A few months ago, Bandai Namco revealed that they were working on a new Dragon Ball game under the code name โAge 1000.โ That name generated a lot of buzz in the fandom, especially amongst the most hardcore fans, for good reason. As I explained in an article, Age 1000 is the setting for the now-defunct MMORPG, Dragon Ball Online. While the game never officially made it out of Asia, a lot of its DNA would serve as the basis for two other games, Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. I speculated that Age 1000 was meant to be a spiritual remake of DBO, but it seems I underestimated Bandai. On April 19th, 2026, Bandai revealed to the world that Age 1000 was, in fact, a cover for a game ten years in the making: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3.
Ten Years…Good Times
First released back in 2015 with a follow-up released a year later, the Xenoverse games seem to have maintained a steady popularity despite being over a decade old. With its ability to create characters based on the five most prominent races in the franchise (Human, Saiyan, Namkeian, Majin, and Frieza’s people), the chance to experience the story of Dragon Ball from Z onwards as self-inserts, and online competitive play, the games have remained fairly popular despite being a decade old. It also helps that Xenoverse 2 has regularly recieved updates and DLC. But for years, fans have been wondering when, or even if, there would be a third game to the series, to the point that it became something of a myth in the fandom. It seems that all that waiting is about to pay off, though, as Xenoverse 3 has now been confirmed, and it seems to be the overtly similiar to the premise of Dragon Ball Online out of the games.
What Happens in the Trailer
This announcement trailer doesn’t reveal much in the way of what the story is about, instead focusing on the setting and time it takes place in. As the code name suggested, the game takes place in the year Age 1000, two hundred years after the end of the original manga. The already pretty high-tech world of the series has only grown even more advanced, with holographic billboards now being commonplace. Even better, the diverse population of the previous games has carried over, as we can see characters that are Human, Saiyan, Namkeian (Piccolo), Android, and even a girl from the Demon Realm as a J-Pop artist promoting her new song. More importantly, instead of the Time Patrol, we have something called the Great Saiyan Squad. A clear nod to the late Toriyama’s love for the Tokukatsu genre, the GSS seems like a continuation of what Gohan started as the Great Saiyaman. The fact its members, including the white-haired boy from the first teaser, all wear similar outfits pretty much confirms it.
The thing that everyone is talking the most about, though, isn’t even the fact that this game is the long-awaited Xenoverse 3. It’s the fact that woman sitting behind the chair for the heroes is none other than Bulma. And that has left a lot of people confused.
How is Bulma Still Alive?!?
At this point, it will have been over 200 years since Goku left to train Uub at the end of the manga and Z anime. The longest a human being has been confirmed to live in real life is 122 years, and that’s likely to increase as medical research improves. Even factoring in how much more advanced the world of Dragon Ball is, the idea of a human living into their 200s seems like a stretch. Add in the fact that Bulma looks like she’s hardly aged from her mid-30s, fans are rightfully asking how she’s not only alive, but still so young-looking.
The current leading theory is that Bulma decided to bite the bullet one day and asked Shenron to give her eternal youth. Or, alternatively, Shenron got tired of her using him to take a few years off her life and just decided to give it to her to get her to leave him alone. I speculated that it isn’t even Bulma at all, but one of her and Vegeta’s descendants, but apparently it’s been confirmed that that is Bulma!
How she’s alive is still anyone’s guess, but I am enjoying seeing the theories about it amongst the Dragon Ball-related discord servers I’m a part of. There’s also the fact that she now has an angelic halo around her like Whis and the other Angels which only thickens the plot. Regardless of how it happened, I’m eager to learn how Bulma got this way, and I’m eager to see how the world became this way.
Xenoverse 3 releases in 2027, but it’s already available for wishlisting on Steam and the major consoles. Hopefully, the player base for Xenoverse2 will start wishlisting it, because I’m looking forward to playing it! I better start coming up with names for my characters!
If you’ve been keeping up with Dragon Ball on social media, then you know that there’s a lot for fans to look forward to over the next two years. DB Super is coming back, Sparking Zero is getting a new DLC, and the Beerus Arc is getting remade. The thing that I’m most interested, though (besides the anime’s return) is the next Dragon Ball game, Dragon Ball: Age 1000. For the most hardcore, in-the-know fans, that date holds a lot of importance. It’s the year that marks the beginning of the events of Dragon Ball Online.
If you haven’t heard about Dragon Ball Online, I wouldn’t blame you. It was an MMORPG that ran from 2010 to 2013, but it never made its way outside of the Far East. Despite this, though, it has quite the impact on the franchise’s video games. Many of the elements found in Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Xenoverse 2, such as the Time Patrol, the Majin Race, and the villains Towa and Mira all stem from DB Online. I already talked a little about it in our overview of the recent announcement for the franchise, but today, I wanted to go more in-depth about this fabled MMO. To be more precise, I wanna gush about how the world of Dragon Ball got way more awesome by Age 1000 by summing up the timeline. There is a lot of cool stuff that’s happened and we might get to see it in this upcoming game.
Keep in mind, the events of Dragon Ball Online contradict some of what is revealed in other anime series, such as Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball Daima. GT can be excused by the fact that it was made almost entirely without Toriyama’s input, while the latter two didn’t exist in 2010.
