Along with this announcement, the second key visual and official trailer have been revealed, featuring voice actors Yumiko Kobayashi, Uchiyama Koki, and Fairouz Ai. Information about the opening theme song has also been disclosed.
“Dragon Ball DAIMA”, a completely new anime series from “Dragon Ball”, will start airing on October 11th, 2024. Accompanying this announcement, the second key visual and official trailer have been released, revealing the participation of Yumiko Kobayashi, Uchiyama Koki, and Fairouz Ai, as well as details about the opening theme song.
“Dragon Ball”, originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 for about ten and a half years, is a representative manga of Japan created by Akira Toriyama. The series has sold over 260 million copies worldwide, an astonishing record. Even after its serialization ended, “Dragon Ball” has continued to captivate fans through television anime, movies, games, and various media adaptations, maintaining its immense global popularity.
Its momentum shows no signs of slowing down. In 2013, the “Dragon Ball” film series was revived after 17 years, leading to successive hits. In 2015, “Dragon Ball Super”, based on a story by Akira Toriyama, debuted. The movie “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” was released in 2022 and ranked number one in both domestic box office revenue and its US opening weekend. Now, as the 40th anniversary of the original manga’s debut approaches, “Dragon Ball DAIMA”, a brand-new anime series with a story and character designs by Toriyama, marks a new chapter in its history.
This is also the anime that marks the final involvement of artist Akira Toriyama in the “Dragon Ball” animated series before his passing earlier this year. He was responsible for the storyline and character design, working alongside his colleagues on the “Dragon Ball Daima” team, including series director Yoshitaka Yashima and Aya Komaki.
The series is expected to become the “Dragon Ball” series with the most consistent and beautiful animation quality because the entire season has been fully produced before airing. There will not be the same daily deadline rush to meet broadcast schedules as in previous series. However, this series is not very long (around 20 episodes) and is meant to commemorate the 40th anniversary of “Dragon Ball”. As a result, it will be more polished compared to the longer series with over a hundred episodes.
The newly unveiled second key visual reveals the face of Panji, a new character who had previously been shown wearing a mask and cape. Behind Panji, Goma and another mysterious character can be seen observing a mini-sized Goku and his companions. The tagline has also evolved from the first key visual’s “Welcome to the Grand Adventure!!” to “Welcome to the Great Demon Realm!!”, indicating that the setting will take place in the “Great Demon Realm.”
In this mysterious world of conspiracies known as the Great Demon Realm, mini-sized Goku, mini-sized Supreme Kai, and new characters Glorio and Panji will embark on an epic adventure. Expectations are rising for this new Dragon Ball story set in an exciting and unknown world.
The official trailer introduces a mysterious new world never before seen in Dragon Ball, beginning with a cryptic spell. As a result of an “unknown conspiracy,” Goku (mini) and Supreme Kai (mini), along with the new characters Glorio and Panji, adventure through the Great Demon Realm, all set to the lively new opening theme. The trailer also teases a Supreme Kai-like figure, a mysterious smiling woman, and lurking monsters, further deepening the intrigue around the new characters.
Yumiko Kobayashi has been announced to voice the mini version of Supreme Kai, who, along with Goku, has been shrunk due to this “unknown conspiracy.” Additionally, Uchiyama Koki will voice Glorio, a new character who joins Goku and his companions, while Fairouz Ai will voice Panji, a new character whose face has been revealed after removing her mask. Kobayashi, Uchiyama, and Fairouz will also appear at the “Dragon Ball Daimatsu” event held on October 6th at Tokyo Big Sight. Each actor has shared their thoughts on being part of the cast.
In addition, it was announced that the opening theme song, titled “Jaka Jaan” by Zedd featuring C&K, was specially created for the series. Zedd, a Grammy-winning artist, has long been an open fan of “Dragon Ball” and composed the song after receiving the offer from “Dragon Ball DAIMA”. This marks Zedd’s first time composing a theme song for an animated work.
The lyrics were written by Yukinojo Mori, who has penned several iconic “Dragon Ball” songs like “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” and “Limit Break x Survivor.” The singer-songwriter duo C&K also participated in composing and performing the song, adding a chorus that was requested by Zedd, who wanted the song to have a distinctively Japanese anime feel. Zedd, Mori, and C&K members CLIEVY and KEEN have all shared their comments on this collaboration.
The completely new anime series Dragon Ball DAIMA will air on Fuji TV from October 11th, 2024, at 11:40 PM (JST). The official website has also been revamped, and further updates are eagerly awaited.
Comments from the Voice Actors and Artists:
Mini Supreme Kai (voiced by Yumiko Kobayashi): “Dragon Ball has been a life-changing work for me, so just being able to audition for it felt like a huge achievement, and I thought, ‘I have no regrets!’ I truly didn’t expect to be selected, so I kept wondering, ‘What if this is a dream?’ I will make sure to deliver an unforgettable adventure to all who watch Dragon Ball DAIMA! Please look forward to it!”
Glorio (voiced by Uchiyama Koki): “I never thought I’d be able to be part of Dragon Ball, so it was an honor to be chosen through this wonderful opportunity. Whether you are a die-hard fan or new to Dragon Ball, I think it is a series everyone can enjoy. The action is, of course, amazing, but the entire show is visually rich and fast-paced, so I hope you’ll watch until the very end!“
Panji (voiced by Ai Fairouz): “I’m so honored to be part of Dragon Ball, a series beloved by people all over the world. I believe DAIMA encapsulates the charm of Dragon Ball’s world. The characters go on many adventures, and each place they visit is filled with interesting stories. I think viewers will feel like they are on this adventure, too! Please enjoy the ride.“
Zedd: “I can’t believe I was even considered to produce music for Dragon Ball. I’ve been a huge fan since I was a child, and I never thought a day would come when I could be involved in such a work. Composing a theme song and score has been a dream come true for me. It’s surreal to create music for a series I’ve loved since childhood.“
Yukinojo Mori: “Dragon Ball has pushed me to surpass my lyrical limits many times. But I secretly wondered, ‘Can my words keep up with a stronger Goku?’ (laughs). But leave it to Toriyama-sensei! With DAIMA, he has shifted the focus from ‘battles’ to ‘adventures,’ leading us into an exciting new world. When your heart feels shrunk from hardship, I hope you’ll remember DAIMA and hum this fanfare we created with Zedd and C&K. May it give you courage for your next step.“
CLIEVY (C&K): “When we were asked to take on this major role, I thought it must be a prank! My honest reaction was, ‘Are we really good enough for this!?‘”
KEEN (C&K): “When we were contacted about working on Dragon Ball, a series I’ve loved for so long, I was so moved. I can’t wait to see how Dragon Ball DAIMA impacts both kids and adults. I’m proud to be part of such a great project!“
Source: animeanime
