe to take down than their joking nature would imply. That’s Toriyama’s game too as fans have seen jokes turn into powerful warriors that their appearances wouldn’t give away. That just might happen here.

The post Dragon Ball Reveals Akira Toriyama’s Original Designs for New Majin Buus appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball has introduced a new god of creation with Dragon Ball Daima, and this is another big step forward in figuring out the path to Dragon Ball Super’s future return. Dragon Ball Daima has been sending Goku and the Supreme Kai on a brand new adventure through the Demon Realm for the first real time in the franchise. Each new episode has revealed how important the Demon Realm has been for Dragon Ball’s lore overall, and actually has ties to the wider multiverse. In fact, it was revealed that a being from the Demon Realm actually created the multiverse itself.

Dragon Ball Daima has been shaking up the foundation of the Dragon Ball franchise in some very significant ways. The Demon Realm has turned out to be more important to the past than ever expected, and the newest episodes are also teasing how important it’s going to be to the future of the franchise as well. As we learn more about the god of creation behind the multiverse, it’s also teasing a further connection to what we know about Zeno and the Gods of Destruction in Dragon Ball Super. It’s all connecting together.

Dragon Ball Daima Introduces a New God of Creation

Dragon Ball Daima previously revealed that the Supreme Kai were actually originally from the Demon Realm. It turns out that the multiverse was a Demon Realm creation as well as the Supreme Kai explains that an ancient Supreme Demon King had ordered Super Majin Rymus to create it. Rymus is teased to have the highest authority in the universe, and with the multiverse created, the Glind were then chosen to be sent to each universe and watch over them as their Supreme Kais. While not much is revealed about Rymus themselves, it’s clear they are a powerful being.

The on wrinkle in the equation is their place on the totem pole overall. Rymus was teased to have been “ordered” by the Supreme Demon King to create the multiverse and expand the Demon Realm’s reach, but if they are apparently the highest authority in the universe then it’s strange to be “ordered” to do something. But that also might tie into the fact that Rymus only has the power to create, and can’t really do anything offensive or damaging with the limited magic abilities that Majin have overall.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: Black Frieza Returns Ahead of the Manga’s Comeback

How Does This Tie Into Dragon Ball Super’s Future?

Dragon Ball Super’s manga is officially set to return with a brand new story next year, so that means that there’s already a future in place for the series. It’s not hard to imagine that there are plans to take the series further with a new arc after Dragon Ball Daima ends, and the Demon Realm could play a key piece in bringing all of it together once more. With this new god of creation, we now have an opposite side to Zeno, the ultimate god of destruction. Zeno was revealed to be an all powerful being with the ability to erase things instantly, and now he has a powerful counterpart.

With Zeno and the Angels not being attached to the Demon Realm, it’s likely that they come from a different being outside of the multiverse. There’s a grander being at play than seen with either Dragon Ball Super or Dragon Ball Daima, and the pieces are now being put in place to bring all of that to fruition. With future Dragon Ball Super villains like Planet Eater Moro and the Heeters already having ties to the Demon Realm with what has been revealed thus far, the groundwork is being laid to having something bigger at play in the future.

Black Frieza is still the most prominent threat for Dragon Ball’s future overall, and the villain is currently the strongest in Universe 7. With both a multiverse and Demon Realm opening wide with what we’ve seen from Dragon Ball thus far, Dragon Ball Super could have a bright future. The passing of series creator Akira Toriyama meant that the future for the series was in question, but with the manga’s return all of this future potential is now on the table. With both a god of creation and god of ultimate destruction now in play, it’s only a matter of time before Dragon Ball reveals what the being above these two looks like.

The post Dragon Ball’s New God of Creation Could Play a Big Role in Dragon Ball Super’s Future appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has introduced yet another Majin Buu successor with the newest episode of the anime, and the series is already teasing that Majin Duu might be a major challenge for Goku and the others. Dragon Ball Daima has been quite the eventful anime as every episode seems to come with a huge reveal to change our understanding of the Majin Buu arc forever. This new series not only revealed that Majin Buu not only had a different origin than originally thought, but that it was also possible to create new ones thanks to a special Majin sorcerer that had been hiding out all this time.

Dragon Ball Daima then took this a step further with the reveal that Dr. Arinsu had been preparing to create a new Majin Buu monster with leftover pieces of Buu, and it resulted in the relatively weak Majin Kuu. This new successor to Buu wasn’t what the scientist had expected, so now she and Marba have crafted a new Majin, Majin Duu. But is this monster going to be stronger than Kuu and possibly even stronger than Goku? Right now, it’s looking likely.