A New Beginning
The timeline for DB Online starts with the end of Dragon Ball Z with Goku heading off to train Uub. In the years that followed, interest in martial arts continued to grow thanks to the success of people such as Mr. Satan and Buu. It grew so popular that once Mr. Satan retired, he started his own telecommuted martial arts courses and got his life turned into a hit movie. Unfortunately, people weren’t happy with his classes, forcing him to let his granddaughter Pan take over as instructor. Under her, the classes become very popular, and she would use them to start teaching students ki manipulation. Sadly, it was around this time that Goku and Vegeta would leave Earth for good. Realizing that they nearing the end of their natural lives, the two Saiyans decided to go out on their own terms: fighting in an epic battle to the death to decide which of them was truly the strongest. All things considered, not a bad way to go out for good. Over the next two centuries, their descendants would spread, to the point that by Age 1,000, most humans had some Saiyan DNA in them.
Given how it was only 200 years though, either the game was generalizing, or they really had that many descendants.
The Saiyans weren’t the only ones to make Earth their home, either. After reading an adult romance book Mr. Satan had lying around, Buu was inspired to use his magic to make himself a girlfriend, Miss Buu. Together, the two would use their magic to make themselves a son, creating the Majin Race. Decades later, the Namekians were forced to take refuge on Earth once again after New Namek was attacked, except this time, they chose to stay with Dende as their leader and Piccolo as their best warrior. The Yadratian’s would also move to Earth after their planet was destroyed. So, by Age 1000, there were Human-Saiyan’s, Majiin, Yadratians, Namekians, and talking animals all calling Earth home, which sounds awesome.
It gets cooler.
A New Generation of Warriors
Pan wasn’t the only one teaching people how to use Ki. Around Age 804, Gohan started doing actual research into the mechanics behind ki manipulation and how it actually worked, publishing it into a book called Groundbreaking Science. As a result, everyday people were able to look at the things that Goku, Gohan, and the others could do and finally realized that they weren’t cheap tricks. Validation!
With ki now widely understood as the real deal, martial arts became more popular than ever, and suddenly Master Roshi and the Crane Hermit were flooded with people wanting to learn under them. Despite not being able to die of old age, neither of them wanted to teach anymore students. Instead, Krillin and Tien Shinhan would start up the Turtle and Crane Schools with themselves as the teachers. Krillin’s style was more focused on teamwork to overwhelm tougher opponents, while Tien’s emphasized aggression and gathering strength for a decisive blow.
They weren’t the only means to learn Ki, though. Goten and Trunks would end up starting their own school of martial arts, based around channeling ki into swords and melee weapons. By doing this, a person could cut even something as strong as Katchin, the strongest metal in the universe. Between this sword school, the revived Turtle and Crane schools, and Pan’s fighting network, Earth had become a martial artist paradise.
Sadly, it was not to last.
New Threats Emerge
The real trouble began around Age 820. That year, not only did Mr. Satan die, but remnants of the Frieza Force invaded Earth, trying to take the power of the Dragon Balls. Thankfully, the planet’s collective training meant that they were able to drive the invaders back, but they would continue to cause trouble in the centuries to follow.
The Frieza Force wasn’t the only threat. In the decades that followed, more threats would start appearing. There was the Red Pants Army, the successors to the Red Ribbon Army. Pilaf’s descendant, Paella, would continue his ancestor’s aspirations for world domination. And to make matters worse, some of the Namekians became corrupted by evil much like King Piccolo, leading to the rebirth of the Evil Namekians.
The greatest threat of all, though, were the Time Breakers, led by Towa and Mira from the Demon Realm. They were the ones who had destroyed New Namek and Yadrat, and had set their sights on two things: conquering Earth, and obtaining Goku’s DNA. They had built an army out of Demons, people they plucked from the timestream, and the many villainous groups that were now running around Earth. Even worse, they were messing with history and threatening to destroy the space-time continuum. With all of their efforts pointing to their eventual conquest of Earth in the future, something had to be done. That’s when Future Trunks made his return, now charged by the Supreme Kai of Time with forming a group dedicated to protecting history as the Time Patrol.
And that is where things stand at the start of Age 1000 in Dragon Ball Online.
Please let Age 1000 be something similiar to DB Online
Let’s review everything. We’ve got an age where everyone’s a martial artist and knows how ki works. Earth has become home to Humans with Saiyan ancestry, Namekians, and Majins. The descendants of all the heroes biggest enemies are trying to conquer the planet. And warriors are tasked with going back in time to keep history from going awry.
You can see why DB Online is considered a big deal for Dragon Ball fans? A good chunk of the Xenoverse games stems from this MMO. And if Age 1000 is looking to be the spiritual successor to this legend, then Dragon Ball fans everywhere should be elated. I know I am!
Itโs hard to believe that itโs been two years since the world lost Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. Yet for the time being, his greatest creation has continued to endure across the world and in the minds of its fans young and old. With this year marking the 40th anniversary of the original manga, fans are expecting big things to commemorate it. And it looks like weโre going to be feasting, because on January 25th, the powers that be dropped a few big pieces of news. A Dragon Ball anime is coming back, weโre getting a remake of one arc, and there was some big video game news that is leaving fans drooling.
Letโs start with the first big piece of news: the Beerus arc from Dragon Ball Super is getting a remake.
DB Super Beerus Remake
After the disaster that was Dragon Ball Evolution, the late Toriyama was so mad about his creation being mishandled that he came out of retirement to fix things. The result was the hit 2013 film Battle of Gods thrusting the series badk into the spotlight for a new generation. That eventually led to a sequel film, and both would lead to a new anime series in 2015, Dragon Ball Super. I never watched the first two arcs in the anime since they were just retelling the films, but I have heard that there were a few complaints about it not being that good. There were issues with the animation, pacing, and other things that fans didnโt like. So, I guess I dodged a bullet on that!
