Dragon Ball Daima Really Is the Perfect Sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Here's Why

Dragon Ball is one of the few anime so great that it transcends the art form. Each of its entries does something unique, creating waves across the shōnen genre. Dragon Ball, the first entry in the franchise, was a fun and light-hearted adventure. It introduced Goku and the Dragon Balls to the world through humorous bouts of mischief and more. Dragon Ball Z, the next entry, put fights at the forefront. It was still a fun series, but it had a more mature theme than its predecessor.

Dragon Ball Daima, the latest entry in the franchise, has already cemented itself as another exceptional series starring Goku and the gang. Each Dragon Ball series has its own theme, and that's exactly where Daima excels. It's as fun as the original Dragon Ball, decently mature like Dragon Ball Z, and filled with the same jaw-dropping transformations as Dragon Ball Super. Through far shorter than any other Dragon Ball anime, it's easy to see that Dragon Ball Daima will hold its own in the legendary Dragon Ball canon.

7 Great, Vibrant Character Designs

Even as Kids, Goku and the Gang Stand Out

Akira Toriyama, the famed creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, is known for his character designs. Whether Goku is in his base form, his Super Saiyan form, or even Kaioken, he stands out thanks to unique colors and hairstyles. The same can be said for Goku in Dragon Ball Daima. He's transformed into a kid by the Demon King Gomah, and while it might seem like a visual setback, it's anything but.

Akira Toriyama had a far more active hand in shaping Daima than he did with anime series like Dragon Ball Super.

Goku becoming a kid again actually provided a unique set of opportunities for Toriyama to create different designs for the character. Goku is most commonly seen in his Turtle School uniform as usual, but he also gets a few new outfits in Dragon Ball Daima. He wears some pajamas when he's in the Demon Realm, making Earth's strongest defender look absolutely adorable.

There are plenty of other great character designs in Daima. Some of the best include Demon King Gomah himself, Majin Duu and his brother Majin Kuu, Goku's suspicious guide Glorio, and his new friend Panzy. Each character's design adds something to the story, making each moment feel as whimsical as the series tries to be.

6 Exploring the Demon Realm

A Previously Unexplored Realm in Dragon Ball

The Demon Realm was never really mentioned in any other iteration of Dragon Ball. It wasn't really a factor in Dragon Ball, and was only briefly mentioned in Dragon Ball Z. In the original Dragon Ball, demons are entirely different than they are in Daima. King Piccolo is often referred to as "Daimao", or "Great Demon King", even though he's just a Namekian. In Dragon Ball Z, Demon King Dabura is a supporting antagonist during the Buu Saga, confirming the existence of the Demon Realm but never really exploring it.

Dragon Ball Daima takes place almost entirely in the Demon Realm as the Z Fighters head there to use the Demon Dragon Balls to become adults again and rescue Dende. The fact that Dragon Ball Daima takes place in an entirely different location is great for the franchise as a whole. There are so many places within Dragon Ball where the story has already taken place that it makes the Daima stand out for taking place somewhere brand new.

Dragon Ball has shown plenty of Earth, a lot of the explorable universe, and even battles on a reality-spanning level. It's also shown the afterlife, but it's never shown the Demon Realm. Daima reveals it to be a complicated realm consisting of three different worlds, each with plenty to explore and even more story to tell.

5 Interesting Interactions Between Characters

Glorio, Panzy, and the Supreme Kai

While the Z Fighters are front and center in Dragon Ball Daima, characters like the Supreme Kai, Panzy, and Glorio bring a lot to the story. Glorio is the group's enigmatic guide who's true intentions are still not fully understood. He's one of the few characters who hasn't been transformed into a child and his experience in the Demon Realm has helped Goku and the gang on more than one occasion.

Panzy is a princess of the Demon Realm and her spunky attitude makes her a joy to watch every time she's on-screen. Before Vegeta arrives with Piccolo and Bulma, Goku's interactions with Panzy, Glorio, and the Supreme Kai are awesome. They're fun, nonchalant, and always surprised by how strong Goku truly is. When Vegeta arrives, his interactions with Goku are just as great as they've always been.

