Ever since the firstDragon Ball Daimatrailer dropped, everyone rightly pointed out the similarities withDragon Ball GT, butDaima#episode 4 has proven without a shadow of a doubt that the new series is rewritingGTbeyond just Goku becoming a kid, by recreatingthe first planet that Goku, Trunks and Pan visit. Still,Daima’s rendition is different enough thatGT’s early episodes still stand well on their own, despite the understandable controversy surrounding the series.
The correlations between the unnamed town seen inDaimatoGT’s Planet Imeckaare unmistakable.Goku’s ship has been stolen, and he’s stranded in a place where the indigenous people are drained of their money by a greedy ruler. To its credit,Daimahas introduced some nuances to the original story that, on the surface, make it seem more effective.Goku can’t fly inDaimabecause of how heavy the air feels in The Third Demon World, whileGThad kid Goku simply incapable of flight. Additionally, the greedy ruler’s reach inGTis limited to just Planet Imecka, whileDaima’s main antagonist Gomah, the king of the Demon World, is the culprit, and it’s obvious that Goku will be dealing with Gomah long after he leaves the exploited village in question.
Dragon Ball Daima Draws Inspiration From One of GT’s Best Stories
Planet Imecka Was an Underrated Part ofDragon Ball GT
What helps Planet Imecka stand out from The Third Demon World thus far is the utter ridiculousness of the Imeckians exploitation inGT. When Goku and his companions check into a hotel, literally everything imaginable in their room is charged, and the rate of these charges is equally ludicrous - per second. On their own, these developmentseffectively capture the light tone of the originalDragon Ballseries, while also providing enough of a creative spin that prevents them from being totally disregarded by those who prefer the more seriousness ofDBZ.
By comparison, the way in which the indigenous demons inDaimaare taxed is quite classic, with evil soldiers going around villages to extract the tribute for Gomah. However, the way thatthe villagers' lives are sucked away if they fail to pay is indeed horrifying. Still,GTalso introduced more serious themes to the goofiness of the aforementioned hotel that adds some effective context that exceeds even the life-sucking machine fromDaima. The Imeckians are so exploited by their ruler that they themselves have resorted to villainy by trying to swindle Goku and his friends. Meanwhile, Goku stumbles upon a poor old couple whose conditions are so destitute that one can’t help but feel utter hatred for the evil-doers who put them in such conditions.
Unfortunately, Dragon Ball GT Went Downhill After Planet Imecka
Daima Has a Chance to Build on GT’s Strengths
Despite these qualities, it would be disingenuous not to note that Planet Imecka was the highest point of The Black-Star Dragon Ball Saga and that every consecutive planet from then on was a grave disappointment until Planet M-2 when Goku met Baby. Regardless, it’s certainly great for fans ofGTto notice thatDragon Ball Daimais calling back to Planet Imecka, and oftentimes overlooked and even forgotten story by mostDragon Ballfans.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Cast
Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