It seems that things were so bad that Toei has decided to remake the entire Beerus arc with new animation, with the resulting Dragon Ball Super L: Beerus releasing sometime this fall. Again, I preferred the movie to the anime arc, so I probably wonโt watch it. However, that doesnโt mean Iโm not happy for other fans. And I know that a number of content creators are going to be happy about this.
What Iโm looking forward to, though, is something that weโve had to wait for years to see: the return of Dragon Ball Super.
Super is Coming Back!
In 2018, after the Tournament of Power Arc came to its legendary end, DB Super went on what we thought was a hiatus. This was so that the manga adaptation could have time to tell the next major arc, the Galactic Patrol Arc, which everyone has expected to be what Super would cover next. But it never came back, and some fans started to lose hope that it would. For those who had faith, though, itโs about to pay off. Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Arc is coming!
The basic premise of the arc is that Goku and Vegeta are asked to temporarily join the Galactic Patrol, an intergalactic police force that tries to maintain peace throughout the universe. Emphasis on trying, as theyโve never been strong enough to stop Frieza, his family, or any minions like the Saiyans. And when one of their most dangerous prisoners escapes custody, they need the twoโs help to save the day. Itโs a pretty good arc, and one that a lot of fans have wanted to see made into an anime. Which means that the return of Super is a pretty big deal for fans. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing it get animated, even if we donโt know when it will release.
As for gamers, weโve got a lot to look forward to, as well.
Sparking Zero DLC
Two years ago, the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series came out of retirement with its first release in decades, Sparking Zero. The game proved to be immensely popular at first thanks to having the biggest roster of characters in the entire line of games, online multiplayer, and what-if stories in the main campaigns. It also seemed to quickly lose steam on Steam, though, as it lost 90% of its player base in less than a month, but it has retained a steady base since then, from what Iโve heard. And that player count might grow this year as we just got our first look at the new DLC. And thereโs cause for excitement.
This upcoming DLC is going to add even more characters to the gameโs already massive roster, including Super Android 17, King Piccolo, and Super Saiyan Bardock. As a big fan of Gokuโs dad, that last is especially exciting for me. Iโm actually tempted to start playing the game again to get ready.
But all of this is nothing compared to the biggest announcement: in 2027, we are getting a new Dragon Ball game. While we still donโt know its name, the title alone is enough to get hardcore fans pumped: Dragon Ball: Age 1000.
Dragon Ball: Age 100
You might not know this, but in 2010, there was actually a Dragon Ball MMORPG, Dragon Ball Online. Released exclusively in East Asia, it takes place 216 years after the events of the Majin Buu Saga, and Earth has changed a lot since then. Most humans are now at least partially Saiyan, the Namekians relocated to Earth, Majin Buu started his own race, and best of all, the use of Ki is universally recognized, meaning everyone sees Goku and the others as the heroes they are. But the Earth is now threatened by the like of Towa and Mira as they mess with the timeline, leading many to join the Time Patrol led by Future Trunks.
If all of this sounds like the Xenoverse games, thereโs a good reason. DBO shut down in 2013, but many of its concepts and characters became a part of Xenoverse and Xenoverse 2. That hasnโt stopped fans from wanting an actual DB Online game again, though, and thatโs why this trailer is a big deal. That, and this new character might have been designed by Toriyama before he died.
We wonโt know more about Age 1000 until April, but Iโm betting fans are already coming up with their own ideas about what this game could be like. I liked the Xenoverse games myself, but I do want to see something more like DB Online here in the west. Hopefully, weโre finally getting what we want!
And that is everything that we know so far! Hopefully, Toei and Shueshia will release more info in the coming months, as itโs got the fandom in a frenzy and eager to learn more. We will try to cover it as best as possible here, as we are massive fans of Dragon Ball and are eager to take part in the celebration ourselves. Until we meet again, guys!
This is a priority alert to all Dragon Ball fans. Mike McFarland needs our help now more than ever as he is going to be fighting for his life. I repeat, Master Roshiโs life is in danger.
This past January, we broke the news that Mike McFarland, best known for being the main dub VA for the OG dirty old man of anime, Master Roshi, had undergone surgery. A checkup at the hospital for what he thought was an ear infection revealed that he actually had a brain tumor. They got the tumor out, but McFarland had a tough road to recovery ahead of him. Thousands of people donated on GoFundMe to help him out, and it looked like that was the end of that.
It wasnโt. A few days ago, the GoFundMe was updated. The tumor was glioblastoma, a rare and extremely aggressive form of brain cancer. The prognosis isโฆI donโt even want to bring it up here. Itโs that bad.
According to the organizer, Mike had to go back to the hospital after an attempt at assisted living, but thatโs no longer an option. In order to fight this battle, heโll need to move into a fulltime nursing facility. That will cost a lot of money every month. That is where we come in. It is up to us to make up for the failings of the healthcare system. Master Roshi needs us now more than ever!
So please, if you have any spare money lying around, consider donating it to help Mike McFarland. Master Roshi was the OG mentor of Shonen anime, and an inspiration for many since then. Also, we just lost Toriyama last year. I refuse to lose another member of the Funimation dub team so soon!
One year ago, the anime workd was devastated by the news of Akira Toriyamaโs death. Toriyama, the man many consider the godfather of the modern Shonen manga, was gone. Millions of people around the world, from his friends and family all the way up to world leaders, all mourned his passing. However, his death would not be the end of his story. At least, not yet.
Less than a year earlier, Toei animation had announced that Dragon Ball would be returning with a new anime series to celebrate its 40th birthday. Even better, though, was the fact that Toriyama himself had written the story for this new anime, Dragon Ball Daima. Now, by fate or chance, Daima had become the last thing Toriyama worked on for the world that he created. If fans were already excited as it was for Dragon Ball to return in anime form, now they wanted to see how his final story would play out.
