Why Dragon Ball DAIMA Should Retcon Dragon Ball Super From Canon

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has been going strong for four decades, which means that there’s understandably a good deal of content to consider, not all of which is proper canon. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super are all official canon, but the franchise also has over a dozen feature films, Dragon Ball GT, and Super Dragon Ball Heroes, which play fast and loose with what qualifies as canon. Fans were relieved to learn that Dragon Ball DAIMA has direct involvement from Akira Toriyama and is a new canonical entry in the anime franchise.

However, Dragon Ball DAIMA is set before Dragon Ball Super and it’s already retconned certain events from the latter, such as the circumstances behind Kibito Kai breaking their fusion. This has led to some speculation that Dragon Ball DAIMA might become the official post-Z canon and well de-canonize Dragon Ball Super in the process so that it’s a fascinating alternate history, akin to Dragon Ball GT. This would be a radical position for Dragon Ball to take, but there are actually some benefits to a future where DAIMA replaces Super as canon.

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10 Dragon Ball Super’s Characters Have Become Too Strong

Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego are too Unbelievable

Dragon Ball Super is not unique in the sense that its already-powerful cast of characters have continued to surpass their limits and reach unbelievable heights. However, Dragon Ball Z already pushed this concept to increasingly implausible places and it’s hard to imagine where characters like Goku and Vegeta could go next in Dragon Ball Super after attaining godly transformations like Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego. In fact, Dragon Ball Super seems to have embraced more character-specific metamorphoses like Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo as a solution to the ridiculous power levels that have been reached. Dragon Ball DAIMA has been smart to scale back the heroes’ powers instead of continually pushing them to stronger places.

DAIMA becoming the new canon provides an opportunity to avoid the ridiculous transformations that Dragon Ball Super has explored, or at least reduce their power. Dragon Ball DAIMA’s single-use power-up system with the Demon Realm’s diverse bugs might be more sustainable than Super’s standard, where Goku and Vegeta can continually exploit Super Saiyan Blue strength. DAIMA could even make Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the de-aged heroes weaker than before when they’re finally turned back to normal and treat their newly diminished power levels as a fresh starting point.

9 DAIMA Feels Like More Of A Buu Saga Successor Than Super

It Feels More Like a Natural Progression of the Dragon Ball Story

Dragon Ball Z features a fairly natural progression between its major story sagas where each new narrative arc gets set up during the previous story. This makes the anime’s broader transitions and changes come across as justified and as if they’re all part of a larger plan. However, there’s some dissonance between Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga and the start of Dragon Ball Super. The characters seem to have reset, to some degree, and there’s no connective tissue between Kid Buu’s defeat and Beerus’ arrival. It wouldn’t have even been that difficult to link these two events and have Beerus’ introduction be the direct result of him sensing Kid Buu’s destruction and the elimination of one of the universe’s greatest evils.

However, Dragon Ball DAIMA is incredibly interested in the Buu Saga’s fallout and continues to expand upon the rich world of Demons and their hierarchy. Everything that DAIMA explores feels like a logical explanation for grander ideas that Dragon Ball Z introduced, such as Demon Kings and Babidi’s Majin powers. DAIMA becomes a more satisfying successor to Dragon Ball Z that feels like a genuine Buu Saga sequel instead of just a new series, which is the case with Dragon Ball Super. In a rewatch of the entire series, DAIMA is the better series to watch after Dragon Ball Z, which makes a strong case for why it should be canon over Super.

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8 A Retconned Super Allows For A Focus On Demons & The Demon Realm

The Demon Realm is Far More Interesting than the Multiverse

Dragon Ball’s Demon Realm has been teased as early as the original Dragon Ball, but it’s a fundamental destination that previously hasn’t been properly explored outside non-canon expanded universe material, like Dragon Ball Heroes and Dragon Ball Xenoverse. Dragon Ball DAIMA goes all in on the Demon Realm and highlights its unique ecosystem and the diverse enemies and allies that exist in this mysterious destination. Based on Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z’s trajectory, an exploration of the Demon Realm – and Demons – feels like the logical place for Dragon Ball to go next.

Dragon Ball Super instead introduces the concept of a multiverse, Gods of Destruction, and Angels. These grandiose concepts serve their purpose, but they occasionally feel a little too extreme and unnatural. They’re also ideas that Super has introduced, but the anime hasn’t truly unpacked them. The Demon Realm is a more logical direction to take Dragon Ball’s ever-expanding universe, especially after Dragon Ball Z concludes with Majin menaces and ancient evil.

