Dragon Ball DAIMA Almost Repeated GT’s Mistake but a Clever Fix Saved It

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Regardless of how often it’s drawn into comparison with “Dragon Ball GT”, it remains justifiable due to their similarities. The central plotline, involving Goku transforming into a child, is echoed here, but with a more palatable twist. Following the emergence of Super Saiyan 4 in “DAIMA”, there can be no denying their connection. Regrettably, the comparisons go beyond obvious story points and extend to subtler elements as well, such as the underutilization of Gohan, a characteristic shared by “Dragon Ball GT”.

In the thrilling world of “Dragon Ball GT,” I eagerly anticipated the space voyage to seek the elusive Black Star Dragon Balls, with Goku and Trunks. Little did we fans know that our beloved character, Gohan, wouldn’t be part of this journey. To our dismay, Gohan remained a mere spectator in the remaining chapters of “GT,” almost as if he was lost in the cosmos! Interestingly, “Dragon Ball DAIMA” echoed the same path as its predecessor by pushing Gohan to the sidelines, this time even more so. The 20-episode run of “Dragon Ball DAIMA” saw no trace of Gohan, a situation that left fans feeling let down. However, the new series presented an opportunity to rectify the mistake made in “GT.

Dragon Ball GT Completely Wasted Gohan’s Potential

Gohan Was Hardly Present in Most of GT’s Major Arcs

In my excitement as a die-hard fan, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and disappointment when Dragon Ball GT hinted at Gohan’s significant role in its epic journey right from the start, only to unexpectedly pull a fast one on us at the finale. Initially, it seemed like destiny had planned for Gohan to embark on this intergalactic quest alongside Goku and Trunks as their third comrade. But just as we were about to blast off, little Pan sneakily hopped aboard the ship, launching them into space while poor Gohan was left watching in astonishment. Little did we know that this seemingly casual decision would relegate Gohan to a minimal role in the ensuing battles of GT.

To put it simply, throughout the series, Gohan’s most significant role was portrayed as a villain under Baby’s mind control. This Baby Gohan character turned out to be a formidable antagonist who held the spot until Vegeta resumed his role as a major villain. During the initial stages of GT, it made sense for Gohan to be absent since the story unfolded on planets that were beyond his reach. However, when the group returned to Earth, Gohan’s limited involvement in the Baby Saga and the Shadow Dragon Sagas stood out noticeably.

In my opinion, Dragon Ball GT took the power level to new heights with the introduction of Super Saiyan 4 for both Goku and Vegeta, but it didn’t stop there! Even Uub, a character often overlooked, got a powerful upgrade through his Majuub fusion with Majin Buu, instantly making him a formidable adversary. Just like Dragon Ball Super recognized Gohan’s hidden might with his new Beast form, Dragon Ball GT had the chance to boost Gohan’s abilities too – though it may not have been as dramatic as Beast. However, by sending Pan and Trunks on Goku’s mission rather than Gohan, Dragon Ball GT centered the combat around Goku, making him appear invincible with minimal conflict until much later in the storyline.

Gohan Isn’t in Dragon Ball DAIMA At All

Gohan’s Absence in DAIMA is Even More Totalizing Than in GT

If Gohan had been part of the storyline in Dragon Ball GT, it would have enabled more intense fights that Goku might not have been able to win solo. This is one reason why some early arcs in Dragon Ball GT can be easily skipped over. It makes the decision to continue sidelining Gohan in Dragon Ball DAIMA, which followed Dragon Ball GT, seem even more puzzling upon a second look.

Prior to the launch of Dragon Ball DAIMA on October 11th, it was already evident that Gohan would take a supporting position in the new Dragon Ball anime series. In the build-up to the anime’s premiere, three main trailers and a character trailer for Son Goku were released. Notably, among all Z Fighters, only Gohan was absent from these trailers. This omission suggested that Gohan might be assuming an essential role, one that could potentially contain spoilers better left unrevealed until after the series’ debut. The fan community buzzed with speculation about Gohan’s absence and his potential part in the show.

Speculation ran rife among fans, suggesting that Gohan could have evolved into a new form or perhaps even turned out to be a demon, given his close association with Piccolo (who was recently confirmed as such through DAIMA). However, all these theories proved baseless. During Kid Trunks’ ninth birthday, it was revealed by Goku that Gohan couldn’t attend due to falling behind on his studies. It seemed that the battle with Buu had caused him to miss too much school, necessitating him to focus on catching up instead of rejoining the series. This development marked a turning point as it signified Gohan’s absence from the show going forward.

In the initial episode, Gohan was mentioned only by Goku once, and thereafter he was absent throughout the entire series. This is a disheartening situation for fans of Gohan, who believe he could have significantly enriched the cast of Dragon Ball DAIMA. His childhood form, it’s argued, encapsulates the most memorable depiction of his character, even surpassing the iconic child appearance of Goku. One reason for the reluctance to include Gohan in the series might be that Toriyama and Toei Animation struggled to recreate the captivating essence of young Gohan within the new art style of the anime.

