Air Date
June 09, 2025
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 5, “Panzy”, now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Dragon Ball DAIMAcontinues to take inspiration from the long-controversialDragon Ball GT, and that trend didn’t slow down in Episode 5. Earlier broad parallels like Goku’s sudden return to youth stood out at the start, but even more specific nods to moments inGTappear each episode. With a look back at Episode 5 ofDragon Ball GT, there are even direct episode-to-episode similarities in the latest chapter ofDragon Ball DAIMA.
In the series premiere ofDragon Ball DAIMA, thetwo most obvious similaritiestoDragon Ball GTwere plain as day. WhileGTsaw Goku shrunk down to a child-sized form,DAIMAtook that same concept in its own direction by turning Goku and all his friends into younger versions of themselves.Dragon Ball GTalso introduced the Black Star Dragon Balls, andDAIMAcreated a similar concept with theDemon Realm Dragon Balls.
Dragon Ball DAIMA and GT Share Multiple Episode 5 Parallels
WhileDragon Ball GThasn’t been officially canon sinceDragon Ball Superretconned the ending ofDBZto giveSupera cleaner start, the original sequel toZis staying alive inDragon Ball DAIMA. Looking at Episode 5 of bothGTandDAIMAside-by-side, the overarching story of each sees Goku and friends on their way to a castle after losing access to their primary mode of transportation.Episode 4 ofDAIMAsaw Goku save a village when their lives were threatened due to a new tax from Supreme Demon King Gomah, and Episode 5 ofGTfeatured Goku, Pan, and Trunks toppling corrupt ruler Don Kee at Castle Imecka to save those suffering under his regime. Plus, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Pan was a central character inGTandDAIMA’s new character Panzy is a similarly inquisitive young girl who signed herself up for this journey.
Perhaps the most striking parallel betweenGTandDAIMAin each show’s Episode 5 is when Goku goes Super Saiyan for the first time in either series. InGT, this comes during a battle with Don Kee’s personal bodyguard Ledgic. InDAIMA, thefirst glimpse of Super Saiyan Gokuis seen when he’s sparring with King Kadan’s army of warriors. Both fights feature spears and swords as Goku barely struggles only to channel Super Saiyan briefly to wrap up the end of each battle.
Perhaps the most striking parallel betweenGTandDAIMAin each show’s Episode 5 is when Goku goes Super Saiyan for the first time in either series.
InGT, Ledgic’s confusion over Goku’s strength despite appearing to be a child leads to an obliviously cryptic response by Goku. Panzy got her own unclear answers after questioning Goku’s strength for his age inDAIMA, and King Kadan’s bewilderment over Goku’s appearance is only clarified when Shin explains what Gomah did to them.Dragon Ball GTandDragon Ball DAIMAeven share similar endings in Episode 5. Goku, Pan, and Trunks have their spaceship impounded by Lord Don Kee and finally retrieve it by the end of that episode. As forDAIMA, the previously stolen plane being used by Glorio, Goku, and Shin is remedied when King Kadan provides a plane they can borrow. Both groups say their goodbyes and set off to seek a unique set of Dragon Balls.
WhileGTcan’t really fit inside the current canon timeline being expanded byDragon Ball DAIMA, each noticeable parallel shows how thisswan song by Akira Toriyamais using many of his own concepts fromGTas inspiration. The shows are almost like twins or distant biological cousins, asGTandDAIMAshare some of the same DNA while becoming their own unique creation. Fans have long debated howGTfits into the largerDragon Balluniverse, but Akira Toriyama was heavily involved in both character designs and story beats for that series. The tragic passing of Toriyama makes him less present as the new anime rolls on, but there’s no denying his influence or the fact that he’s essentially canonizing ideas fromGTin new ways withDragon Ball DAIMA.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Dragon Ball Daima is the latest anime in Akira Toriyama’s legendary franchise. After being transformed into a child, Goku must travel to a new world to try and turn things around.