Now that Gokuโs untold adventure had come to an end, though, how does Daima hold up? Did it meet fans expectations? Could it have done anything better? Is it even canon? While that last question will likely be debated for a while, the first two have an actual answer to them: yes and yes.
What is Daima About?
If you didnโt keep up with Daima during its run, hereโs a quick synopsis.
Taking place shortly after the defeat of Majin Buu, Goku and his family are enjoying their lives now that peace has returned (and Gokuโs alive again.) Unbeknownst to them, Gomah, the new Supreme King of the Demon Realm that Dabura ruled before his death, has been watching them for a while. Terrified at how Goku and the others defeated Majin Buu and seeing them as a threat to his rule, Gomah hatches a plan. Traveling under the radar to Earth, he uses the Dragon Balls to turn Goku and all his allies into kids, thinking they wonโt be a threat in that state. And, for good measure, he kidnaps Dende to make even more Dragon Balls in the future.
Naturally, Goku and the others canโt let this stand, and when someone from the Demon Realm comes saying they were sent to bring the ones who beat Buu, they embark on a quest to rescue Dende and return to their normal ages. This quest will take them to the Demon Realm, a part of the cosmos that has never been fully explored in the history of Dragon Ball!
This is Like GT but with Better Writing
In case itโs not obvious, Dragon Ball Daima takes a lot of inspiration from another anime in the franchise, Dragon Ball GT. Released back in the 90s by Toei as a sequel to DBZ, GT told a completely original story that starts with Goku being reduced to a child by a set of Dragon Balls. The initial arc would see him, Trunks, and his granddaughter Pan travel the galaxy to retrieve these Dragon Balls in the hopes of saving Earth from being destroyed. Becauseโฆreasons!
In hindsight, GT felt like an attempt by Toei to fuse the original adventure genre of Dragon Ball with the more popular Shonen fighting genre that most people know the franchise for. Unfortunately, while it did have its good points, most notably Super Saiyan 4, GT wasnโt as good as DBZ. Toriyama himself had little to no involvement beyond some character designs, and it showed! The plot tried too hard to be funny, only to come off as cringe. Several of the characters became unlikable. And the less said about Dolltaki, the better! Itโs for these and many other reasons that fans debate whether or not GT is even canon or part of another timeline!
Daima is Toeiโs second attempt to tell a story that returns Dragon Ball to its adventurous roots. And unlike before, Toriyama was fully on board. In aย recent interview with Akio Iyoku, Daimaโs exec producer, it was confirmed that the series was a deliberate attempt to evoke the feeling of GT. Funnily enough, that same interview confirmed that Toriyama was only meant to have limited involvement. But Toriyama found it so exciting, he pretty much handled it all by himself.ย
In hindsight, that might partly why he died so young, but at least he died doing what he loved. And it also explains yet another thing he worked on being a big influence on Daima.
Good Old JRPG Action!
Outside of his work as a mangaka, Toriyama is famous for his work in another medium of entertainment: video games. He was the character designer for the Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger series, the latter being one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. Whether he intended to or not, it seems that his experiences with those games helped to influence how he wrote Daima, because it feels an awful lot like a JRPG.
Itโs been stated several times throughout this blogโs reviews for this series, but Daima feels like the Dragon Ball equivalent to Dragon Quest. The quest to save an entire world from a tyrannical king. The ragtag party of heroes that add more members as the adventure goes on. The concept of the Medi Bugs even sounds a lot like items you find in an RPG!ย
It doesnโt stop with the story and gameplay mechanics. Up until the final battle against Gomah, the fights give off the feeling of a classic JRPG fight. And this blog isnโt the only one whoโs noticed the similarities. Plenty of other fans have noticed the comparisons between Daima and Dragon Quest.ย One article from Screenrantย even says that it only serves to make Daima an even bigger tribute to the legacy of Toriyama. It combines his magnum opus for both manga and video games into a fairly entertaining story that could easily work as a standalone video game! Itโs funny enough to be one!
Toriyama Never Lost his Sense of Humor
When it comes to the action, Dragon Ball Daima can feel a tad lackluster when compared to Z and Super. However, there is a good reason for that: Dragon Ball didnโt start out as a franchise focused solely on fighting. Fighting and martial arts were always a part of the story, but in the beginning, Dragon Ball was more concerned about the adventure. The entire story starts because Goku and Bulma go on an adventure to find the rest of the Dragon Balls together. Daima was an attempt to return to the franchise roots as a story inspired by Journey to the West, best exemplified by Gokuโs retrieval of his Power Pole. By focusing more on the adventure aspects, this meant that the series could also focus more on the comedic aspects.
Toriyama was a man with a pretty good sense of humor. His first big manga, Dr. Slump, was a gag comedy. And while it would come to be best known for the fights, Dragon Ball never really lost its sense of humor. Thanks to its premise, Daima was able to bring the comedy back in full. From the oaf and straight-man routine that Goku and Glorio established to even the villains proving to be fairly goofy, you can tell Toriyama wanted to make his fans laugh. And it largely worked. Special mention goes to Hybis and his absolute deadpan attitude towards everything!ย
Thankfully, Daima never forgot about the action, and when it wanted to focus on that, it went HARD! By the time the final episodes rolled around, it had already returned to the same levels of action from DBZ before starting to edge closer to what comes in Super. And judging by the Internetโs reaction, fans were more than satisfied with what we got.
SUCH EPIC FANSERVICE!