What Is Majin Duu?

Dragon Ball Daima Episode 11 revisits Dr. Arinsu as she and Marba have gone back to the drawing board. Deciding to use the final remnants of Buu that they had leftover after creating Majin Kuu, the two of them have a second attempt at creating a powerful monster they can still control. The key difference this time seems to be burying the Saibamen seed (Which they use as the base material for Kuu and Duu) even deeper, and it results in a different kind of Majin entirely than Kuu in both personality and visual. But that’s not all that’s different.

There’s an entirely different kind of aura surrounding Duu as soon as it transforms. Duu seems to intimidate Arisu more than Kuu did during its birth, and although it seems like it’s listening to Arinsu, it’s also not really interested. And like Kuu, it has a fighting style that’s entirely of its own. Brought to life by Fukushi Ochiai in the Japanese language release of the new anime, Duu is then put to the real test against the First Tamagami. But unlike its older brother Kuu, it does much better against the Dragon Ball guardian.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Super to Return With Brand-New Story (& First Look Revealed)

Will Majin Duu Be Stronger Than Goku?

Dragon Ball Daima then saw as Duu fought against the Tamagami from the First Demon World, and it already seems like this new Majin is doing much better than Kuu did against the warrior. Not only does it seem strong enough to fight back against the Dragon Ball warrior (which even Kuu’s energy blasts were unable to do), but its body and strange tactics make it tough for the Tamagami to deal with. And like we had seen with Buu in the Majin Buu arc, that unorthodox style goes a long way against some fighters.

It’s yet to be determined if Majin Duu will be stronger than Goku at the moment, but the Tamagami is a good gauge of its current strength. Goku is relatively weaker in this new series overall, so even tougher seeming enemies will be harder to defeat in the long run. Duu might be just that, and if there ever ends up being a time when the two Majins can combine their strength and intelligence into a single being then Goku will truly be in trouble. As Dragon Ball Daima continues, it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for.

The post Dragon Ball Introduces New Majin Buu Successor (But Are They Stronger Than Goku?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Super is gearing up for its return next year, and Black Frieza has made a surprising comeback ahead of the manga’s big return. Dragon Ball Super has been in the midst of a lengthy hiatus following the passing of late creator Akira Toriyama, and will be ending 2024 without any new chapters. But it was surprisingly announced during the Jump Festa 2025 weekend that Dragon Ball Super’s manga is actually preparing for a big comeback next year. But until fans get to see this next major phase of the series in action, Black Frieza has returned to the spotlight in a cool way.

As part of the celebration for the Jump Festa event each year where Shueisha shows off all of their new and ongoing projects in the works, Shueisha enlists its creators to commemorate the occasion with special art for the event itself. Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotaro was one of the many creators recruited for the occasion, and shared a cool new look at Black Frieza. It’s different than the other showcases of the villain as it gives fans a much more detailed look at the metallic color scheme for this godly new form. Check it out below as spotted by @DbsHype on X.

What to Know for Dragon Ball Super’s Return

Dragon Ball Super’s manga will be returning for its first new entry in months on February 20th in Japan. Hitting the pages of Shueisha’s V-Jump magazine, this will be a brand-new story not seen in the manga or anime before. It’s going to be a special one-shot story, and the first look at the new entry teases that it’s going to be a super hero focused fare with Goten and Trunks at the center of the action much like how they had some extra time with the events before the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arc. But it’s yet to be revealed exactly what kind of one-shot story this will end up being.

It’s also unfortunately yet to be revealed if the Dragon Ball Super manga will be returning in a more full form after this new one-shot hits, but this is a good sign in the right direction for a full comeback. It’s something fans have been asking for after the end of the Super Hero arc, and Black Frieza is a big tease as to why as the villain is currently the strongest being in Universe 7. So Goku, Vegeta and even Gohan are now training as much as they can to somehow catch up to their foe’s ungodly level of power.

RELATED: Jump Festa 2025: Every Major Anime Announced So Far

Will Black Frieza Make a Return in Dragon Ball Super?

Black Frieza will undoubtedly be a part of whatever form Dragon Ball Super takes in the future. This new form was one of the final villain teases that Toriyama had overseen before his passing, and will likely have a huge impact on what’s to come in the future. Combined with all of the new reveals that have been happening with every new episode of Dragon Ball Daima now airing this Fall, and a potential future for Dragon Ball Super is an incredibly bright one.

