Summary
- Connections between Dragon Ball Daima and the classic Dragon Ball franchise are hinted at by producer Iyuko.
- Speculation arises surrounding the existence of multiple timelines within the Dragon Ball universe.
- Ongoing disputes over rights may influence the narrative ties between Daima and Dragon Ball Super.
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As fans process the conclusion of Dragon Ball Daima, many are left pondering the relationship between this series and Dragon Ball Super. There are notable contradictions and narrative threads that create confusion about their connectivity.
Insights from an interview with executive producer Akio Iyuko may provide some clarity. Although specific details about the connections were not clearly defined, Iyuko’s commentary during a discussion on Daima‘s affiliation with the broader Dragon Ball world merits attention.
“You Can See The Connections”
In a February interview with MantanWeb, Iyuko was asked about the placement of Daima within the timeline of the Dragon Ball series. His remarks were somewhat ambiguous, especially as Daima was nearing the conclusion of its airing. He noted that the series takes place after the original manga’s Buu saga and elaborated:
“Many people wonder where Daima fits within the Dragon Ball narrative, and we aim to illustrate connections to it. Toriyama-sensei likely had certain links in mind that are unknown to us. For instance, I was surprised to discover that all characters from the Demon Realm have pointy ears, which I believe Toriyama had envisioned.”
He emphasized that while Toriyama possessed a profound understanding of the Dragon Ball universe, he would adapt his focus according to the specific projects at hand without imposing elements artificially. Given that Daima lacks an original manga counterpart, the team had the challenge of creatively invoking a manga-like essence in their storytelling.
This dialogue suggests that Daima aligns more as a sequel to the original manga rather than Super. While this does not rule out the positioning of Super following Daima, it raises the question of whether the manga and anime exist in the same timeline.
Could Dragon Ball Have Multiple Timelines?
While discussions of multiple timelines are not explicitly covered in the interview, Iyuko refers to “multiple stories”or “multiple storylines, ”allowing fans to speculate. His words hint at possible connections but remain deliberately vague, particularly because the audience was still awaiting the series conclusion at the time.
This vagueness gives rise to theories suggesting that should Daima deviate significantly from Super‘s established events, it could indicate the existence of parallel timelines. If validated, this would imply that Daima serves as a sequel to the manga, while Super might be viewed as an offspring of the anime.
Some fans interpret Iyuko’s comments as supportive of the notion of multiple timelines, with some even proposing that Dragon Ball GT could be rendered canonical:
Dragonball Daima is directly connects/ canon to Toriyama’s Original MANGA version of the Buu Saga Although acknowledging there’s other timeline that also connects after buu Like DBS & GT #DragonballDAIMA pic.twitter.com/47MGcNzfic — Dragon Ball News 📺 (@DBNewsUpdates) March 3, 2025
Dispute Over Rights May Be Involved
Recent reports indicate a dispute over the rights to the Dragon Ball franchise, particularly between Shueisha and Capsule Corporation Tokyo—which may have been backed by Iyuko and Toriyama. If Shueisha possesses a strong claim over the rights to Super, strategic decisions may have been employed to limit connections between Daima and Super. This is feasible due to Daima not being based on any Dragon Ball manga, thereby potentially easing legal claims for CC Tokyo.
Despite this, Shueisha is acknowledged on the official site for Dragon Ball Daima, and the series was under development long before Toriyama’s passing. As such, the landscape of rights and claims remains speculative. Reports of tensions between Iyuko and Shueisha predate Toriyama’s death, further complicating an already intricate narrative.
**You can now stream** Dragon Ball Daima on platforms such as Crunchyroll and Hulu.
Sources: MantanWeb via X (formerly Twitter)
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