Truly, it has been a rough year for manga and anime fans as we lost Akira Toriyama earlier this year in March. The prolific creator was only sixty-eight years old and was still actively working not just in the manga industry (on Dragon Ball Super illustrated by Toyotarou) but with animation projects like Dragon Ball DAIMA and Sand Land as well. The news shocked the world as Dragon Ball, Toriyama’s greatest series– is a globally loved, and the mangaka still is sorely missed. Dragon Ball DAIMA appears to be his final work and almost feels like a throwback to the era of classic Dragon Ball with much silliness and wonder about.
What Do We Know So Far?
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original manga, which launched the Dragon Ball anime franchise, legendary studio Toei Animation brings fans a brand-new adventure. Dragon Ball DAIMA, the upcoming original anime series based on a new Dragon Ball story and characters from creator Akira Toriyama, will be available to stream with subtitles on Crunchyroll starting October 11 in the United States, Canada, Latin America including Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, followed by new weekly subtitled episodes simulcast with the Japanese TV broadcast.
Dragon Ball DAIMA: Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small. What sort of adventure awaits Goku, Supreme Kai, and the new characters Glorio and Panzy in this unknown world, the “Demon Realm”?
Dragon Ball DAIMA is directed by Yoshitaka Yashima (key animator, Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge) and Aya Komaki (series director, One Piece) together with series composition and scenario by Yuko Kakihara and animation character design by Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru.
Music, Legacy, and More?
Of note, the series features the opening theme song “Jaka Jaan” composed by Grammy Award-winning artist Zedd with support from C&K, the singer-songwriting duo of CLIEVY and KEEN, who also provided vocals. Lyrics are by Yukinojo Mori, best known for the Dragon Ball franchise songs “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” and “Limit Break x Survivor.” This song and the powerhouse collaboration behind it mark a new page in Dragon Ball history. Zedd will also be producing the ending song “’NAKAMA’ by ZEDD feat. AI,” whose lyrics were written and sung by the artist AI.
Dragon Ball DAIMA was revealed to the world last October to thunderous applause at the Dragon Ball Special Panel during New York Comic Con 2023. This new episodic series celebrates the birth of the global Dragon Ball phenomenon— commemorating the 40th anniversary of the original manga created by Akira Toriyama that first launched in 1984 in Shueisha’s “Weekly Shonen Jump.” Since then, it has sold an astounding 260 million copies worldwide and counting.
Produced by Toei Animation, the Dragon Ball anime franchise has achieved tremendous global success—taking its place in mainstream pop culture and boasting a multi-generational fan base. With the addition of Dragon Ball DAIMA, the franchise now spans six episodic series, including Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Kai, and Dragon Ball Super, and 21 feature films as well as numerous mobile and video games, a trading card game, and an ever-expanding catalog of licensed merchandise and location-based entertainment.
About Toei Animation Inc.
Based in Los Angeles, Toei Animation Inc. manages the distribution of Toei Animation’s top properties, including franchise series Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, One Piece, Digimon, Saint Seiya, and many others to North America, Latin America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Toei Animation’s Los Angeles office also oversees all categories of consumer product licensing based on its film and television brands within these territories. For more information, please visit toei-animation-usa.com.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Follow along with the official websites and social media for the anime series here:
Dragon Ball Official Site: en.dragon-ball-official.com
Dragon Ball DAIMA Official Site: dragonballdaima.com/en
Dragon Ball Official Twitter: @DB_official_en
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