Speaking of which, can we just bring up the fact that Daima was amazing at delivering fanservice? Most people associate that concept with images of attractive anime characters, but in a broader sense, itโs about giving the fans what they want to see. In the case of Dragon Ball Daima, it was getting to see things that plenty of fans wanted to see. The return of Gokuโs Power Pole was a good example of fanservice for those who like the earlier Dragon Ball adventures, but thereโs more than that.
Exhibit A: Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta. Vegeta was only ever shown achieving this form in video games, which were, by their nature, non-canon. Getting to see that form appear in the anime, albeit as Kid Vegeta, was a big deal. However, that would end up paling in comparison to what we would get next.
Exhibit B: Super Saiyan 4 Goku. Say what you want about GT, but you cannot deny that SSJ 4 was cool! The red fur and wild hair may feel super-edgy these days, but that can be chalked up to it coming from the 90s. That decade was all about being edgy! What was more important is that this marked the first time in decades that fans got to see the fabled SSJ 4 in the anime, and we just ate it up! People are already saying that Gokuโs transformation into SSJ 4 is the second coming of the legendary first time we saw SSJ 3. And theyโre right!ย
Just donโt expect any explanation as to why this form never comes up in Super.
They Shouldn’t Have Rushed Things so Much
When it comes to it, there are two main problems regarding Dragon Ball Daima. One seriously affects the overall story, while the other is something that mainly concerns hardcore fans.
The big problem is the length and pacing of the series. The first nine episodes are focused on the setup and then Goku and the others’ journey through the first of the three worlds making up the Demon Realm. The time spent in the Second World amounts to around five episodes, with the last five focusing on the final battle against Gomah and his army. No matter how you look at it, thatโs some pretty uneven levels of focus! The show spends so much time in the Third World and expanding it, the lack of attention the Second World gets is a problem. Especially when you consider that it was hinting at parts of the Demon Realm we may never get to see!
The other problem is regarding whether or not Daima counts as canon. Since none of what happens gets mentioned in Super, some fans wonder if it counts as canon. The fact that Super Saiyan 4 never gets brought up doesnโt help matter. However,ย that same interview with Ikoyuย confirms that, yes, Daima is canon, mainly because it was written by Toriyama. That answer, though, does imply that anything made for the franchise following his passing may be non-canon.ย
My thoughts? Who cares?
Let’s be Happy We got more Dragon Ball
Who cares if Dragon Ball Daima is canon or not? Who cares if might contradict the established lore for Dragon Ball in a few ways. And who cares that none of this ever comes up in Super (yet.) At the end of the day, I donโt think whether Daima is even canon should be whatโs important. Whatโs important is that we got more Dragon Ball.
Itโs not something that fans want to think about, but the passing of Toriyama marks the end of an era for Dragon Ball. From now on, the franchise will have to continue without its creator, and while plenty of franchises have managed to do so, thereโs always the concern that things wonโt be the same. Whatโs more, many of the people who voice the characters arenโt getting any younger. Sooner or later, theyโre going to have to retire or will eventually pass away. Masako will let her voice live on through AI, but thereโs no telling what will others will do. Even Bulmaโs original seiyuu passed away years ago!ย
The bottom line is that Dragon Ball may not last forever, as much as we may want it. Sooner or later, itโs going to have to end or end up like The Simpsons: a pale shadow of its former self. So the way I see it, we should enjoy Dragon Ball as much as we can while we still have it.
A Worthy Send-off for a Legend
So, was Dragon Ball Daima a perfect series? No! It had its ups and downs, and I do think it couldโve benefitted from more episodes. However, the idea of a perfect story doesnโt exist, and if it did, that would just mean mankind couldnโt tell anything better. At the end of the day, though, Daima wasnโt trying to be a perfect story. It was just trying to entertain people, either by making them laugh or squealing in joy. And it largely succeeded, with most of the people I know and follow online loving it.ย
Whatโs most important, though, is that this series was the final gift that we got from Akira Toriyama. Thereโs no telling if he knew that his life was coming to an end, but if he did, then he chose to spend his final days pouring his heart and soul into making Daima the best that he could make it. And it paid off! Most fans seemed to love Daima, and consider it a worthy final work from a man who helped change the world. Dragon Ball will likely go on for years to come, and it might not be the same without Toriyama, but heโs already given us everything he had. Heโs more than earned the right to go to that big studio in the sky where all the great storytellers in human history get to chill for the rest of eternity. The least we could do as fans was make sure he got the sendoff he deserved.
And we did. Arigato, Toriyama-Sama. Youโve earned the rest.
There are only two words that can be used to describe these final episodes of Dragon Ball Daima: absolute. Cinema. And the fandom certainly seems to think so.
We are now in the final two episodes of Toriyama’s last gift to the world, and Daima has never been more popular. In-universe, though, things were looking dire for the Dragon Team. Goku and the others were unable to leave a dent in Gomah thanks to the Evil Third Eye. To make matters worse, Glorio chose this crucial moment to summon the Demon Realm’s Dragon on behalf of Dr. Arinsu. It looked like the betrayal that was teased earlier was about to take place, and the episode’s title didn’t help much.
The episode starts off with everyone, from the Dragon Team and their allies to the audience, watching as Glorio has summoned the Demon Realm’s Dragon (Red Porunga). It looked like he was about to make Dr. Arinsu’s wish to be stronger than Gomah a reality. However, much to everyone’s astonishment, he didn’t end up wishing for that! Instead, he wished for the Dragon Team to be returned to their adult selves!
