Although today names like Naruto, One Piece, Attack on Titan or Demon Slayer resonate in the minds of every self-respecting manga lover, there has always been one to capture attention as soon as its name was mentioned and has been for forty years. Dragon Ballby master Akira Toriyama, has the longevity to match its extraordinary popularity.
Although the manga ended decades ago, the ” marque » has never faltered and has given rise to animated films (and a live-action film made in Hollywood…), animated series, video games and a multitude of derivative products. And if the main story is finished, that hasn’t stopped the studios from continuing to capitalize on Dragon Ball, with more or less assent from Toriyama. The most recent example being the resurrection under the acronym “ Dragon Ball Super » who was entitled to his anime and manga. Both are now on indefinite hiatus (but not completed!), time to give way to what interests us now, Dragon Ball Daima.
Since its announcement, Always has caused a lot of talk, as much for its modern artistic direction and full of great promises as for its narrative choice to rejuvenate our heroes, strangely reminiscent of the late Dragon Ball GT who then had the same idea with a criticized result. However, the series has a major ace up its sleeve, the supervision and active participation, particularly around the design of the characters, old and new, of Akira Toriyama; he who seemed to have abandoned his baby in other hands a long time ago, showing up quickly here and there for a small check. Unfortunately, the boss will never have the chance to witness the release of the project since he left us on March 1st.
We take the same ones, and we don’t start again
Let’s say it right away, from our point of view, Dragon Ball Daima had the heavy task of making us forget the wanderings of the party “ Super » which had many problems both on paper and in animation. The most important of them being to have made the license a race for transformation with the barely disguised aim of selling as many figurines as possible. And we will never give up on his simple-minded Goku. Never. GT et Super, same fight, that of having a few good ideas in an ocean of mediocrity going too often against the story developed in the original manga. We will therefore have no pity towards Always if he were to make a mistake in his turn.
The first episode, lasting a little longer than those that follow, is very aptly titled “Plot”, because it intends, not to begin the adventure strictly speaking, but to present its plot to us for thirty-two minutes. , generic included. In short, in the world of demons, we witness the victory of Goku and his family over Babidi, Buu and above all, Dâbra. The death of the latter leads to the advent of a new king and he fears that the Z-Team, far too powerful, will one day come and take his throne. He then decides to rejuvenate his last, if he cannot kill them, thanks to Shenron. We will not mention a few other details which will obviously be important later.
The least we can say is that Toei literally sacrifices its first episode in order to make it a pure moment of exposition. In thirty-two minutes, Dragon Ball Daima reminds us, via very, very broad lines, of the entire original manga before subsequently setting up the plans of the new antagonist. The objective is clear: manage to convince a new audience to join the ranks of the many existing fans, without forcing them to do their homework.
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The fan from the start that we are, could have found the time long compared to an episode which plays a bit against the clock. Except that Always almost takes pleasure in showing us that unlike Dragon Ball Superhe intends to take us back to the sources while knowing where he comes from. Like a brat at the top of the class, he plays the easy card of Proust’s madeleine by summoning, with supporting images, everything we loved in the original story. Gomah and Degesu watching the videos of the Buu arc, speeding up or rewinding the cult scenes, are nothing other than an allegory of K7s (the ancestor of the DVD which is itself the ancestor of streaming for the most young people who read us) that we used at the time in the same way.
Dragon Ball Daima histrionics and she does it well
Then, as if to show us that the studio has learned from its mistakes or that Toriyama is indeed the source of the story, this episode will have fun anticipating all the remarks that we may have made to its predecessor on the sometimes risky explanations. as soon as he tried to reconnect with the original manga after having stepped on it. Here again, it’s hard not to see the wink addressed to the viewer when Gomah declares Shenron ” picky » on the details of rejuvenation. Picky, certainly, but it nevertheless allows us to reassure ourselves about the direction taken by Daima. Yes, Trunks regains his original hair color, yes, Saiyans have a growth spurt at 15 years old (even if Gohan was growing, but in short, that skips a generation one might say), yes Kibito and Kaïô Shin have demerged and here’s why… Dragon Ball Daima has only one watchword with this first episode: reassure us. We could nitpick about little things, but we would prefer to salute an effort that we feel is sincere and a careful artistic and narrative direction.
Because Toriyama’s touch is undeniable here. Particularly because Daima no longer intends to offer us a race for power – even if we are not immune to a surprise – but to return to a spirit of adventure like the great era of Dragon Ball. In a few images, the world of demons invites us to explore it while the duo formed by Gomah and Degesu has a little side of Pilaf and his gang through the design of the first and their funny side despite themselves. Even in the passage between the two dimensions, we feel the inspiration of the master.
The animation is just as impeccable and the combat part, although short, serves as a calling card for what awaits us. The license is also about epic clashes and no, Always won’t forget that part either. We find in Dragon Ball Daima of Dragon Ball with the intention of Dragon Ball Z in the staging, Dragon Ball GT in ambition (successful this time) and Dragon Ball Super in continuity (yes, the references are there). In thirty-two minutes, the series proves that it can be the perfect birthday present for the forty years of the franchise and it has all the cards in hand to realize our expectations, now enormous, for the future.
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