Frieza had revealed he had unlocked this brand new Black Frieza form after training in a Hyperbolic Time Chamber for an equivalent of ten years. He appeared and instantly defeated both god level Goku and Vegeta in a single hit following the events of the Granolah the Survivor arc, and has been lingering in the background of everything that has happened ever since. But when the series does return in full, there’s not much avoiding that can be done anymore.

The post Dragon Ball: Black Frieza Returns Ahead of the Manga’s Comeback appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima might be the talk of the town at the moment but Dragon Ball Super is still the biggest game in town for the Z-Fighters. Since the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama earlier this year, the manga has been on hiatus. In following in the footsteps of the deceased creator, manga artist Toyotaro has confirmed that he is hoping to follow in his mentor’s footsteps and create a bright future for Goku and company. Luckily, that future now has an arrival date as this year’s Jump Festa has confirmed when we can expect the Dragon Ball Super manga to make a comeback.

While Dragon Ball Super’s anime adaptation has yet to confirm when it will return to the airwaves, fans won’t be waiting long for the manga to release a new chapter. As announced at Jump Festa, Dragon Ball Super’s manga will return with a brand new manga chapter that will once again focus on Goten and Trunks. When last we saw the pair in the printed story, they were following in the footsteps of the Great Saiyaman, attempting to patrol the city streets as new heroes Saiyaman X-1 and Saiyaman X-2. With the manga’s return, Dragon Ball Super will release a new one-shot that is definitely leaning furhter into the comedic aspect of the franchise as Trunks and Goten will be polishing off their finest poses.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Piccolo’s Real Name (And Other Namek Secrets)]

Super’s Return Details

During last night’s Jump Festa event, the Dragon Ball Super return announcement was made on all three stages of the event. Making a return on February 20th next year, the special one-shot is created by artist Toyotaro and will not only see Trunks and Goten return to high school but will feature a new superhero to boot. Alongside the sons of Goku and Vegeta, the hero “Clean God” will apparently have a role to play, acting as a major influence to the Saiyan teens in their superhero antics. You can check out the first visual for the upcoming one-shot below.

But What About Black Frieza?

Unfortunately, Frieza’s return and a new full storyline wasn’t confirmed at this year’s Jump Festa, though Toyotaro has stated in the past that the manga is planning to return with new arcs in the future. On the anime front, Dragon Ball Super still has some major arcs from the manga that has yet to be adapted to the small screen. The fights against the energy draining sorcerer in the Moro Arc and the universe-bouncing bounty hunter in the Granolah Arc could potentially create several seasons thanks to their overall lengths on the printed page.

Luckily, while fans wait for more Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Daima is taking the opportunity to change the Z-Fighters’ universe forever. Now that Goku, Kaioshin, Glorio, and Panzy have teamed up with Vegeta, Bulma, and Piccolo, they are off to acquire another of the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls. Marked as one of the final projects from creator Akira Toriyama, Daima has been revealing some major aspects of the universe that had never been touched on before. With the likes of Supreme Kai, Piccolo, and the Namekians having new aspects of their pasts revealed, Daima is still introducing some wild new villains and battles into the mix.

Want to stay up to date on Dragon Ball Super’s big comeback? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Super Announces Return Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima might not take place after, or during, Dragon Ball Super, but creator Akira Toriyama took the opportunity to make this Z-sequel jam-packed with lore secrets. So far, the origins of the Supreme Kai’s race and the Namekians have been revealed in some major ways. With the arrival of the eleventh episode in the shonen series, not only did they reveal new details about the Demon Realm’s former inhabitants but the series dropped a major bombshell in the original name that Piccolo held long before he became the warrior we would come to know. The once “Nameless Namekian” is nameless no longer.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, episode 11, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. In a surprising twist of fate, the remaining Namekian in the Demon Realm, Neva, approaches Goku and company as they continue their quest for the Dragon Balls. The elderly Namekian takes the opportunity to reveal that the original Piccolo, the being that was both Kami and the Demon Lord Piccolo, was known as Katatz, the same as his predecessor. Ironically enough, it seems that the current pint-sized Piccolo knew this fact all along but never shared it with anyone else, leaving us to wonder what other secrets the green-skinned Z-Fighter might have up his sleeves.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Tragic Piccolo Family Origins]

The Nameless Namekian Explained

For those who might need a refresher on Dragon Ball lore, Piccolo has gone through a lot of changes in the story of the shonen series. When he was first introduced in the original Dragon Ball, he arrived as the Demon Lord Piccolo, who was the evil side of the Nameless Namekian. While previously alluded to by the Grand Elder Guru, as well as referenced in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, the name Katatz has largely gone unmentioned in the franchise. In order to effectively become the God of Earth, this formerly Nameless Namekian split his good and bad sides down the middle, with the former becoming Kami.