This isn’t the first time that Toriyama decided to give us this kind of bait-and-switch; after all, he did it when Krillin chose not to shut down 18. However, the fact that the audience was just as in the dark about Glorio’s wish due to it being in Namekian was brilliant. Cliffhangers may not always be enjoyable, but when done right, the payoff is worth the wait.
As for why Glorio chose to betray his employer, who had saved him from the Third Demon World, no verbal explanation is given. However, the look on Glorio’s face as he’s warmly greeted by the others says it all. He did it because he’s grown to like his traveling companions. Good on him for that! Even better knowing that Goku finally got his name right.
Besides, it’s not as if Arinsu has no other allies. Kuu and Duu remain loyal to her, and the relationship she has with them seems pretty positive. Even moreso when it’s thanks to Kuu that Arinsu learns how to get the Evil Third Eye out of Gomah.
Vegeta Gets his SSJ 3 Moment Yet Again!
Now that they’re back in their adult forms, the heroes can fight Gomah on more equal ground. Unfortunately, they fall back into the old habit of fighting the enemy one at a time, with Vegeta going first. Try as Vegeta might, not even his adult SSJ 3 form is enough to hurt Gomah. Or rather, it does hurt him, but the damage doesn’t stick, thanks to the Evil Eye.
IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!! WE FINALLY GOT TO SEE ADULT SUPER SAIYAN 3 VEGETA IN DRAGON BALL DAIMA BATTLE AGAINST KING GOMAH!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LMVyTmA1vy
No wonder why that eye is considered so dangerous. It basically gives the user infinite health and stamina! But, like any good video game boss, it does have a weakness. And it’s something so simple, it’s actually laughable: hit the user on the back of their head three times, and the Eye will fall out.
That’s nowhere near as funny as the threat that Bulma gives Vegeta if he won’t let Goku and Piccolo fight, though.
It may seem silly (and it is), but it’s moments like this that show just how much Toriyama understood his fans. He knew what would make us laugh, make us cry, and most of all, leave us squealing in joy. And if seeing SSJ 4 Goku as a kid was awesome, that’s nothing compared to what happens next. As Goku prepares to distract Gomah so Piccolo can get in the hits, we not only get a call-back to one of the most famous transformation sequences in the franchise, but a bonus.
In all seriousness, though, these last few episodes have done wonders to help make up for whatever shortcomings Daima might have. It’s very bittersweet to think that the next episode will likely be the grand finale, but all good things must end. Let’s make sure that Daima gets the attention it deserves before we send Toriyama off to that great studio in the sky.
Over the years, Dragon Ball GT has been a great subject of debate in the Dragon Ball community. Does the anime-original sequel hold up against its predecessors and successors? Is it even canon anymore since Super showed up? One thing that many fans agree on, though, is that Super Saiyan 4 was freaking awesome. From the shadow trim around the eyes to the red fur, SSJ4 gives off this wild, untamed look that was built for aura farming. While the canonicity of GT remains up for debate, it seems like Toriyama decided to give us one last gift: he made Super Saiyan 4 canon for us!
If anyone doubted how tough Gomah would be when powered by the Evil Third Eye, that doubt has been thrown out the window. In the last episode, he managed to take every blow that the assembled partyโs fighters could throw at him and shrugged it off like it was nothing!
Let me repeat that. The series broke the unwritten rule of fighting one-on-one by having eight fighters jump Gomah at once. And the best they could do was slow him down. Not even Goku is going to SSJ3, and Duu achieving a similar form is enough to pressure him for a long time. The Evil Eye is no joke!
To be fair, we cannot accurately assess how strong Gomah is in this form, as heโs not fighting Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Shin at their full strength. As strong as they are as kids, theyโre still kids, and have to deal with the nerfing that comes with that. However, given everything that weโve seen so far, and what he continues to accomplish in this episode, it might be fair to say Evil Eye Gomah is close to the level of Kid Buu. Considering the absolute menace Kid Buu was, and where this takes place in the timeline, thatโs a pretty serious threat.
Things get so bad, in fact, that Neva has to go and pull a deus ex machina and give Goku a power-up just to save their hides. And what happens next is going to be debated among the fans for years to come: Super Saiyan 4 returned to Dragon Ball!
As previously mentioned, fans have debated for years over whether or not Dragon Ball GT is canon. Some say the story is not up to par with its predecessor, DBZ, or its successor, Super. Others want it to be canon simply because of how cool Super Saiyan 4 looks. And some would prefer it would be scrubbed entirely. Regardless of what fans think, one cannot deny how the addition of Super Saiyan 4 is a big deal. Given how Toriyama himself wrote the entire story for Daima before he died, this is basically him giving the form his stamp of approval. And just listen to how the fans have reacted.
Granted, many of those same fans will now be questioning why this form never appeared during Super. And through that, they may question if Daima is canon at all. But you know what? Who cares? Itโs awesome, and so was the fight that followed.
In a series that has preferred to keep the action on a level to the early days of Dragon Ball, the fight between SSJ4 Goku and Gomah is a fantastic return to the days of Z and Super. The animation is fluid and fast-paced, Gokuโs fighting style really leans into the more primal nature of his appearance. The whole thing is just awesome! The only reason that Gomah even survives is simply due to the plot armor heโs wearing!
Sadly, despite the huge power boost the heroes get, it turns out Gomah had been holding back the entire time. Itโs unfair, but the story has to do it to justify the next plot twist as Glorioโs double-agent status finally comes into play.
