The anime series Dragon Ball Daima has been steadily releasing new episodes, reviving the lighthearted and entertaining spirit of the original series. Simultaneously, it caters to fans who enjoy debating power scaling and speculating about the show’s place within the canon. Prior to the latest episode, many fans unofficially referred to the series as the late Akira Toriyama‘s posthumous equivalent of Toei Animation’s contentious Dragon Ball GT series. This comparison is largely due to the fact that the series also explores what would happen if Goku and his friends were turned back into children. Now, with the latest twist, the series fully embraces this comparison by reintroducing one of the most visually striking Saiyan transformations.
Despite the Z-fighters’ best efforts in their impressive team-up battle, which saw Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and new Daima characters face off against the powerful Gomah, their combined attacks were no match for his strength. The episode’s climax featured Goku powering up to Super Saiyan Three, only to be met with Gomah’s smugness. However, the latest twist in episode 18 sees Goku surpassing his Buu-era transformation and tapping into the GT universe’s Super Saiyan 4 form. This transformation has sent shockwaves through the anime community, as it appears to canonize elements of the previously ostracized GT series.
In contrast to the episode-long build-up in Dragon Ball GT, where Goku’s transformation into a great ape and subsequent battle with Super Baby were necessary to achieve the Super Saiyan 4 form, Daima‘s iteration of the transformation occurs much more swiftly. With the help of a power-up from the Demon World Namekian, Neva, Goku effortlessly transforms into SSJ4. Notably, Daima‘s version of SSJ4 deviates from the GT design, as Goku’s hair remains unchanged, and his body takes on a pink hue instead. Although Goku’s new form initially gives him the upper hand against Gomah, the latter eventually gains the upper hand using the power of the Tertian Oculus.
The reintroduction of Super Saiyan 4 holds significant importance, as it revamps a previously forgotten aspect of Goku’s character. The online community is abuzz with discussions about whether this development retroactively makes parts of GT canon. Given the series’ history of experimenting with canon, fans should simply enjoy the ride rather than overthinking the implications. Daima has consistently expanded on and referenced minor details from the lore, blurring the lines between what is and isn’t considered canon.
Akira Toriyama’s involvement in the series’ production before his passing is well-documented, including his contributions to the story and character designs. The revised Super Saiyan 4 design can be seen as a representation of Toriyama’s reimagined vision for the form. The new SSJ4 look now sits alongside SSJ3 Vegeta as one of the most unexpected twists in Daima. The timing of SSJ4 Goku’s return, coinciding with Valentine’s Day, adds a touch of humor to the situation.
DBダイマ18話、少し参加させていただきました。
小牧様、村上様、野中様、池田様、山室様、斉藤様、中鶴様、スタッフの皆様本当にありがとうございました。
I did the key animation for the first part of SS3 Goku vs. Goma and Goku’s transformation, thank you. pic.twitter.com/yxeD5KvmFP— アレックス (@uroncha11anim) February 14, 2025
With Daima slated to conclude its 20-episode run, the introduction of SSJ4 marks the beginning of the series’ grand finale, culminating in the final episode on February 28. It is likely that this version of the transformation will be incorporated into future video games, such as Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero!, as downloadable content, further expanding the game’s character roster with yet another iteration of Goku.
Dragon Ball Daima is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.
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