When the original Demon Lord Piccolo was killed by a young Goku, he “gave birth” to the Piccolo we know today by spitting out an egg in his final moments. The young Piccolo would remain an enemy in the original series but would later have a change of heart in Z thanks to the influence of Gohan and the shared battles that both her and his fellow Z-Fighters would share. Even with eleven episodes down, we’re not even halfway through the series, meaning that there could be far more secrets revealed in the near future of the anime.

Neva The Namekian Up To No Good

While Neva takes the time to explain why he was palling around with Gomah and the Demon Lord Kaioshin known as Degetsu, it seems as though the elderly Namekian is still holding onto some secrets. When the Z-Fighters make their way to the second Tamagami, their opponent takes a look at Neva and comes to the realization that Vegeta will make for a serious opponent.

Of course, these Namekian reveals are far from the only bombshells dropped in Daima’s latest installment. Finding no luck with Majin Kuu, Dr. Anisu has once again with the Grand Witch Marba to create a new warrior known as Majin Duu. Using more of Buu’s essence and burying a Saibaman seed that much deeper, Duu appears to be a far stronger opponent than what we previously saw with Majin Kuu. This of course could spell serious trouble for the Z-Fighters in the future.

Want to see what other secrets that Dragon Ball Daima will reveal in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Piccolo’s Real Name (And Other Namek Secrets) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Man of Steel is flying high thanks to James Gunn and the creative team at Warner Bros unleashing the first teaser trailer for the movie that will kick off the new DCU on the silver screen next year. In the latest Superman teaser trailer, viewers are able to witness the new take on the Last Son of Krypton, along with some familiar DC superheroes such as Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Metamorpho. Of the many new heroes that made an appearance, one of the biggest is the trusty best friend to Clark Kent, the super-powered dog Krypto. Starting with Superman brought low, anime fans are getting in on the fun by recollecting one of the funniest memes of Dragon Ball Z involving a certain former desert bandit.

The latest Superman trailer begins with Kal-El having seen better days, seemingly knocked down in the Arctic and struggling to get to his feet. Despite being invulnerable, someone or something was able to take down the Man of Steel, leaving him bloody and bruised where he can’t rise to the heavens, let alone stand on his own. Luckily, James Gunn has given Superman a sidekick for next summer’s film that will be making his cinematic debut, Krypto the Super Dog. Kal-El’s beaten down status looks quite like Yamcha’s most popular moment during Dragon Ball Z’s Saiyan Saga and anime fans have certainly taken notice.

[RELATED: Superman Director Reveals How David Corenswet Reminded Him of Christopher Reeve]

The Yamcha of Steel

Dragon Ball Z fans instantly picked up on the scene of Superman beaten down as looking almost identical to the fate that befell Yamcha in his fight against the Saibamen. While the original Dragon Ball character was able to defeat the plant man in their first bout, the henchman of Vegeta and Nappa sacrificed itself to make sure that the Z-Fighter stayed down for the count. Even decades following the debut of this scene in the original manga and the anime adaptation, the “Yamcha meme” still finds its way to social media, as has been seen with the debut trailer of James Gunn’s Superman.

The Saibamen Are Eating Good

Ironically enough, the Saibamen made a drastic comeback lately thanks to the events transpiring in Dragon Ball Daima. While Goku and his fellow Z-Fighters explore the Demon Realm to undo the wish that transformed them all into children, new villain Dr. Anisu has created a new Majin to work at her side. Birthing Majin Kuu, the new villain was made by not only taking the DNA from Majin Buu but using samples of Majin Buu to help create this force to be reckoned with.

Of course, in typical Akira Toriyama fashion, all is not as it seems as Majin Kuu is far from a powerhouse like his predecessor. The Saibaman fusion is unable to even do any damage to one of the three Tamagami and admits defeat in a rather hilarious fashion. Now that Dr. Anisu was unable to get her hands on a Dragon Ball, it looks like she is going to need to take another route to make her mysteirous goals become a reality.

Unfortunately for Yamcha fans, the Z-Fighter hasn’t played a major role in Dragon Ball Daima but should the anime franchise decide to return to Dragon Ball Super, he might just have his time in the spotlight. In the Moro Arc, Yamcha has an amazing opportunity to shine in fighting against the antagonist’s forces and this would make for a great animated sequence should we see this series return.