I must admit, itโs a little disappointing to see that the Demon Realmโs Dragon is just a red version of Porunga. I know itโs supposed to keep with continuity, but come on, Toei. You could have had the dragon look like anything you wanted, and you chose to reuse Porunga? That feels like wasted potential! However, it was a good call to have the wish Glorio makes be spoken in Namekian. Since the audience doesnโt understand Namekian, we wonโt know what he wished for until the next episode. Did he follow through with Dr. Arinsuโs wish to become the strongest in the Demon Realm? Or did he decide to turn on his employer and help the heroes? We wonโt know until the next episode, and thatโs the best kind of suspense the audience can be left on. Hopefully, the last two episodes of Daima will get the attention they deserve and end things on a high note.
Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku and the other heroes made it to King Gomahโs castle. There, they managed to take down Degesu and rescue Dende, fulfilling one of their two goals of traveling to the Demon Realm. However, when they arrive at the final Tamagami, they realize that the Dragon Ball is missing! At the same time, Gomah manages to get his hands on the Evil Third Eye and places it in his forehead, unlocking a powerful new transformation. Will Goku and the others be able to defeat the Demon King in their current state?
Honestly, theyโre in for a pretty rough go of it.
Since the beginning of Daima, this blog has said that Dr. Arinsu was working against Gomah. The signs were all there: she gave him the idea of trying to mess with Goku and his friends. She hired Glorio to bring them to the Demon Realm and retrieve its Dragon Balls. She created Duu and Kuu to get the last Dragon Ball. The writing was on the wall, and it should come as no surprise when this episode has her say it. She wants to overthrow Gomah, and use the Dragon Balls to turn the Demon Realm into her own empire. An empire from which she can conquer the rest of reality.
Again, none of this should be a surprise. Arinsu had โStarscreamโ written all over her face. What is surprising, though, is the fact that she doesnโt have Glorio turn on the others right away and give her the Dragon Balls. Instead, she has Duu fight Goku with the Dragon Balls on the line.
The fight between Goku and Majin Duu is brief, but it also turns out that the two are pretty evenly matched. Goku does a good job, but Duu manages to tank most of his hits and give them back just as well. However, their fight soon becomes moot when the real threat shows up: King Gomah.
A few weeks ago, some fanart of what King Gomahโs ultimate form would look like wound up trending online. He was seen as this big, menacing figure akin to Frieza and Cell.
Imagine the disappointment fans must have felt when this episode reveals Gomahโs Third Eye form looks like this.
However, keep in mind that when it comes to the villains, Toriyama liked to subvert our expectations regarding their appearances. Friezaโs true form may look plain, but in truth, itโs downright terrifying. Cell may look more humanoid than bug in his perfect form, but his power is unreal. And letโs not forget the menace that was Kid Buu. So, as goofy as Gomahโs new form seems, the power he has is the real deal.
Donโt believe that? Hereโs proof: Goku takes a moment to ask all the other strong fighters to help him jump Gomah. In a franchise famous for having the main heroes fight while the others watch, that doesnโt often happen. The fact that Goku is openly acknowledging that he cannot handle this on his own shows how serious this is!
So, the climax of the episode has Goku, Vegeta, Glorio, Shin, Piccolo, Duu and Kuu, and even the Tamagami all rushing Gomah. And, in keeping with the Dragon Quest leanings, the fight feels like the climatic boss fight of a video game. Itโs incredibly well-animated with some great, continuous shots. But, much like in the original Broly movie, not even jumping him at once is enough for the heroes. Gomah just tanks all their hits, and comes dangerously close to killing Goku. Itโs only thanks to Duu and Kuu jumping in at the last second that heโs able to catch a break.
The episode ends with Goku powering up to the only form he has that can handle Gomah, Super Saiyan 3. He may. Or be at his full power as a kid, but this is his last resort. And judging by the previews for the next episode, this fight is going to be wild. Something that fans have been wanting to see from the very beginning!!!
The final battle is upon the Dragon Teamโฆor Z Warriors or whatever the fans call Gokuโs group of friends and allies. After stumbling their way into the First Demon World, Goku and the others are on the verge of ending their quest to rescue Dende and return to their proper ages. However, thereโs one problem: Gomah knew they were coming and isnโt pulling any punches. To make matters worse, it turns out that a certain theory that came up regarding the Evil Third Eye turned out to be right. And with Gomah now aware of this fact, heโs determined to get his hands on it! The question isโฆdid he manage to do that?
As fans, including this very blog, speculated, that eye in Hybisโ belt is, in fact, the legendary Evil Third Eye. Anyone who places it in their forehead can gain immense power that can make them nigh-unstoppable. However, the reason why it was lost was due to a power struggle between royalty. For the late Dabura, in an effort to overthrow his father, Abura, hired a thief to steal the Eye while his dad was away. Fortunately, the plan went south when said thief got killed before he could meet his client. Dabura overthrew his dad anyway, and Hybis found the Eye and kept it, ignorant to its true purpose. For further comparison, think Bilbo Baggins finding and keeping the One Ring, never realizing how dangerous it could be.
So, the prediction that Hybisโ eye belt was the Evil Third Eye turned out to be correct. However, this should come as no surprise if one considers the hints that were dropped earlier in the series regarding this. And once Gomah becomes aware that Hybis has the second-most important artifact in the Demon Realm, he orders Degesu to get it. Which leads to what is, easily, the funniest part of the episode.
While itโs not clear whether this Demon woman was Degesu in disguise, that doesnโt take away from the fact that this moment was hilarious. In the same conversation, Hybis calls the belt his favorite and most prized possession. And then he just trades it away for that big hat like itโs nothing! The fact that he doesnโt even want a kiss makes it even funnier! Hybis just became one of the funniest characters in the series! Time will tell if the Evil Eye becomes a factor in the final battle, though.
