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Goku is undoubtedly one of the most iconic anime characters of all time. He has served as the main protagonist of theDragon Ballseries for 32 years. Over the years, Goku has grown from a slightly bratty young boy into Earth’s greatest hero, withDAIMAshowcasing the fan-favorite Saiyan’s venture into the Demon Realm.
DAIMAhas been a very significant hit thus far, with several fans praising the animation, word-building, and story-focused approach. Goku’s return has set the internet ablaze, and many fans believeDAIMAcould outshineDragon Ball Super, with Toei Animation’s remarkable direction and beautiful animation so far.
However,DAIMAfans can’t ignore a major flaw: it depicts Goku as the dumbest version of himself, tarnishing the legendary character’s image and the legacy Akira Toriyama built over decades.
![A young Goku in Dragon Ball DAIMA. [Credit: Toei Animation]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/02042123/young-goku-dragon-ball-daima-1024x576.png)
HowDragon Ball DAIMAUndermines Akira Toriyama’s Goku Legacy
Dragon Ball DAIMAdebuted to an amazing reception, marking a thrilling new era for theDragon Balluniverse and drawing fans back into the action. It follows the story of Goku in the nebulous Demon Realm before he and the rest ofDragon Ball‘s cast find themselvestransformed into mini-kid versionsof themselves.
For decades, the main cast ofDragon Ballhas been well-defined, earning plenty of love from fans for their enduring charm. Goku, in particular, stands out for his strength, purity, and unwavering drive to be the strongest, inspiring generations of kids worldwide.
However, Goku’s charm wouldn’t be as strong if he were flawless, and one of his most endearing flaws has always been his lack of intellect. Despite his lovable nature, the countless reckless mistakes Goku makes inDragon Ball Superturned his usualnaivety into a source of frustration.
Sadly,DAIMAhasn’t been any better for Goku fans, further distorting the character they once adored. The further we dive intoDragon Ball DAIMA, the more Goku seems to lose his edge.
Goku turns Super Saiyan and breaks Tamagami 3’s Hammer#DAIMApic.twitter.com/B2XIWSTye9
Transforming Goku into a dumb comic relief only cheapens the entireDragon Ballfranchise.
Considering the story is set after the Majin Buu saga—widely regarded as one of the most beloved arcs, where Goku won fans’ hearts and solidified his legacy as a legendary protagonist—it’sfrustrating to see him diminishedlike this.
Mini Goku has been a source of frustration in the past few episodes. When Goku’s not acting like animmature child, he’s just irritating the restof the cast which is indeed very hard to observe.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Hates Vegeta and This 30-Second Sequence Is All the Proof You Need
From respecting the strongest warrior in the universe to finding him annoying in the span of a single episode, Panzy captured the fans’ disappointed reaction. And who can even blame her?
Considering we don’t know how much or what exactly Akira Toriyama contributed toDragon Ball DAIMA, it’s possible he didn’t contribute much beyond the first few episodes or the initial story premise.
WhyDAIMAIs Accountable for Goku’s Worst Depiction Yet
Even though Mini Goku is physically younger than Kid Goku, there’s no excuse for a 40-year-old Goku to be less mature than a 12-year-old version of himself. On top of that, Vegeta and Piccolo are still behaving as they always have, leaving Goku no excuse for his overly annoying and childish behavior.
Nothing about Goku’s character inDragon Ball Zindicates he is as foolish as he is portrayed inDAIMAand the rest of the modernDragon Ball.
Akira Toriyama’s Unexpected Gift Through Dragon Ball DAIMA Is Challenging the Very Foundation of Shonen Norms
DAIMAmay be in the crosshairs today, but it didn’t start the trend of a dumbed-down Goku. This is how modernDragon Ballhas been writing Goku for years now.
The manga does a moderately better job but still suffers from making Goku toosimplistic and easy-going. This isn’t about writers who aren’t Akira Toriyama failing to understand Goku, though.
Toei has shifted its focus to a younger audience, which has resulted in the creation of this simplified, “dumbed-down” version of Goku. Unless major changes happen, we may be stuck with this overly simplistic and foolish Goku for a long time.
Dragon BallSuperandDAIMAare available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Mehul Rolta
Articles Published :510
Mehul Rolta is a seasoned journalist with over 3 years in esports and soccer journalism. Transitioning to anime writing at Fandom Wire, Mehul shares his lifelong passion for anime about integrates professionalism. Dedicated to connecting the world of anime globally, Mehul shares thoughts and insights, communicating personal passion with professional insight.