Want to see what the future holds for the nefarious Yamcha meme? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Superman’s New Trailer Has Fans Thinking of Dragon Ball Z’s Funniest Meme appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Of the many revelations that have been a part of Dragon Ball Daima, perhaps the biggest have revolved around the Namekian race. The green-skinned denizens of the Planet Namek were once thought to be aliens, but in the latest anime series, it turns out that they were demons after all. Hailing from the Demon Realm like the Glint, the race of beings that include the Supreme Kai and his brethren, the Namekians found themselves fleeing their homeworld to start new lives. Thanks to this fact, the origin story of Piccolo and his race has once again changed in one of the final stories that had input from deceased Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, Episode 10, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Now that the tinier Piccolo has arrived in the Demon Realm with Vegeta and Bulma, he can truly dig into his race’s origins. In the Second Demon World of this underworld locale, the Namekians once lived on their planet in relative peace. Unfortunately, they were used by the ruler of the Demon Realm at the time for whatever the king wanted as the Namekians still held a variety of abilities at their disposal. Looking for freedom, they found a way to depart the Demon Realm and set up shop on the world that would become the Planet Namek.

[RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Gives Namekians and Kais a Surprising Connection]

The Original Piccolo Was in The Demon Realm

Another juicy tidbit revealed in the latest Dragon Ball Daima was that the original Piccolo, the Namekian who consisted of both Kami and the Demon Lord Piccolo, was an inhabitant of the Second Demon World. The “Nameless Namekian” eventually found his way to the Planet Earth, wherein, in order to become the best Kami he could be, split his good and evil sides into two separate beings. This is how we got both the god of Earth and the evil demon lord Piccolo that fought Goku as the big bad of the original Dragon Ball series.

When Goku and the other Z-Fighters visited the remains of the Namekians’ former abode in the Demon Realm, they weren’t alone. The Demon Realm’s resident Namekian, Neva, was watching in the shadows and it’s quite clear that he is up to no good. Having powers that none of the Namekians have demonstrated in the shonen series so far, Neva might just prove to be a powerful threat before Daima’s end.

Piccolo’s Future

Since Daima takes place prior to the events of Dragon Ball Super, we doubt that we’ll see Piccolo using the power of “Orange Piccolo” which he received in the latest film. Despite this fact, previews have shown that the pint-sized Namekian will be joining Goku and Vegeta in the fight against the Tamagami.

When it comes to the Dragon Ball series as a franchise, there might be news coming to anime fans this month. The long-awaited Jump Festa will arrive later this month, and the event is already teasing that fact that news will arrive regarding the Z-Fighters. Following the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, the Dragon Ball Super manga series went on hiatus, though artist Toyotaro has stated in the past that he plans to continue the manga in Akira’s abcense. Regardless of what is revealed, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the anime news.

Want to see what the future holds for the Z-Fighters and the Namekians? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on all things Dragon Ball and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Tragic Piccolo Family Origins appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon Ball Daima has been making some wild changes to the lore of the beloved shonen franchise. With this anime adaptation one of the last projects from deceased Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, the mangaka clearly had some big story elements that he was looking to add to his universe. So far, anime viewers have witnessed changes implemented to the Namekian race, the Demon Realm, the Majin Buu Saga, and many other characters and storylines. Now, with the reveal of what might be Daima’s strongest villain to date, a connection has been made between the latest anime and Dragon Ball Z, fusing together two of the strongest and weakest villains of the franchise.

Warning. If you have yet to watch the latest episode of Dragon Ball Daima, Episode 10, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into serious spoiler territory. Dr. Anisu, the sister of the Demon Realm’s Kaioshin, has been up to something in Daima’s background. While making an appearance in the premiere episode, the mad scientist has been collecting ingredients in the shadows while Goku and the Z-Fighters explore the underworld locale. In recent episodes, anime fans witnessed Anisu asking the Grand Witch Marba, the real mind behind Majin Buu, for a favor. Collecting samples from Majin Buu during the events of Dragon Ball Z, Dr. Anisu has created a brand new villain who has roots to the Saiyan Saga.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Majin Buu’s Successor In Shocking Scene

A Majin Buu/Saibaman Fusion For The Ages

The stage was set for Majin Buu’s successor when it was revealed that Anisu had taken a piece of the pink powerhouse during the events of Dragon Ball Z’s final arc but another element was added by Marba that many didn’t see coming. While Dr. Anisu used several elements to create this new Majin, including her own saliva, she also used the base of a Saibaman seed to make the new antagonist known as Majin Kuu. Emerging from the cauldron, the villain has several elements that make it look like a perfect fusion of Buu and a Saibaman.

