Dragon Ball Daima, the sixth anime adaptation based on the iconic franchise, and Akira Toriyama’s final vision for his widely beloved creation, wrapped up on Aug 17, 2025. Returning to its long-forgotten adventurous roots while offering enough action to satisfy even the most hardcore battle shōnen fan,Daimawas able to reach all corners ofDragon Ball’s ever-growing fan base. While some may have been disappointed that the anime didn’t build on the more recentDragon Ball Super, the decision to jump back into the timeline of events allowed the series to expand on the lore and fill in gaps.
Akira Toriyama’s original manga took its main cast of characters across different worlds and universes,each offering enough material to sustain their own spin-off stories. Even without the series' legendary creator, who passed away in March 2024, it would appear thatDragon Ballhas enough established world building to allow for endless adventures over the coming years. However, there is a problem that’s begun to rear its ugly head, andDaima’s controversial finalemay only be the beginning.
Daima Smartly Filled a Gap, but Is That a Sign of Trouble Ahead?
Traveling Back in Time Led to a Rewarding Dragon Ball Anime Experience
There was a mixed reaction whenDragon Ball Daimawas revealed to take place right after the events of the Majin Buu Saga. Though many within theDragon Ballcommunity wished to see the events ofDragon Ball Super’s mangaadapted on-screen, the decision to jump back in time led to a largely enjoyable experience thatmade use of an unexplored section of the series' timeline. It’s never been explicitly confirmed just how long after Kid Buu’s defeat came the arrival of Beerus, though it’s generally accepted within the fan base that about five or so years passed.
It didn’t take long for fans to open up to the Buu Saga continuation, asDaimadove deep into the world of the Demon Realm, which had previously been established but never explored. The focus on magic and awe-inspiring settingsoffered a different flavor than fans were used to, supporting the decision by creators to revisit an unfilled gap between the finale ofDragon Balland the beginning ofDragon Ball Super.
Why Is Everyone Asking If Dragon Ball Daima Canon? The Answer Is… Complicated
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the latest entry in the Dragon Ball Franchise, and there are a couple of aspects that suggest it might not actually be canon.
Daimais proof that the franchise can make a journey to any underdeveloped world enjoyable, even if it means exploring a past point in the series. The problem, however,is thatDragon Ballis running out of gaps to fill, and the task of keeping any entry coherent within the timeline is a tough one, asDaimarevealed.
Dragon Ball Is Running Out of Time to Fill
The Series Must Operate Within a Set Time Frame
The ending of Akira Toriyama’s original manga series is iconic, but it also createsquite a few issues for modernDragon Ball. Following a 10-year time-skip after the defeat of Buu, the cast came together one final time for the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament. The reunion was short-lived, as Goku left the tournament with Uub while waving goodbye to fans, flying off on another never-ending journey. The finale was near perfect for the series, incorporating the central theme that shared strength is necessary in order to protect loved ones.
However, modernDragon Ballis now forced to operate within this 10-year time-skip,most of which is taken up by the events ofDragon Ball Super. The series' manga entered its currently ongoing hiatus in Age 783, only one year before the end ofDragon Ball’s manga. There isn’t much time left for the franchise to explore, butDragon Ball Daimasmartly made use of one of therare gaps within the timeline, a seemingly bulletproof solution to the shrinking empty space remaining for new entries to inhabit.
The solution doesn’t come without obstacles, though, andDaimahas made that clear. When exploring backwards into the timeline, whatever story is being toldmust fit within the confines of what comes before and after. However, the series' latest anime adventure wasn’t quite able to follow the rules set by other entries,introducing Super Saiyan 4and instantly creating a plethora of plot holes. While the problem isn’t exactly a problem if further entries are made non-canon from the start, but placing that label on a work largely takes any meaning away from it.
There Are Solutions to Dragon Ball’s Problem, but They’re Risky
Alternate Timelines Create Another World of Issues
Stating that an entry is non-canon from the jump is only one solution toDragon Ball’s dwindling time problem. Another isthe alluring, yet somewhat dangerous, alternate timeline route. The plot holes created byDragon Ball Daimacan easily be explained away if the series exists in a universe containing the events of the divisiveDragon Ball GT. Then,Dragon Ball Supercan exist in a separate timeline, unmuddied by the developments ofDaimawhile operating with the manga’s original ending in mind.
On the other hand, separate timelines can often lead tooverly fan-servicey products that lose a bit of their luster, as seen in the strange, ‘action figure storytelling’ ofSuper Dragon Ball Heroes. When everything becomes an option, quality control can very easily drop, and Akira Toriyama is unfortunately no longer around to steer the ship. Arguably the best,but most difficult, path forwardforDragon Ball’s staff would be to continue filling empty gaps, and simply do their best to make new entries coherent within the context of other series.
Dragon Ball Daima Opens a Buu Saga Plot Hole With a Clever Cliffhanger
Dragon Ball Daima expanded the lore of demons, but it also introduces a plot that reshapes how the Majin Buu saga could have unfolded.
Series' producer Akio Iyoku has confirmed thatDragon Ballwill continue far into the future, but there are clear obstacles beginning to present themselves. The final potential solution to the ever-growing issue of a lack of time, and the riskiest, would be toretcon the ending of Akira Toriyama’s original manga, which is bound to upset the franchise’s enormous fan base.Dragon Ballis at a crossroads and the future of the franchise is uncertain, though whichever direction the series ventures in next, legions of fans will undoubtedly support Goku and company.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
