Warning: SPOILERS for Dragon Ball Daima episode #5
Dragon Ball fans have been clamoring to see Goku become a Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball Daima, and Episode #5, titled, "Panzy", finally delivers that transformation. The newly introduced Princess of the Third Demon World follows Goku and company to the castle, and before they can set off on their journey, the King asks for a demonstration of the Saiyan's power. What follows is a fight that captures the original whimsical spirit of Dragon Ball that Daima seems intent on conveying.
Unfortunately, for those waiting with bated breath to catch Goku lay down a Super Saiyan whooping on his foes, the transformation lasts only a split second. What follows, however, is a whooping all the same, as Goku takes out a horde of Demon warriors with energizing acrobatics, making use of his new, smaller body. And though his hair only flickers that iconic golden tint for a moment, the form that follows may have reminded hardcore fans of a technique seen only once before in the franchise.
The Return of Goku's False Super Saiyan
A Foreshadowing of the Super Saiyan Transformation That Only Appeared in One Movie
After becoming surrounded by challengers, Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan in order to blow his enemies back with his energy. It's an effective move and a unique use of the form, but when he reverts to base, he strangely keeps the golden outline of Super Saiyan around him. The form calls back to Goku's False Super Saiyan from the fourth Dragon Ball Z film, Lord Slug. During the film, Goku somewhat ascends into Super Saiyan, tapping into a similar form that includes the glow, but doesn't change his hair.
The form comes and goes rather quickly in the film, and acts as a moment of foreshadowing to Goku's eventual true Super Saiyan during the Namek Saga. False Super Saiyan hasn't been seen since, and though it wasn't specified in Episode #5 of Daima, Goku resembled his once-used form enough to not be entirely incidental. Despite its brief, one-time use, False Super Saiyan became a bit of a niche favorite over the years, and Daima's nod to the transformation will surely be appreciated by hardcore Dragon Ball fans.
Daima Has the Opportunity to Incorporate Other Forgotten Forms
The Series Has Only Begun to Scratch the Surface
While the callback to False Super Saiyan proves that Daima is a carefully crafted tribute to Dragon Ball, the series has the opportunity to incorporate some other forgotten franchise lore. Given the series' similarities to Dragon Ball GT, the most obvious candidate would be Super Saiyan 4. One of the most beloved transformations by fans hasn't seen any use since its original source material, and Daima's placement in the timeline would prove its return difficult.
However, there will always be a chance to revive the form if the series' writers truly want to include it. Dragon Ball Daima, through its earliest portions, has been nothing short of a love letter to Dragon Ball, and that continues with its most recent callback to a niche form seen only once in the franchise. As the series moves forward, fans can expect more callbacks and exciting new adventures in every episode.
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the fifth overall series in the action-adventure anime franchise. It features most of the classic cast members as de-aged versions of themselves, including Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma. The series was announced at NYCC 2023, with creator Akira Toriyama returning to handle DAIMA's run.
Seasons 1
Writers Akira Toriyama
English (US) ·