DAIMA Solved The Issue of Gohan’s Absence By Using More Vegeta

Dragon Ball GT Had No Equivalent Fighter to Goku

In Dragon Ball GT, fans affectionately call it “the Goku show,” as they accurately point out that most conflicts in this series are resolved by Goku’s intervention, even compared to Dragon Ball Z or Super. It’s remarkable because, unlike in those series, significant battles often end simply with Goku being present, rather than engaging in intense combat. He consistently possesses more than enough power to emerge victorious, and rarely needs to unleash his full potential until halfway through the series.

In the anime, Dragon Ball GT, one of the notable issues making the series’ major battles less intense was the overpowered nature of Goku. The same risk of losing tension in combat was present when Gohan was absent from Dragon Ball DAIMA. However, unlike Dragon Ball GT that mainly sent Goku, Pan, and Trunks to collect the Black Star Dragon Balls, Dragon Ball DAIMA had a strategy: they dispatched a separate group consisting of Bulma, Vegeta, and Piccolo to trail closely behind Goku’s team.

In the later part of Dragon Ball GT, Vegeta received considerable attention, initially portrayed as a villain through Baby Vegeta, and later as an SSJ4 against Syn Shenron. However, the lack of significant power sources other than Goku in the initial half made the early arcs of GT less engaging for viewers. Conversely, Dragon Ball DAIMA introduced Vegeta and Piccolo on a quest to find Goku, thereby providing a secondary source of strength for the heroes. One of the standout moments in Dragon Ball DAIMA was SSJ3 Mini Vegeta, but fans had to wait longer for Vegeta’s substantial role to appear in Dragon Ball GT.

In episode 25 of Dragon Ball GT, titled “Baby’s Arrival”, Vegeta’s character started to matter significantly in the storyline. This is a full five episodes beyond the entire runtime of Dragon Ball DAIMA, indicating a pacing issue that Dragon Ball DAIMA effectively resolved. The absence of Gohan in the anime has been disappointing for fans of the young half-Saiyan, but it’s worth noting that Dragon Ball DAIMA learned from its precursor’s mistake and tackled this issue proactively to prevent a repetition of history.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Avoiding Gohan May Actually Be a Good Thing For the Overall Franchise

Gohan Missing in DAIMA Could Help Better Tie It Into Dragon Ball Super

Despite Vegeta filling the void left by Gohan in Dragon Ball DAIMA, fans have not forgotten the lack of Gohan in the anime’s storyline. The Dragon Ball community has generated numerous hypotheses to explain why Gohan might have been excluded from the narrative of Dragon Ball DAIMA. One theory posits that Gohan’s extraordinary power as a child would have made Genma’s strategy ineffective. Unlike Goku, who couldn’t transform into a Super Saiyan as a young child in the original Dragon Ball series, Gohan was able to achieve Super Saiyan 2 status while he was still a pre-teen. If Gohan had been turned into a first-grader, he could theoretically have been the most powerful remaining Z Fighter solely based on his ability to fight as a child independently.

In the world of Dragon Ball, only Goten and Trunks showed potential at a young age comparable to Gohan. However, an unusual event transpired: both were turned into babies by Gomah’s wish. One plausible explanation for Gohan’s absence in Dragon Ball DAIMA could be that it sets the stage for Dragon Ball Super. Although there are many apparent inconsistencies within Dragon Ball DAIMA that suggest it is separate from Dragon Ball Super, Gohan’s omission in DAIMA aligns well with the narrative of Super. A key characteristic of Gohan in Dragon Ball Super is his lack of training, resulting in a significant decline in strength compared to his past.

The significance lies in the fact that Gohan was likely the most powerful character in the series during the Buu Saga, with his Ultimate Gohan form placing him just behind Vegito among the heroes’ estimation of strength. However, in Dragon Ball Super, he becomes one of the weaker members of the main cast. Interestingly enough, this trend continues throughout Dragon Ball DAIMA, where Gohan is absent entirely, a circumstance that aligns with the developments in Dragon Ball Super. This consistency between the two series might seem minor, but it’s worth noting for fans as it’s one of the few instances where they are aligned, so it shouldn’t be overlooked.

As a die-hard Dragon Ball fan, I must admit that the absence of Gohan in Dragon Ball GT undeniably diminished the series’ appeal. However, in the case of Dragon Ball DAIMA, his absence is not only justifiable but also addressed through the introduction of equally formidable characters.

If Goku had ventured into the Demon Realm with Panzy and Glorio, as he did with Trunks and Pan in GT, Dragon Ball DAIMA might have fallen into the same trap of being a “Goku show,” much like its predecessor. Yet, Dragon Ball DAIMA manages to avoid this pitfall because, just like Gohan, Toei clearly did their homework.

Dragon Ball DAIMA is currently streaming on .

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2025-06-07 03:23