7 DAIMA Scales Back The Use Of Gods & Omnipotent Deities Who Can Solve Problems

Dragon Ball Super Goes too Far With Divine Beings and Celestial Deities

Another running trend throughout Dragon Ball is the franchise’s exploration of divine beings and celestial deities. The original Dragon Ball is content to treat Kami as Earth’s Guardian and the anime’s God. However, Dragon Ball Z effectively builds upon this idea with the four Kai, Supreme Kai, Grand Supreme Kai, and more. These come across as logical extensions of what the original Dragon Ball established. Dragon Ball Super pushes this concept even further and, unfortunately, goes too far in this regard. Suddenly, there are Gods of Destruction, Angels, Grand Priests, Zeno the Omni-King, and other prolific individuals like Master Zuno and the Oracle Fish.

It’s all just a little too much, and this material starts to clash with Dragon Ball Z’s canon, like why Universe 7 had multiple Supreme Kai, but the other universes seemingly don’t. Dragon Ball DAIMA doesn’t complicate this formula in the same manner. It instead focuses on Shin and Kibito, rather than introducing superior figures who make them irrelevant. Dragon Ball DAIMA adds enlightening context to the Supreme Kai, such as learning that they’re part of the Glind race and that they originally came from the Demon Realm. The introduction of Shin’s siblings, Degesu and Dr. Arinsu, works much better than suddenly reducing Shin and Kibito’s importance through the creation of stronger, more privileged Gods.

6 Gohan’s Power Doesn’t Necessarily Get Nerfed

DAIMA Can Give Gohan the Chance He’s Always Needed to Shine

One of Dragon Ball Super’s most frustrating developments is how it completely underservices and disregards Gohan. Gohan’s potential is teased from Dragon Ball Z’s start, the likes of which is finally acted upon during the finale of the Cell Saga. The Buu Saga begins with Gohan as Dragon Ball Z’s new main character, only for the anime to get cold feet on this pivot and retreat to a Goku-led narrative. Goku may be the anime’s main character and the one who defeats Kid Buu, but Gohan is still incredibly strong and gains access to unprecedented power through his Ultimate upgrade on the Sacred World of the Kai. Dragon Ball Super diminishes the value of Ultimate Gohan, repeatedly puts him in embarrassing scenarios, and doesn’t allow him the opportunity for apparent progress and new transformations, unlike Goku and Vegeta.

Admittedly, Gohan finally gets the showcase that he deserves in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, but he has to first go through an entire anime as an irrelevant punching bag. Gohan has been suspiciously absent in Dragon Ball DAIMA, but the anime has at least avoided curbing his powers and undercutting Ultimate Gohan’s possibilities. Retconning Dragon Ball Super as canon means that Gohan doesn’t need to head down this same disappointing path and DAIMA can immediately act upon his potential. DAIMA could still even feature Dragon Ball Super’s Gohan Beast transformation, but just get there much faster.

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5 There’s Less Of A Time-Skip Between Z & DAIMA

The Story Between DBZ and DAIMA is More Linear

Dragon Ball has established an intricate timeline, but it’s also broad enough that not every single year is accounted for. There are some massive time-skips throughout the franchise that have still gone unaccounted for, such as the seven years that separate Dragon Ball Z’s Cell and Buu Sagas. Curiously, Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga is followed up with a ten-year time-skip epilogue that the franchise’s canon has yet to pass. Dragon Ball Super is set before the Peaceful World Saga’s events, but it still takes place several years after Kid Buu’s defeat.

This time-skip provides enough distance from the Buu Saga that its events aren’t exactly crucial to Dragon Ball Super and many of the characters have moved on. Alternatively, Dragon Ball DAIMA is only set a few months after Kid Buu’s defeat and DAIMA’s first episode takes place during Trunks’ ninth birthday. In this situation, the Buu Saga is still fresh on everyone’s minds and the series’ inciting incident is even a direct result of the heroes’ victory over Dabura. DAIMA comes across as the logical next step in the timeline, rather than needlessly jumping forward in time as a way to artificially create drama and reset the status quo.

