Dragon Ball Daima premiered in October 2024 and concluded its run in February 2025, with its English dub airing until May 2025. As the latest installment in the long-running Dragon Ball franchise, Daima offered a nostalgic narrative by transforming the Z-fighters and their friends into children, sending them on an adventure that landed them in a brand new realm. Paired with Akira Toriyama’s signature humor, Daima felt like a return to the series’ whimsical roots.

Daima has many merits; however, there was an unmistakable gap in its otherwise well-crafted execution. Beneath the fights, nostalgic callbacks, and lore drops, something was missing from the series that could have easily been included. It’s not a matter of plot holes or character inconsistencies, but rather an absence that becomes more glaring the deeper the story goes in, and it has nothing to do with Gohan not being present.

Dragon Ball Daima Was an Excellent Addition to the Franchise

Daima Offered Fans a Refreshing Yet Nostalgic Story That Expanded on the Series Lore

Dragon Ball Daima delivered a refreshing take on the franchise while honoring everything that made it iconic in the first place. From the very first episode, it was clear that Daima wouldn’t just be another sequel. With heavy involvement from Akira Toriyama, the short series leaned into the classic Dragon Ball vision with lighthearted charm, humor, and intense action sequences. Every episode felt like a love letter to Toriyama’s early work, making the series feel like a nostalgic nod to the original Dragon Ball as well as a fresh and intriguing step forward.

The very premise of making its characters young again could have easily felt like a gimmick, but the series instead used it to reintroduce the characters in a fresh and engaging way. The world-building of the Demon Realm was richly developed, with lore advancements added and explained well. The humor, blended with action and tension, pulled the series together in a way that is distinctly Toriyama’s. Longtime fans were treated to thoughtful callbacks, while newer audiences had a chance to experience what classic Dragon Ball was all about.

For All Its Merits, Daima Let Down One Beloved Character

Piccolo Had So Much Untapped Narrative Potential Throughout Dragon Ball Daima

As strong as Daima was in many respects, it couldn’t quite escape one of the franchise’s most recurring habits: spotlighting Goku and Vegeta at the expense of other powerful and compelling characters. While the pair delivered some of the series’ best moments, their dominance in the narrative left little room for others to truly shine. Unfortunately, Piccolo bore the brunt of this in Daima despite being present throughout a large part of the series. He was rarely given the space to do anything meaningful, and his role was reduced to that of a quiet observer or occasional backup.

This was especially disappointing given how much potential Daima had to expand Piccolo’s character. The show was filled with lore-heavy revelations and shifts that directly touched on Namekian history. It perfectly positioned Piccolo as a key figure, yet he felt significantly sidelined into a ing role instead of the complex warrior and mentor he has become over the years. After the excellent development he received in the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, where he finally reclaimed some long-overdue attention, Daima felt like a major step backward and missed an opportunity to continue growing his character.

Daima Missed a Key Chance to Heavily Expand on Piccolo

Piccolo Had Multiple Opportunities To Shine With the Lore Expansions and Neva’s Introduction

Dragon Ball Daima introduced some of the most significant revelations about Namekian history that the franchise has ever explored. Through Neva, it was revealed that the Namekians originally came from the Demon Realm, where they were subjugated by Demon Kings who sought to exploit their ability to create Dragon Balls and wish-granting dragons. They were treated as tools rather than living beings, and as true pacifists, they chose not to fight back. Instead, they entirely fled the Demon Realm to rebuild their world somewhere else in the universe while Neva remained behind to protect the Demon Realm Dragon Balls.

He could have connected with Neva in a way that no other character could, offering a chance for greater depth and a more meaningful reason to defend the Demon Realm Dragon Balls from those who wish to use them for malicious intent.

Neva’s role as the sole Namekian who remained behind to safeguard the Dragon Balls, while the rest of their race journeyed across realms in search of something better, adds depth to their history. It introduces the idea that their escape from the Demon Realm represented a defiance and moral stance against tyranny. These revelations should have had a more significant impact on Piccolo, who has spent a portion of his life struggling with his identity. Yet, despite his deep ties and pride in his race, Daima barely gives him a proper opportunity to engage with them.

This was a major missed opportunity for Piccolo to reflect on his lineage, question his role, or even consider what it means to inherit a legacy built on exile and pacifism. He could have connected with Neva in a way that no other character could, offering a chance for greater depth and a more meaningful reason to defend the Demon Realm Dragon Balls from those who wish to use them for malicious intent. Instead, Daima treats Piccolo like a side character in a story that should have, at least in part, been his.

Piccolo Deserved More Time in the Spotlight

Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Daima Would Be Largely the Same Without Piccolo

Piccolo’s evolution over the years has made him one of Dragon Ball’s most complex and respected characters. As a mentor, father figure, and warrior who balances power with wisdom, Piccolo is undoubtedly among the most well-rounded characters and has undergone significant development in recent years, particularly with Super Hero. However, throughout Daima, Piccolo was not given meaningful moments and contributed to the series in a way that any other Z-fighter could have. His character was sidelined despite having major opportunities and potential within the series.

Despite its charm, action, and nostalgic appeal, Daima missed a massive opportunity by sidelining Piccolo during one of the franchise’s most lore-heavy arcs. With Namekian history explored in greater depth, it would have been the perfect chance to give the spotlight to Piccolo, even if only for a moment. Instead, he was pushed to the background, robbing fans of what could have been a powerful character exploration that added to the series' depth. While Dragon Ball Daima excels in many ways, its neglect of Piccolo’s arc left a notable gap in the series.