The friendships in Dragon Ballhave always been a high point in the series. Dragon Ball Daima does a great job of giving audiences plenty of chances to see the characters interacting across a wide variety of circumstances. Whether it's Goku watching Vegeta go Super Saiyan 3 for the first time, Vegeta getting jealous at Goku for already fighting a Tamagami, or Panzy incredulous at the power the Saiyans bring to the table, Dragon Ball Daima is all the better for it.

4 Daima Has Its Own Tone

Each Entry in the Dragon Ball Franchise is Unique

Each entry in the Dragon Ball franchise brings something different to the table in terms of tone. While it took Dragon Ball GT some time to find its footing, its dark theme is a high point for itself and the Dragon Ball franchise as a whole. Dragon Ball Daima sets itself apart from other entries even though it shares a lot of similarities. Goku has been a kid before (twice counting Dragon Ball GT), the series has put jokes first before (like in the original Dragon Ball), but Daima somehow uses these elements to its advantage.

By recreating some events successfully, Dragon Ball Daima pays homage to the Dragon Ball franchise without feeling reused or overdone. It also sets itself apart from the other entries through its colorful animation, unique setting, and blasé tone.

The original Dragon Ball is the show most like Dragon Ball Daima. They both prioritize humor above all else, but Daima is much more mature than the original Dragon Ball in a good way. It's still fun and carefree, but it doesn't rely on sexual jokes like the original series did.

3 Majin Kuu and Majin Duu

Goodbye Majin Buu, Hello Duu and Kuu

Majin Duu and Majin Kuu aren't just two great names for the latest villains in Dragon Ball, they're great additions to the franchise that further give Daima its own voice. There hasn't been too much shown of the new Majin in Dragon Ball Daima, but whenever they are featured on-screen, they add a lot. They're equal parts funny and powerful, making them great potential opponents for Goku and the gang to run into.

Majin Kuu was the first of the two to appear, and he's the brains of the operation. His brother, Majin Duu, is the brawn. While Majin Duu was the one to defeat the Tamagami in their fight, it was Majin Kuu who was able to answer the absurdly hard math question that allowed Arinsu to get the Dragon Ball she was after. It's rare for Dragon Ball to feature two villains who compliment each other so well, and the series already feels better with their addition.

2 The Tamagamis Are Great Opponents

Tamagamis One, Two, and Three

The Tamagamis are interesting opponents in Dragon Ball Daima because they're not villains - they're guardians. They have no qualms with the Z Fighters or their entry into the Demon Realm, they're simply there to protect the Dragon Balls and make sure that the only people who can use them are strong enough to earn the right to do so. Goku's fight against Tamagami Number Three was the first time the series had a real fight, and it was awesome.

Goku used his Nyobi like he was back in the Original Dragon Ball. It was a great Dragon Ball fight that reminded everyone of the franchise they were watching. Majin Duu's fight against Tamagami Number One was excellent as well, showcasing the new character's moves stylishly. Their best fight in all of Daima, however, was Vegeta's when he took on Tamagami Number Two for one excellent reason: Super Saiyan 3.

1 SSJ3 Vegeta

The Form Suits Vegeta Perfectly

Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta is the most exciting moment of Dragon Ball Daima and a perfect moment that will make the series memorable forever. Vegeta has always been a step behind Goku. He was second in the race to Super Saiyan, only achieved Super Saiyan 2 thanks to Babidi, and only got to Super Saiyan 4 in Dragon Ball GT thanks to his genius wife, Bulma. Super Saiyan 3, however, was different.

Vegeta got the form thanks to nobody but himself, and it might be his best form. It's not his strongest, but he acts so arrogantly while in the form it seems like it was created for him. Vegeta has always been known to be a prideful character, and his Super Saiyan 3 form exudes the righteous arrogance only Vegeta can bring to the table.

His fight against Tamagami Number Two showcases his skills incredibly. While in his Super Saiyan 3 form, he rarely uses his hands, placing them across his chest like he's already tired of his opponent. He even ends the fight by blasting Tamagami Number Two away, catching him with one hand, hearing his surrender, and dropping him like a toy he had just finished playing with.