It took longer than people would have wanted, but Dragon Ball Daimais finally ing Toonami’s lineup. Between being the latest installment in the Dragon Ball franchise and the last story Akira Toriyama wrote before his ing, Dragon Ball Daima was easily one of the biggest anime of recent years, and the overall stellar quality of its writing and production more than lived up to that level of hype. 2x435a

When Dragon Ball Daima aired its final episode on February 28, 2025, fans didn’t just say goodbye to the latest chapter in the Dragon Ball saga. They also experienced the last anime personally crafted by series creator Akira Toriyama. As revealed in a published interview with executive producer Akio Iino of Capsule Corporation Tokyo, Daima was not just another spin-off. It was a ion project that carried Toriyama’s imprint more deeply than any anime since the original manga adaptation.

Since Dragon Ball first hit television screens in 1986, Masako Nozawa has voiced its fearless hero, Son Goku. In 2024, with the release of Dragon Ball Daima, the final anime to feature full creative involvement from Akira Toriyama before his ing, Nozawa once again returned to the role that has defined her career. “When I first heard Daima was happening, I just shouted, ‘Yes! We’re back!’” she recalled in a new interview in Japan. Nearly 40 years after her debut as Goku, her ion for the character remained as fierce and heartfelt as ever.

Dragon Ball Daima did a lot of things right, but it also wasn't afraid to create retcons or other continuity snarls that changed the history of the franchise. One major such retcon surrounds the origins of Majin Buu, and arguably, the change made Buu far less interesting.

Dragon Ball Daima, the final work of legendary artist Akira Toriyama, came to an end this past February with a high-octane showdown and one last gag from its creator. Overall, the series was largely met with a positive reception from fans and critics, though it wasn't without controversy. The anime's final act gave way to several developments that caused fans to question how exactly Daima fit within the canon timeline set by the franchise, and continuity issues continue to affect how the community views the series.

Dragon Ball Daima, the franchise's fifth official TV anime series, came to a close earlier this year with a bang. Offering some of the best visuals the series has ever seen over its four decades of activity, while also reintroducing the fan-favorite Super Saiyan 4 transformation with a stylish new design, Daima proved itself a worthwhile addition to Dragon Ball's lore. The anime also brought a sizable cast to the Demon Realm, allowing a number of characters some room to shine in their own unique roles.

Dragon Ball Daima's English dub is finally nearing its conclusion, with the fated showdown between a fully powered Goku and the evil ruler of the Demon Realm, Gomah, right around the corner. Though the series originally wrapped up in late February of this year, the dub began releasing after Daima was already in full swing in Japan, and is now allowing fans to experience the high-octane final bout once more with their favorite familiar voices.

After 25 years, Dragon Ball Daimahas just broken a major record for anime in the United States. While anime has always been big in the West with fans, critical reception has been another story, not so much that critics have hated anime, but because, for whatever reason, any appreciation they have has rarely translated to awards, whether it’s winning them or simply being nominated.

Dragon Ball Daima was the last project that Akira Toriyama, creator of the franchise, worked on before his death in 2024. However, even Toriyama's involvement didn't keep Daima from engaging in some massive retcons, affecting both stories taking place chronologically earlier and later than it.

Although Daimamay have come and gone for some Dragon Ball fans, those who have waited for the English Dub are just getting to the finale, with the epic conclusion finally coming to a head. After a long stretch of peace, Dragon Ball Daima kicks off with Goku and his friends finding themselves unexpectedly transformed into their childhood forms. This comes from a bizarre conspiracy originating from the Demon Realm and its new ruler, King Gomah. Goku starts a new adventure with new and old friends to him there. Daima marks a new installment in the iconic franchise and has received acclaim from fans.