In a recent interview, Akio Iyoku , executive producer of Dragon Ball, revealed details about the development of Dragon Ball DAIMA . Contrary to what many fans imagined, the anime was not created as a special project to commemorate the series' 40th anniversary. However, it ended up becoming a commemorative milestone in an unexpected way.
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The interview, originally published on the Japanese website Akita Sakigake Shimpo and translated by @/SupaChronicles on X (formerly Twitter), however, brought this revelation to light. Iyoku explained that Dragon Ball DAIMA was not planned to celebrate the franchise's four-decade anniversary.
“It wasn’t made specifically for the anniversary,” he said, “but I’m very happy that it coincided with that date. It’s incredible to see how long the series has lasted, but for us, the focus has always been on moving forward — thinking about the next project and what comes after. That’s how we got to where we are today.”.
According to the producer, when you try to force a work to fit into a specific mold, the result is not always satisfactory. In the case of DAIMA , everything happened naturally. However, the anime, which premiered in October 2024, had already been in development for six years and was initially known as Dragon Ball Magic . Interestingly, the project has similarities to Super Dragon Ball Heroes , the web anime that promoted the Dragon Ball Heroes card game and video game.
A love letter to Dragon Ball GT fans
DAIMA wasn't created as a tribute to Dragon Ball , it ended up becoming a kind of "love letter" to the franchise. Inspired by Dragon Ball GT, the anime even featured a version of Goku's iconic Super Saiyan 4 in episode 18. This connection to the past, combined with a narrative full of mystery and action, won over fans.
Now, the big question is: is there another project in development to celebrate the 40th anniversary? Iyoku didn't give details, but hinted that more news is coming soon.
"We want Dragon Ball to continue for many decades," he stated.
Meanwhile, Crunchyroll releases new episodes of Dragon Ball DAIMA every Friday. The plot follows Goku and his friends, who are transformed into child versions by a conspiracy. To reverse the situation, they embark on a journey to the "Demon World," where they encounter Glorio, a mysterious young Majin.
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