Dragon Ball Daima is the last new series in the Dragon Ball franchise to bear a story by its creator, Akira Toriyama, but many fans are still wondering whether the new series is canon to the main story of the franchise and where it fits in the timeline. After forty years stuffed with adventures featuring Goku as he grew up to be Earth's mightiest defender, Daima sees Goku revert to his younger, smaller state for a brand-new story.

The timeline of the Dragon Ball franchise is sometimes contentious among fans, especially in light of Dragon Ball GT. While Daima is an exciting slam dunk of a series to celebrate the legacy of one of history's most beloved mangaka, its position on the timeline may need some clarification., Daima's place on the timeline is an exciting way to celebrate the franchise's 40th Anniversary with exuberance.

Is Dragon Ball Daima Canon?

Does Goku's Latest Adventure Count Among Other Toriyama Tales?

Since Dragon Ball Daima is officially the last Dragon Ball anime to feature an original story by Akira Toriyama, featuring his original characters from multiple series, it's readily considered canon. Before his untimely ing on March 1, 2024, Toriyama recorded a statement before March 8, 2024's Tokyo Anime Award Festival, reflecting on his work on his last anime. The statement talks about his involvement encoming the series, its conception, designs, and more, as reported by realsound.jp.

As I gave advice here and there, before I knew it, I was fully involved. I'm not just working on the overall story, but also the world view, character designs, mecha, and so on. I think it's going to be packed with content other than just intense action, so I hope you enjoy watching it.

-Akira Toriyama

Given the reaction to the non-canon Dragon Ball series significantly lacking Toriyama's involvement like Super Dragon Ball Heroes, Daima's genuine place in the timeline is a welcome sight. Given the remarkable staff revealed for the project, it's clear that Toei Animation is as serious as the mangaka about creating a home run anime for the fans. But with canon doubts assuaged, fans may still wonder when exactly Dragon Ball Daima fits on the overall series timeline.

Dragon Ball Daima's Position in the Timeline

An Iconic Anime Adds One Last Jewel to Its Crown

While it's hotly debated as to the specifics, fans generally can agree that Dragon Ball Daima takes place after the bulk of Dragon Ball Z's story but not likely after Super. Out of a group of plausible, or at least logical theories, Geekdom101 clarifies that Daima could occur a month before Dragon Ball Z's conclusion, in Age 784, following the time-skip but before the last Tenkaichi tournament. Clues observed include an unfused Kaioshin and Goku's blue gi from the Dragon Ball Z epilogue being absent, along with Goku and Vegeta not wearing the gi bearing Whis' symbol in Daima.

For now, Dragon Ball Daima's rough position in the TV anime timeline is as follows:

1. Dragon Ball
2. Dragon Ball Z
3. Dragon Ball Daima
4. Dragon Ball Super
5. Dragon Ball GT

Ultimately, fans will learn more of the specifics of the Dragon Ball Daima timeline upon watching it when it releases on Friday, October 11, for streaming audiences on Crunchyroll. Short of a full year since its announcement by one day, the anime has been highly anticipated by fans hoping to experience the series' latest iteration, reasonably now seen as Akira Toriyama's swan song for the franchise. Dragon Ball Daima will hopefully be a joyful experience shared among friends, celebrating the long legacy of its beloved creator.

Should You Watch Dragon Ball in Order Before Daima?

The Series Watch Order Can Be a Tricky Subject

While fans aggressively piece together the series timeline, newcomers should feel welcome to watch Dragon Ball Daima whenever they please. However, watching Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z is generally suggested first. Daima is an all-new adventure featuring Toriyama's designs and story, and, given that it's not likely to interrupt Dragon Ball Super, it likely won't have Earth-shattering plot developments but instead be a delightful romp more focused on action or spectacle than on overarching plots.

If the purist route is desired, one can follow a strict, timeline-focused viewing of the Dragon Ball franchise incorporating certain canon movies. As the franchise's timeline can be somewhat confusing, it's not a bad idea to consult this guide to make sense of the events, especially considering how Super takes place largely before the ending of Z. No matter how the fans choose to watch Dragon Ball Daima, they should feel no pressure and enjoy it the way they wish.

Sources: realsound.jp., Geekdom101 on YouTube