Dragon Ball Confirms Daima's Manga Connection, Teasing Its Place in Canon

Dragon Ball Daima's final episodes sent the series' massive fan base into a frenzy. Many enjoyed the intense action and incredible animation work, while others were disappointed by the lack of a new fusion and overall humorous tone of the anime's final scenes. Though the reception of the finale is somewhat split, nearly everyone is wondering the same thing: how does this all connect within Dragon Ball's canon timeline?

Theories of separate, alternate timelines have gained traction within the anime community, while some fans are dismissing Daima's canon status altogether. However, series' producer Akio Iyoku made it clear in a February interview that Goku's latest adventure "is a continuation, and is connected to the Majin Buu Saga," while making sure to remind fans of Akira Toriyama's involvement. While this statement would lead to the conclusion that Daima is canon to the series' main timeline, it isn't quite that simple.

Dragon Ball Daima Is a Continuation of Akira Toriyama's Original Manga

The Anime's Producer Wants to "Show the Various Connections to Dragon Ball"

When asked by MANTANWEB how exactly Dragon Ball Daima connects to the larger story of Dragon Ball, Iyoku didn't get into specifics. Instead, he referred to the story as being a continuation of the Buu Saga and a creation of Akira Toriyama's, and that while he was sure Toriyama knew how it all tied together, he wasn't overly concerned about the finer details. Instead, he said, "I'm sure you're wondering where Daima fits in the Dragon Ball series, but I'm trying to show the various connections to Dragon Ball."

Majin Buu Potara Fusion Kibito Kai Vegito — Majin Buu's ability to break down Potara Fusions including Vegito and Kibito Kai explored in Dragon Ball Daima

The answer was somewhat ambiguous, and while he confirmed its relation to Toriyama's original Dragon Ball manga, he didn't touch on its connection to Dragon Ball Super. It's clear that the team's focus was placed on celebrating the various iterations of Dragon Ball throughout the years, as Iyoku said. However, in doing so, Daima's place in the series' canon becomes unclear, despite having its canon status confirmed. While Iyoku's statements clarify the anime's connection to Toriyama's work, they also make the entire situation more confusing.

There Are Several Possible Explanations for Daima's Canon Status

The Dragon Ball Team Has Options for Explaining Daima's Placement in the Canon

Goku and his friends discover a second Third Eye in Dragon Ball Daima

Though Iyoku confirmed Daima as being a canon continuation of the Majin Buu Saga, the series' fan base is left with more questions than answers about how it fits within the Dragon Ball Super timeline of events. Until the subject is directly addressed, either by Iyoku himself or in Toyotarou's Dragon Ball Super manga, all fans can do is speculate, though there are possible ways to make it all fit nicely. The simplest route would be to have Toyotarou's manga reference the events of Daima whenever it returns, and give some sort of quick explanation for why the series had never been referenced before.

The most shocking and unlikely next step would be to officially state that Dragon Ball Super is no longer canon, though it wouldn't make much sense to walk back on the long-running series at this time, and it would most certainly leave fans unhappy. The series could venture into the multiple-timeline route, as much of the Dragon Ball community has speculated. While this would make for a clean and easy explanation of events, following multiple timelines may lessen the impact of any given story.

goku surrounded by feathers dragon ball daima

Dragon Ball Daima Is Officially Over, So What's Next For the Hit Anime?

Dragon Ball Daima's finale has been released, bringing Akira Toriyama's final vision of the series to an end. What's next for the iconic franchise?

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Iyoku and the Dragon Ball team might also just never explain the connection between each series, as it's become clear the subject wasn't exactly on the minds of Dragon Ball Daima's creators. The franchise's next steps will almost certainly add to the discussion of canon and non-canon works, but whether future projects will clarify the timeline or further muddy it remains to be seen. Until then, it seems fans will have to wait patiently for Dragon Ball Super's return for any clue about how exactly Daima fits.

Source: MANTANWEB