Dragon Ball is ready for its return in October
The long-awaited anime series "Dragon Ball Daima" already has a premiere date and additional details amid a major production update, marking the last involvement of the franchise's original creator, Akira Toriyama, before his passing.
According to Mantan Web, "Dragon Ball Daima" will premiere on television on October 11, 2024, with a special first episode that will have an extended duration (around ten additional minutes). It should be noted that all episodes of the series have been completed, and Toei Animation's director of localization, Daniel Castañeda, previously suggested that the series will have around 20 episodes.
In addition, Dragon Ball Daima will be part of a new nationwide anime time slot on Fuji TV, which will air every Friday at 11:40 p.m. (Japan Standard Time). The announcement was made at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, where programming director Yuichi Nakajima commented, "All episodes of Dragon Ball Daima are ready. As it is a new work, we want it to be seen by a national network. Until now, it was also broadcast on Sunday mornings, but that time slot is not nationwide. We are also looking for a schedule that Dragon Ball fans and the target audience can easily see." Nakajima added, "I hope we can spread the image, 'It's anime on Fuji TV, after all.'"
The decision to have "Dragon Ball Daima" inaugurate the new anime slot on Fuji TV reflects the confidence of both the network and the production team in the series, which marks Akira Toriyama's last participation in a Dragon Ball anime following his passing earlier this year. Toriyama was in charge of the story and character design of the series, working alongside other members of the team such as directors Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki.
Story-wise, the series features an interesting premise where Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, and other characters throughout the franchise become younger than usual. However, this will be different from the plot in Dragon Ball GT, where Goku returns to his infant form after the end of the original series. Although the title "Daima" does not have a specific meaning, the kanji used could be interpreted as "Evil" in English.
This premiere is shaping up to be a monumental event in the history of anime, not only because it is Toriyama's last work, but also because of the expectation it generates among Dragon Ball fans, who have followed the franchise for decades. With the release of Dragon Ball Daima, it is expected that a new generation of viewers will join the worldwide phenomenon that Toriyama created and that continues to evolve over time.
Source: Mantan Web
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