This storming of the castle could be harder than we thought.
Now, onto the main event of storming the castle. Given how theyโve effortlessly managed to demolish Gomahโs forces up to this point, one would think the Dragon Team would have no problem getting past them. After all, Goku single-handedly demolished the Red Ribbon Army as a child. This should be a breeze for him and the others.
In a surprising subversion of one of Gokuโs great early feats, the fight isnโt as one-sided as fans would expect. Thanks to their sheer numbers and weaponry, the Gendarmerie manage to pressure the Dragon Team at several points. They manage to keep pushing, but by the time the tanks roll out, itโs clear that the heroes are starting to feel the strain a bit. And thatโs great!
As some of the strongest beings in their universe, weโre used to seeing the Dragon Team steam-roll past the nameless grunts and mooks. Seeing them start to struggle as they press onward ensures that the tension remains realistic. Had Panzyโs father and his gang not shown up, thereโs a real chance that Goku and his allies might have been pushed back. But show up, Panzyโs father did, and his gang manages to help the heroes rout the enemy. All thatโs left is for them to storm the castle and get the Dragon Ball and Dende!
Things are about to get tougher
Or so they think. Most of the party doesnโt know that Arinsu already has the Dragon Ball and two skilled warriors capable of guarding it. And Gomah has the Gendarmerrie Force and Degesu at his disposal. Combine that with the chance that he could gain the Third Eye, itโs clear that Goku and the others are in for a tough battle ahead. Itโs a shame that the story has to end so soon, though.
Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, the Dragon Team launched a full-scale assault on King Gomahโs stronghold. Their ultimate goal is to get the last of the Demon Realmโs Dragon Balls, rescue Dende, and return to their proper ages. However, little do they know that Dr. Arinsu already has the last Dragon Ball and that the foolish Hybis just gave Gomah the ultimate weapon that could let him crush the heroes. Will the motley group of Saiyans, Demons, Namekians, Kaiโs, and Humans make it to Gomah in time?
Continuing from the events of the previous episode, Goku and the others continue their push towards King Gomahโs palace. However, they get interrupted by none other than the Gendarmerie Force, AKA the discount Ginyu Force that Gomah has to use as his last line of defense. Given how they felt super confident and bombastic about their chances earlier, one would think that the fight against them would take up most of the episode.
None of them reckoned on the likes of Vegeta, though.
Itโs actually funny to see how the GF hyped themselves up so much and how Daima made us think they could be a serious obstacle. Whatโs even funnier, though, is how Vegeta no-sells all of their attacks. The look on his face says it all. Heโs utterly indifferent to their schtick, having had to deal with the Ginyu Force for years. So, he makes them into his latest victims.
To his credit, though, Vegeta doesnโt kill them. Knowing him, he likely doesnโt see them as even worth killing.
Who saw Degesu Going Rogue?
Now, as for the character that gives the episode its name, Degesu shows his true colors. His attempt to flee with Dende as his hostage might seem sudden, but the anime has dropped hints that Degesu wasnโt as loyal to Gomah as the king thought. Heโs always had this air of elitism about him due to being a Kai/Glind, even when serving Gomah. Given his attitude, it seems only fitting that itโs Panzy, someone who Degesu helped oppress, bring him down. Granted, she had help from Glorio and Hybis, but sheโs the one who initiated it.
L'รฉpisode 16 de Daima… Jsp trop quoi en penser honnรชtement. Le truc qui me dรฉrange c'est que tout รฉtait assez prรฉvisible enft, on a un รฉpisode qui s'appelle "Degesu" mais son "moment" est trรจs brรจve pic.twitter.com/s7EnX3EKzg
Soโฆwhy does this not feel like a much bigger deal?
The whole point of Goku and the others going to the Demon Realm was to rescue Dende. Saving him should be this big moment for the series. Something that should have more time and energy given to focus on it. Yet, once again, it feels like Daima is rushing toward the endgame without giving viewers enough time to enjoy it. Especially considering this is the last time weโll have a story from Toriyama!
Gomah about to get a glow-up
Regardless of how the episode handles Degesu, though, it makes up for it when it comes to Gomah himself. While it wouldโve been funny to have had that Demon that took Hybisโ belt (and Evil Eye) to have been Degesu in disguise, you canโt win them all. Itโs made up by the fact that when Gomah puts the Eye in his forehead, he gets a massive power boost and becomes super jacked. Itโs enough to make that nameless thief run away screaming!
GOMAH HAS THE THIRD EYE AND UTILITIES IT INTOTRANSFORMING MOMENTS AFTER IN DRAGON BALL DAIMA!! He finally has what heโs been longing for and now with his NEW form and power revealed, things are going to get VERY messy for our heroes, hands down. Very cool stuff here! (Not gonnaโฆ pic.twitter.com/oFR4Qe3V7m
We have yet to see the full effects of the Evil Eye, but given how the Dragon Team is not at full power, he likely has a massive advantage over them. Worse still, just as the heroes realize the last Dragon Ball is gone, Arinsu shows up with Duu and Kuu in tow. And that doesnโt even get into the fact that Glorio is secretly working for Arinsu and could betray the group.
The bottom line is that the last four episodes will be filled with action and fights. Which is good, because if Daima wants to stick the landing, it needs to make them count!
The Ultimate Guide to East Asian Pop Culture. Dive into Anime Episode Reviews, Kdrama Recaps, Manga, Comics, & Graphic Novel Discussions. Discover Japanese Culture, Folklore, Mythology, and Adult Animated Series News.
D&A Anime Blog 