Dragon Ball Daima - Episode 1. Review without spoilers. A triumphant return to the work of Akira Toriyama

A very special reunion. A premise halfway between what we already like and what we did not expect and, above all, the first step towards a new adventure rich in possibilities. Dragon Ball Daima is already the legitimate direct continuation of the cult manga and the successful anime. Its first episode is just over 30 minutes that serves both to establish its premise and to remind us why we like so much the trouble that Son Goku and his friends get into. Not in any way, for the record: how you notice the master touch of the great Akira Toriyama!

Simply titled “Conspiracy,” the inaugural episode of Dragon Ball Daima He is fully aware of who this new adventure is aimed at and what he expects to find. In the process, it places us right between the events between the final arc of the Dragon Ball Z anime (more specifically the Majin Bu saga) and something before the arrival of Beerus in The Battle of the Gods. Offering the viewer something more valuable than the fanservice itself: Toriyama’s script and designs give a new perspective to his work, taking advantage of ideas that had been planted three decades ago, that had not been watered until today and that end up germinating naturally. .

In fact, I already confirm that you don’t need to have seen Dragon Ball Super and also takes into account those who stopped watching the explosive battles of saiyans, nameks and androids decades ago: the first part of the episode is dedicated entirely to laying the chips with which it will be played in this new stage on the table and, from there, begins to expand the Dragon World, the universe created by Akira Toriyama, introducing new characters, sowing a new threat and, for that matter, putting good-natured Goku and his friends at the epicenter of everything.

How you can see the master touch of the great Akira Toriyama!

That said, the “Conspiracy” chapter does not lose perspective. Even though Dragon Ball Daima is called to be the tribute to the 40 years since Goku’s adventures began to be published, it also manages to act as a bridge, and in an impeccable way, between the final arc of Dragon Ball Z

and what is to come. Putting extra care so that the foundations of the new adventure are solid. Even if that means taking away minutes of footage from the usual protagonists of Dragon Ball to give them to new characters who, as I tell you, know how to take advantage of their moment.

A move that, perhaps, in other circumstances, would be risky but that is brilliantly presented here: the demons Gomah and Degesu enter the sceneintroduce great elements to Dragon Ball such as the existence of the new kingdom to which Goku will travel and, in the process, they carry the burden of shaping the plot before it begins.

A double milestone when their way of behaving and reacting on screen, halfway between the cartoonish and the unexpected, makes them as much children of Toriyama as Goku himself, the cheerful Arale or the mysterious Belzebub from Sand Land. The villains of this new story? What is clear is that without your participation we would not have Dragon Ball Daima.

What happened so far…

“A large castle in a mysterious world. Two suspicious Majins look at a monitor. They are Gomah and Degesu! They see how Goku and the rest have an arduous fight against Majin Buu. Gomah and Degesu go to Earth to carry out their plan. “

For years, a formidable martial arts genius has protected the Earth from constant threats while fulfilling his dream of becoming stronger. His name is Son Goku and is one of the last living saiyans born before the destruction of planet Vegeta.

Despite his supernatural strength and peaceful nature, Goku would not have gotten this far without the friends (and enemies) he made on his travels and the help of the Dragon Balls, small spheres scattered around the world that when reunited are capable of granting any wish. These are sometimes the origin of great catastrophes, but also the premises of great adventures. Something that, as you will see, does not change in Dragon Ball Daima.

In a world apart from the twelve known universes there exists the kingdom of demons. Its inhabitants are easy to recognize, since they all have pointed ears. Until recently the realm of Demons was ruled by the powerful DabraHowever, he ended up being possessed and under the control of a powerful magician, generating a kind of power vacuum in his domain. A responsibility that the demon Gomah is about to complain.

Intrigued by the disappearance of Dabra, and from the throne room of the Demon kingdom, Gomah monitors what happened on planet Earth together with the demon Degesu. To his surprise, what he discovers is that there is no longer anyone capable of preventing his rise as the new monarch, but also that there is a distant planet inhabited by beings so powerful that in the long run they can pose a big problem.

However, throughout the process Gomah also makes an interesting discovery: in the outside world there are also the legendary Dragon Balls and their wishes, perhaps, can save you future worries. Or, at the very least, make those potential problems smaller.

What is Goku doing meanwhile? Basically loosening the belt. The most powerful saiyan is completely carefree in the middle of a meal with his friends and dedicating himself to what he likes most: eating and fighting. Very recently he managed to save the Earth from a powerful threat (in part, thanks to the Dragon Balls) and contemplates his future without fear or worries other than seeing his plate empty. Completely oblivious to what is happening in the Demon realm since a new threat is about to begin.

Akira Toriyama expands his own world in a big way

Dragon Ball Daima It was born as a great animation project from Toei Animation like so many other independent series from the official canon. However, Akira Toriyama’s interest, entry and great participation in it is something that makes a difference to all of them.

Toriyama’s special touch is noticeable both in the plot and in the designs and behaviors of the characters, or the general tone constantly a difference when it comes to the way in which Dragon Ball’s legacy expands: What is shown in “Conspiracy” adds a huge additional layer to everything already known and, in the process, makes everything that happens in its footage feel authentic and interesting in equal parts.

The first thing you’ll like to know is that in addition to dedicating practically half of the inaugural episode to recapitulating what has already happened, which never hurts, the animation and tone of Dragon Ball Daima They are absolutely blameless. Toei Animation was fully aware of the reception that the first bars of Dragon Ball Super

making his frames a source of laughter and disappointment. What we find now is not only completely right with the direction of events, but also with the execution on screen.

Those responsible for this new stage for Son Goku and his friends take note in order to please an audience that considers the characters and their stories something of their own and that spans several generations. Because Dragon Ball It is no longer a shonen created for young viewers, but a global phenomenon for fans of all ages. And that brings us to the next key point: are we facing a “Dragon Ball GT 2.0” or does what has been achieved feel like something fresh and original?

The animation and tone of the inaugural episode of Dragon Ball Daima are absolutely flawless

Without going into details, what was shown in the only episode broadcast to date and what was hinted at in its trailers lend themselves to both comparisons and parallels. As you may have seen in each promotional image, Goku is small again and that gives rise to him getting involved in new troubles and great adventures.

However, there are also many elements of Dragon Ball Daima that work in its favor: the way it takes fans’ preconceived ideas and turns them on their head, while constantly holding the hand of those who come new to the game. to fully soak in the essence of this cult work in record time.

Dragon Ball Daima 1×01 is a first step in the right direction… Now we want more

As we already mentioned, the foundations laid through the “Conspiracy” chapter are robust and also represent a springboard for what is to come: a project that seeks to unite and condense on the small screen 40 years of legacy of Dragon Ball while new elements are added to what is already known. Not in any way, but being faithful to the themes, the tone and the very human type of humor (even among demons) of Toriyama himself.

Combining the authentic passion for martial arts with characters that add color and a touch of humor to each scene in which there are no punches, kicks and cannon shots of energy. Always reserving a little mystery for what is to come, but giving everything in each scene.

Goku’s promised trip to the Demon realm does not start in the inaugural episode of Dragon Ball Daimabut what has been shown is heading in the right direction. As a result, we find the triumphant return of the series and the characters that thrilled us forty years ago and a masterful example of Akira Toriyama’s exquisite style: the art of turning the simple and straightforward into something special and unexpected. On a great adventure full of emotion.