As Dragon Ball Daima approaches its grand finale, surprising new details about its development have emerged. Akio Iyoku, an executive producer of the Dragon Ball franchise, recently opened up about the anime’s production timeline, revealing how long the series had been in the works and how much involvement the late Akira Toriyama had in shaping its world.
With Daima bringing fresh elements to the beloved franchise, the insights into its development provide a deeper appreciation for its creation. Toriyama played a major role in designing the Demon Realm, crafting nearly every character, and ensuring the story felt authentic. Fans now have a clearer picture of how this project over the years.
Dragon Ball Daima’s Secretive Development
In a recent interview with Mantan Web, Iyoku confirmed that Dragon Ball Daima had been in development since 2019. The team took their time refining the series without a strict deadline, focusing purely on delivering high-quality anime. This level of flexibility was a rarity in the industry and allowed for constant improvements and adjustments throughout production.
One of the most surprising revelations was just how involved Akira Toriyama was in shaping Daima. He fleshed out all three worlds of the Demon Realm and designed nearly every new character, including Sir Warp (Warp-sama). His creative input ensured that Realm and designed nearly every new character, including ima felt like a true Dragon Ball story, even as it introduced new concepts and reimagined fan-favorite transformations like Super Saiyan 4.
Iyoku explained that Daima’s development was unlike a traditional anime or movie, where time constraints often dictate production decisions. Instead, the anime was built similarly to a weekly manga serialization, where ideas could be organically. This flexibility was a key reason why Toriyama became more involved than originally planned, contributing deeply to the story and its execution.
To prevent the animation quality issues that plagued Dragon Ball Super’s early episodes, Toei Animation ensured that 16 of Daima’s 20 episodes were fully completed before the series’ October 2024 premiere. This strategic approach was likely influenced by the studio’s efforts to compete on a global scale with top-tier animated productions.
For fans looking to catch up on Daima, Crunchyroll streams new episodes weekly in multiple regions, including the U.S., Canada, and India. Meanwhile, Netflix holds streaming rights in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, albeit one episode behind. The English dub, featuring Stephanie Nadolny as Goku (Mini), has also been rolling out since January 10.
With Dragon Ball remaining one of the most influential franchises in anime history, Iyoku acknowledged its worldwide impact. The combination of Toriyama’s final contributions, a unique production process, and a carefully crafted storyline has cemented Daima as a significant chapter in Dragon Ball’s legacy. As the finale approaches, fans continue to celebrate the enduring magic of the series.
