where is dragon ball daima in the timeline

Dragon Ball Daima, the highly anticipated new anime series announced in October 2023, has ignited fervent discussion and speculation within the global fan community. Its premise—featuring Goku, Vegeta, and most other major characters transformed into children—immediately raises a pivotal question regarding the Dragon Ball timeline. Pinpointing exactly where Dragon Ball Daima fits within the sprawling chronology of Akira Toriyama’s universe is essential to understanding its narrative stakes, its relationship to established canon, and its potential impact on the franchise's future.

Table of Contents

The Established Dragon Ball Timeline: A Brief Overview
The Core Premise of Dragon Ball Daima
Chronological Placement: Between the End of Z and Super?
Evidence and Narrative Implications
Alternative Theories and Possibilities
Conclusion: A Contained Yet Significant Adventure

The Established Dragon Ball Timeline: A Brief Overview

The Dragon Ball narrative follows a largely linear progression. It begins with the original Dragon Ball, chronicling Goku's childhood and early martial arts adventures. This leads directly into Dragon Ball Z, which covers the Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu sagas. The series concluded with Dragon Ball Z's peaceful epilogue, set during the World Martial Arts Tournament where Goku meets Uub. Dragon Ball Super was later introduced as a sequel series set in the ten-year time skip between the defeat of Kid Buu and that final tournament. Super has since expanded the timeline dramatically with arcs like the Universe 6 tournament, the Future Trunks saga, the Tournament of Power, and the Galactic Patrol Prisoner saga.

The Core Premise of Dragon Ball Daima

Dragon Ball Daima presents a unique scenario. A mysterious force transforms Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, Chi-Chi, and even antagonists like Frieza and Majin Buu into child-like versions of themselves. This magical de-aging is central to the plot, forcing the characters to navigate a grand, universe-spanning adventure with diminished physical stature but undiminished spirit. The series is noted for Akira Toriyama's deep involvement in the story and character designs, suggesting a high degree of canonicity. The title "Daima" can be interpreted as "Evil" in Japanese, hinting at a magical or sinister force at play, distinct from the godly ki and multiversal threats of Dragon Ball Super.

Chronological Placement: Between the End of Z and Super?

The most compelling and widely supported theory places Dragon Ball Daima within the timeline of Dragon Ball Super, specifically after the "Granolah the Survivor Saga" manga arc but before the final epilogue of Dragon Ball Z. Several factors support this placement. Visually, character designs align with their Dragon Ball Super iterations, including Goku's orange gi with the blue sash and Whis's symbol. Vegeta sports his Badman-style outfit from the Super era. Furthermore, the presence of characters like Krillin with his post-Resurrection F haircut and the general technological and aesthetic continuity with Super strongly indicate this era.

Placing Daima here creates a logical narrative gap. The ten-year period before the End of Z is still not fully explored in the anime. Dragon Ball Super has occupied only a portion of this decade. Daima could easily slot into an unexplored year, acting as a contained adventure that does not radically alter the known endpoint of Z. This placement allows the story to utilize the full roster of powerful characters from Super, including Beerus and Whis, while ensuring the events can be resolved in a way that leads seamlessly into the peaceful conclusion fans know.

Evidence and Narrative Implications

Key evidence from promotional material solidifies this theory. Trailers show Goku and Vegeta capable of accessing Super Saiyan Blue, a transformation exclusive to the Dragon Ball Super timeline. The involvement of Supreme Kai and Kibito Kai, who are prominent in the Buu saga and beyond, also anchors the story post-Buu. The central conflict appears to be a magical, universe-hopping quest, distinct from the godly battles of Super, offering a tonal shift reminiscent of early Dragon Ball adventures but with the scale of the modern series.

This placement has significant implications. It means Daima is not a reboot, alternate universe tale, or sequel to the End of Z. Instead, it is a "lost chapter" within the existing canon. The child transformation, therefore, is not a permanent reset but a temporary magical condition that will be resolved by the story's end, preserving character progression. It allows for a unique exploration of these iconic characters stripped of their overwhelming godly power, emphasizing ingenuity and classic martial arts, without erasing the power scaling achievements of Dragon Ball Super.

Alternative Theories and Possibilities

While the post-Super, pre-End-of-Z theory is dominant, other possibilities exist, though they face greater challenges. One theory suggests Daima could be set after the End of Z, following the final tournament with Uub. However, this is complicated by the visual continuity with Super designs and the presence of Beerus and Whis, who are not shown in that final epilogue. Another idea posits it as an alternate timeline or "what-if" story, similar to the plot of a video game. Yet, the stated level of Toriyama's involvement and the emphasis on a "new story" within the main continuity make this less likely. The transformation premise, while dramatic, is presented as a magical anomaly within the world's rules, not as a foundational shift to the timeline itself.

Conclusion: A Contained Yet Significant Adventure

Determining where Dragon Ball Daima sits in the timeline is crucial for setting audience expectations. The preponderance of evidence points to an installation set firmly within the Dragon Ball Super era, before the final chapters of the original manga. This strategic placement affords the narrative maximum creative freedom while maintaining canonical integrity. It can tell a self-contained, universe-hopping adventure with magical stakes, leverage the entire cast at their current power levels, and explore nostalgic character dynamics through the de-aging gimmick, all without contradicting the established future. Dragon Ball Daima is positioned not as a replacement for the ongoing Super narrative, but as a special, complementary arc that revisits the franchise's adventurous roots through the lens of its modern mythos. Its location in the timeline ensures it will be a significant, canonical journey that adds depth to the years leading up to Goku's final departure with Uub.

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