On top of using a Saibaman seed as the base for Majin Kuu, Anisu and Marba make note of the fact that they have another seed that is waiting in the wings. While Majin Kuu might be one of the biggest villains in Dragon Ball Daima, he might be getting some company in the anime’s future.

Saibamen Revisited

If you need a refresher on the Saibamen, they were first introduced by Vegeta and Nappa when they first encountered the Z-Fighters on Earth. Each Saibaman had a power level that was comparable to Goku’s brother Raditz, aka around 1,200. Obviously, while we never got a direct read on Majin Buu’s power level, it was most likely in the billions. This new fusion in Majin Kuu might not mean that the new villain is far stronger than Buu but we could imagine that the Daima villain still has a slight edge over his predecessor if nothing else.

The Saibamen never really made an appearance following their arrival in the Saiyan Saga, meaning that it has been decades since the plant-based underlings appeared. To this day, one of the biggest contributions that the Saiyan henchmen had was creating the meme of Yamcha dying in Dragon Ball Z. It will be interesting to see what lasting impact Majin Kuu has on the overall shonen franchise.

Want to stay up to date on this new Dragon Ball Daima villain? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Transforms DBZ’s Weakest Villain Into Series’ Strongest appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While Dragon Ball Daima has been revealing plenty of new villains for the Z-Fighters to overcome such as Gomah, Degesu, and Dr. Anisu, the anime’s eighth episode was hinting at a brand new Majin to hit the scene. Luckily, the Toei Animation production wasted little time in revealing just what this new threat is. Dr. Anisu’s team-up with the Great Witch Mariba, and her frequent visits to Earth, have paid off and a new villain has been born. Also sporting the title of “Majin”, Majin Buu’s successor has arrived and we thought now would be the perfect time to break down everything that we know about “Majin Kuu.”

Warning. If you have yet to watch Dragon Ball Daima’s latest episode, episode nine, be forewarned that we’ll be diving into spoiler territory. In the previous installment, we learned that Dr. Anisu had been lurking in the shadows during the Majin Buu Saga, picking up some pieces of the pink powerhouse when he was originally destroyed by Majin Vegeta. In capturing enough samples, Anisu made her way to the Grand Witch Marba, a powerful sorceress hanging out in the Demon Realm. Revealed to be the true creator of Majin Buu, Marba has been more than willing to help the mad doctor out in a pinch and the fruits of her sorcery have been revealed.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Daima Is Secretly Setting Up for New Dragon Ball Super Anime

Majin Kuu’s Introduction

Using both the DNA of Majin Buu and various other ingredients, a new Majin has been born who will fight for Dr. Anisu. What might come as the biggest surprise here is that Kuu’s appearance looking quite like a Saibaman is actually deliberate. Majin Kuu was made by mixing Majin Buu’s DNA with the seeds of a Saibaman and other demons, with Anisu tasking him with defeating the first Tamagami and claiming a Dragon Ball. Agreeing to this task, the super-powered fusion of Majin Buu and a Saibaman has made his debut in the Dragon Ball franchise.

While we weren’t able to see just how powerful Majin Kuu is, we have to imagine that he’s at least at the same strength level as his predecessor. If this is the fact, Goku and the pint-sized Z-Fighters are going to have quite the task on their hands in Daima’s future if they are hoping to defeat him. Even though Goku and Vegeta aren’t having much trouble with Demon Realm’s strongest so far, something tells us that Majin Kuu will be a different story altogether.

Who is Majin Kuu?

The new villain, Majin Kuu, will be voiced by voice actor Tomokazu Seki. The actor has had a long history in the anime game and you might recognize him for his roles in big time anime franchises including Blue Exorcist, Dandadan, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece. This marks the first time that Seki has been a part of the Dragon Ball franchise and in a new quote, the actor is more than happy to hop onboard for Daima.

“I always aspired to be in Dragon Ball since before I became a voice actor. Once I pictured my dream, I participated in a few auditions, but ended up with a history of failures. I finally passed an audition which felt like, “At long last, I got a part! I finally passed!” My character is shrouded in mystery. I hope everyone lookg forward to seeing me in action.”

Want to see what the future holds for Majin Kuu in Dragon Ball Daima? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on the Z-Fighters and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Dragon Ball Daima Reveals Majin Buu’s Successor In Shocking Scene appeared first on ComicBook.com.