Goku Steps Aside: Dragon Ball DAIMA's New Protagonists Shine

The Shift in Focus: Dragon Ball DAIMA's New Narrative

For decades, Goku has been at the forefront of the Dragon Ball franchise, captivating audiences with his relentless drive for strength, his cheerful naivety, and his role as Earth’s primary defender against numerous threats. However, Dragon Ball DAIMA marks a significant departure from the traditional Goku-centered storytelling, placing emphasis on new characters and storylines.

Shin, Glorio, and Panzy: The Real Protagonists

Dragon Ball DAIMA introduces us to Shin, Glorio, and Panzy, who are the true protagonists of the series. Each of them brings a distinct dynamic and a new layer of intrigue to the unfolding narrative. Shin, formerly a background Z-Warrior, evolves into a competent and engaging protagonist with a rich backstory linked to the Demon Realm. As revealed in DAIMA, Shin hails from the Second Demon World and is driven by his personal vendetta to stop his villainous siblings, Arinsu and Degesu.

Glorio, on the other hand, is a complex character unlike any past Dragon Ball villain. His quiet and stoic demeanor masks a cunning and strategic mind deeply embedded in the Z-Warriors, planning to betray them under Dr. Arinsu’s orders. His relationships vary throughout the series, with tensions running high between him and Shin, and a budding camaraderie with Panzy. Characters like Glorio provide a fresh narrative direction, making DAIMA feel novel within the franchise.

Panzy, the kind-hearted Princess of the Third Demon World, breathes life into the series with her mechanical aptitude and benevolent nature. Her struggle against the tyrannical King Gomah and her aspirations to see her father reclaim the throne of the Demon Realm provide a personal stake that roots the series’ central conflict in emotional reality.

Goku's Role: A Familiar Face in an Unfamiliar Story

Although Goku remains an active participant, engaging in practically every battle and providing comic relief, his relevance to Dragon Ball DAIMA's core plot is minimal. He appears largely as a bystander to the main issues involving the new Demon Realm characters.

More so, Goku’s presence, while ensuring DAIMA retains certain classic Dragon Ball elements, becomes a hindrance. His lack of connection to the new plotlines and his indifferent attitude towards new allies and foes suggest that he is there more for the franchise’s sake than the story’s benefit. Unlike prior sagas, where his involvement was crucial, here, Goku’s contributions could be easily replaced by Shin or others without disrupting the continuity of the main storyline. Nevertheless, his battles do provide the physical action fans have come to expect from the series.

Revisiting Themes: Parallels to Past Arcs

This narrative shift isn’t entirely unprecedented. Dragon Ball has seen arcs—like the Pilaf Saga and the Frieza Saga—where Goku's involvement was reactive rather than driven by personal investment. However, in Dragon Ball DAIMA, this characteristic is more pronounced. The series makes a bold attempt to dive deeper into worlds and characters often left unexplored in previous installments, potentially setting up for a new narrative style within the broader Dragon Ball universe.

The Impact: Pacing and Criticism

Despite the fresh direction, Dragon Ball DAIMA has faced criticism for its slow pacing, with Goku’s scenes often cited as an impediment to storytelling momentum. The focus on Goku takes away valuable screentime that could be better utilized to develop the newer, more interesting characters like Shin, Glorio, and Panzy. Critics argue that entirely cutting Goku from the series might allow these characters and their intertwined stories to unfold with richer sophistication and clearer focus.

Conclusion: A New Era Awaits

Dragon Ball DAIMA is an ambitious departure from the formula that defined previous iterations of the franchise. By shifting focus away from Goku, the series invites fans to explore new dimensions of the Dragon Ball universe. While Goku’s charm and fighting prowess remain appealing, the real heart of DAIMA lies with Shin, Glorio, and Panzy, urging viewers to embrace this novel narrative direction. To delve deeper into such changes and character developments in anime, you can explore resources like Anime News Network and Den of Geek.