4 There’s A More Simplified Dragon Ball Lore In DAIMA

The original Dragon Ball started with there just being a single set of Dragon Balls with very clear limitations in place. Over time, new and more powerful Dragon Ball sets have been introduced between the Namekian Dragon Balls, Cerealian Dragon Balls, Black Star Dragon Balls, and Super Dragon Balls. Dragon Ball Super is guilty of pushing the Dragon Ball concept to its most outlandish places. The Super Dragon Balls, for instance, are literally the size of planets and can seemingly grant any wish imaginable, including the revival of multiple erased universes. The Cerealian Dragon Balls also explore a controversial idea where individuals can wish to become the strongest individual in their universe, albeit at the cost of a significantly shortened lifespan.

These are interesting ideas, but they ultimately make the Dragon Balls more powerful than they need to be and there’s too much room for them to be abused. Dragon Ball DAIMA also introduces a new Dragon Ball set – the Demon Realm Dragon Balls – which seem like a more plausible alternative to Dragon Ball Super’s creations. The Demon Realm Dragon Balls don’t seem to have infinite powers and they’re also guarded by three powerful Tamagami warriors, which has turned them into dangerous liabilities that have rarely been used.

3 DAIMA Avoids A Scenario Where Frieza Returns As The Central Villain

Dragon Ball DAIMA Introduces a Whole New Villain

Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball Super both indulge in nostalgia, albeit in very different ways. Dragon Ball Super brings back many familiar faces from the anime’s past, such as Future Trunks, Android 17, and the Red Ribbon Army. Additionally, Dragon Ball Super has been guilty of repeatedly bringing back Frieza and making him stronger each time. One return appearance from Frieza would be acceptable, but he’s found his way into becoming one of Dragon Ball Super’s most important and powerful characters.

Even now, it looks like Black Frieza will be the final villain that the heroes need to take down. These repeated Frieza appearances arguably dilute the villain’s power and prevent the opportunity for new and deadly villains to arise. If Dragon Ball DAIMA becomes the official Dragon Ball Z sequel over DAIMA, then it will have the opportunity to avoid the continued use of Frieza and instead establish a new roster of villains from the Demon Realm and beyond.

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2 A Super Retcon Allows Majin Heroes To Be In The Core Cast

Majin Demon Heroes in the Core Cast Is Super Exciting

One of the more exciting developments to come out of Dragon Ball DAIMA is that several altruistic Majin have become allies to Goku and Shin during their Demon Realm adventures. An exploration of the Demon Realm is one thing, but DAIMA highlights that not all Majin are naturally evil entities. Glorio and Panzy are two helpful Demons who join up with the heroes and aid them through the anime. Dragon Ball has always excelled when it comes to a diverse cast of heroes that includes humans, Namekians, Saiyans, Androids, and more.

The prospect of Majin Demon heroes in the core cast as Dragon Ball moves forward is incredibly exciting. These characters would bring something completely new to the equation and could be further expanded upon, just like how Dragon Ball developed Namekians and Saiyans. Dragon Ball Super has completely ignored Majin entities – besides Buu – and it seemingly missed its opportunity to incorporate these eclectic and powerful characters into the mix.

1 Goku’s Character Doesn’t Denigrate As Much In Dragon Ball DAIMA

DAIMA Honors Goku’s Journey Unlike Dragon Ball Super

Goku has been a constant throughout Dragon Ball and his characterization, while largely consistent, doesn’t always move in a promising direction. Goku’s innocence and naivety have always been a large tenet of his character. That being said, Goku’s intelligence and awareness appear to seriously diminish in Dragon Ball Super. Goku makes many of the same mistakes that he did in Dragon Ball Z and his goofy and aloof nature reaches such problematic heights that it endangers the entire multiverse. It’s for this reason that many Dragon Ball fans prefer the version of Goku from Dragon Ball Z, rather than his Dragon Ball Super counterpart.

Dragon Ball DAIMA has been careful to not make the same mistakes with Goku, despite how he’s reclaimed his childish nature. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that Dragon Ball DAIMA’s version of Goku is suddenly a genius. He still makes plenty of casual mistakes and foolish suggestions, but they’re at least in line with the version of Goku that was established in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. Goku is affable and care-free, but not in a manner that comes across as character regression of a betrayal of who he is.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Latest Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Upcoming TV Shows

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

April 26, 1989

Cast

Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil

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