Since the fall 2024 anime season is approaching and with it the premiere of the long-awaited the release date of Dragon Ball DAIMA and the voice actors of the new characters, but also highlighted a mystery that fans have questioned since the announcement of the series, the absence of Son Gohan.

Gohan is one of the most powerful warriors in the franchise and one of the most beloved characters, and has generated even more interest after the success of , where he took the spotlight again ever since the Majin Buu Saga. Gohan showed off his most powerful transformation to date, Beast Form, so his participation in Dragon Ball DAIMA is one of the most anticipated by the fans.

However, with the premiere date closing in, Gohan’s absence in Dragon Ball DAIMA's main trailer made even more apparent the mystery surrounding his role in the new series.

Gohan Has Been Completely Missing From All DAIMA Trailers

Gohan’s Whereabouts Might Be Explained by DAIMA’s Place in Dragon Ball’s Timeline

Despite not being the only character missing in the trailers, Gohan is the only major character who hasn’t appeared in any promotional material for DAIMA, only in the flashbacks of the best scenes in the franchise highlighting the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball and the announcement of the new series.

While characters like Beerus, Whis, and Android 17 are also seen in the flashbacks but missing from the series' scenes, their absence is easily explained by the fact that it is mostly confirmed that DAIMA is set after the Majin Buu Saga and before the Battle of Gods. Additionally, Videl also hasn’t appeared in the trailers, even though Mr. Satan and Buu do, which could mean that she and Gohan may have recently gotten married and are currently traveling for their honeymoon, which means they could have been safe from being turned mini.

The placement of DAIMA in Dragon Ball’s chronology is based on facts like the villains watching the recollection of the events of the Buu saga and that Goku isn’t seeking Beerus and Whis' help or wearing the gi with Whis symbol, in addition to Shin accompanying Goku on his journey to the Demon realm, a dangerous trip that Beerus wouldn’t allow, since it puts the life of the Supreme Kai, and by extension his own, at risk.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Could Be Setting Gohan Up To Be A Major Factor In The Final Battle

The Mistery Around Gohan in DAIMA Is Intentional

The reason behind Gohan’s absence in the trailers could be that the production team of the series is generating hype for his role in DAIMA. Moreover, since it isn’t confirmed to what extent being turned mini decreases the characters' powers, as the new trailer shows Goku turning Super Saiyan 2, but he has to make up for his size by using the nyoibo, and considering Gohan was at his prime as a kid in the Cell Saga and that he also awakened his Ultimate form in the Buu Saga, he could be the strongest one as mini.

Additionally, even if Gohan is indeed traveling, sparing him from being turned mini, and isn’t relevant for the majority of DAIMA, he could still return in the latest episodes of the series and be essential in the final battle. Nevertheless, even if the new series is trying to appeal to nostalgic fans by bringing back Goku’s original appearance and him being the protagonist, the secrecy of his design in Dragon Ball DAIMA could be setting Gohan up for greatness. What’s certain is that fans are eagerly waiting to watch Gohan and the rest of the characters in Dragon Ball DAIMA.