For months, Dragon Ball Daima has ignited fervent debate among fans over its place in the franchise’s storied continuity. Skeptics drew parallels to Dragon Ball GT—the non-canon 1996 series that similarly transformed Goku into a child—while others questioned how the anime-original Daima could fit alongside Dragon Ball Super, which already occupies the post-Z timeline.
The absence of a manga source, a first for a canon Dragon Ball project since GT, further fueled doubts. Now, producer Akio Iyoku has settled the debate definitively.
In a recent interview with Mantan Web, Iyoku confirmed Daima is not only canon but a direct continuation of the Majin Buu arc, meticulously crafted by franchise creator Akira Toriyama himself.
“The creator was directly involved in shaping this story. It is factually tied to the Majin Buu arc—this is unequivocal,” Iyoku stated.
Set months after Buu’s defeat but before Beerus’ arrival in Super, the series bridges Z and Super by exploring foundational elements of the Dragon Ball universe, which includes the origins of the Kaioshin, Namekians and Majin Buu.
These threads, Iyoku explained, reflect Toriyama’s long-held vision.
“Even if we as staff weren’t fully aware, he had pre-existing concepts, like the idea that ‘pointed ears signify Demon Realm inhabitants,’ woven organically into the narrative,” he said.
Toriyama’s involvement evolved unexpectedly during the six-year development process.
Initially approached to “lightly oversee” the project while working on Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, he grew increasingly invested, ultimately shaping Daima’s core premise—transforming the entire Z-Fighters into children, not just Goku—and expanding the Demon Realm’s mythology.
“It started about six years ago, while we were working on Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. I mentioned wanting to create a new series separate from the movies. Since we were already making films, I wanted to avoid overburdening Mr. Toriyama. Instead of asking him to fully commit, I suggested he lightly oversee the project and share his thoughts. As discussions progressed, he became incredibly enthusiastic. Though this diverged from our initial plan, we eventually decided to collaborate closely, with him crafting most of the story,” Iyoku said
Eventually, Toriyama ended up solidifying Daima‘s worldbuilding a lot according to Iyoku.
The producer’s confirmation is significant not only because it clarifies Daima’s place in the Dragon Ball canon but also because it marks a shift in how the franchise will be positioned in the coming years.
According to Iyoku, Daima is designed to preserve the core identity of Dragon Ball while forging a fresh direction for the anime series.
However, the confirmation of Daima’s canonicity raises questions about Dragon Ball Super’s timeline placement. While Daima anchors itself in Age 775 (months post-Buu), Super’s Beerus arc begins in Age 778.
Minor continuity conflicts were pointed out by fans, for example, the handling of the fusion between Kaioshin and Kibito. In Dragon Ball Super, the two are separated using the Dragon Balls, whereas in Daima, Kaioshin explains that the fusion was undone by a gas produced by Majin Buu.
Doubts also stemmed from Daima‘s anime-exclusive status and echoes of GT’s controversial premise.
While there is no explicit link between Super and Daima, there are hopes that the exploration of magic in Daima will eventually set the stage for Moro’s introduction in the Super anime.
While Daima is canonically set before the events of Super, it also does carry over familiar concepts—such as the existence of Universe 7, similar character designs, and even certain techniques—that help solidify its place within the established Dragon Ball universe.
As the Dragon Ball franchise continues to expand through games, merchandise, manga and other media, Daima is poised to assume a central role in defining its future.
The confirmation by producer Akio Iyoku—supported by the direct involvement of Akira Toriyama— will settle the longstanding debate and probably set the stage for further discussion on how Dragon Ball Super will integrate with the established timeline.
Source: Mantan Web
Correction: The producer’s name was wrongly written as Akiyo Itou. It has been corrected to Akio Iyoku. We apologize for the inconvenience caused!
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