Dragon Ball GT sidelined Piccolo, but DAIMA brings him back into the spotlight, aiming to fix GT’s flaws and improve upon the original storyline.

SUMMARY

Dragon Ball GT sidelined Piccolo, despite his key role in DBZ, focusing on Goku and Vegeta instead.
DAIMA reintroduces Piccolo and Vegeta, correcting GT’s character imbalance.
GT sidelined Piccolo due to his connection with Gohan and GT’s Goku-centric plot.

Dragon Ball Z is arguably the most popular DB series in the community, captivating generations of kids with the iconic Goku and Vegeta rivalry. With the premiere of Dragon Ball DAIMA, Toei continues Toriyama’s lasting legacy, ensuring it endures forever.

Though DAIMA has been a very significant hit thus far, several fans initially worried it might serve as GT‘s official replacement without addressing its many flaws. Dragon Ball GT stands as the most flawed Dragon Ball anime of all time. Despite its flaws, GT had the potential to be even more legendary than Dragon Ball Z.

Goku VS Vegeta in DAIMA Episode 1 | Credits: Toei Animation

With only a few changes, GT could have lived up to that promise. Surprisingly, there’s one Z Fighter who was completely sidelined in the GT story, despite playing a crucial role in both the Z and Super series, leaving fans questioning GT‘s direction.

The Dragon Ball GT Character Who Was Completely Sidelined

DAIMA has clearly delivered in terms of  superior animation, dialogue, and character interactions. However, in terms of the overall story, DAIMA‘s current arc is clearly a reinterpretation of GT‘s Black Star Dragon Ball Saga.

Dragon Ball GT | Credit: Toei Animation

DAIMA episode one follows the DB GT‘s footsteps by reverting Goku back into a child. Indeed, it feels like DAIMA is an attempt at a sort of “do-over” for Dragon Ball GT, with slightly tweaked parameters.

Interestingly, DAIMA seems to be addressing GT‘s flaws, as one of its most sidelined characters takes on a major role in the new series. One of the most famous and recognized characters of the Dragon Ball universe, Piccolo, was completely sidelined in the GT.

Gohan and Piccolo in Dragon Ball GT | Credits: Toei Animation

Out of the scripts for all 64 episodes of GT, Atsushi Maekawa wrote the most, contributing 28 episodes and the TV special. Maekawa once explained why Piccolo  was sidelined in GT despite his crucial role in Dragon Ball Z, and the revelation is bound to surprise fans. He shared:

Because of connections going back to Dragon Ball Z, if Vegeta is a character who appears in relation to Goku, then Piccolo is a character who should appear in relation to Gohan. In parts, there were those sorts of scenes where Gohan and Piccolo interact with each other, but GT comes to focus around the story of Goku and Vegeta.

Though Piccolo started as a villain and Goku’s rival in the original Dragon Ball, DBZ transformed him into a beloved character, especially through his “father-son” moments with Gohan. Since GT was completely focused on Goku’s story, Piccolo sadly got sidelined in the series.

However, DAIMA takes a different approach, with Toei bringing Vegeta and Piccolo into Goku’s adventure in the Dragon Realm, giving fans hope that DAIMA will serve as a true improvement over GT.

Piccolo and Vegeta in DAIMA as kids | Credits: Toei Animation

Dragon Ball DAIMA debuted to an amazing reception, marking a thrilling new era for the Dragon Ball universe and drawing fans back into the action. It follows the story of Goku in the nebulous Demon Realm before he and the rest of Dragon Ball‘s cast find themselves transformed into mini-kid versions of themselves.

Will Goku’s SSJ4 Feature in Dragon Ball DAIMA?

DAIMA presents the perfect opportunity to honor the legendary mangaka’s contributions. While the iconic design of the SSJ4 transformation was crafted by renowned character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, it has become an integral part of Akira Toriyama‘s legacy.

Goku in SSJ4 form in GT. Credits: Toei Animation

Though there’s been no official confirmation, following the story’s premise, the return of SSJ4 transformation is highly likely.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Created Its Own Version of Aizen Who was a Part of Akira Toriyama’s Franchise Since the Buu Saga
With SSJ3 being Goku’s most powerful transformation, it would make sense to reintroduce SSJ4 if he wants to beat powerful new enemies like Neva’s Tamigami’s in the Demon Realm.

Goku and Vegeta in SSJ4 | Credits: Toei Animation

DAIMA is all about celebrating the 40-year legacy of Dragon Ball, which includes reintroducing iconic elements from the series, such as Goku’s Power Pole. Thus, giving Goku SSJ4 would be an exciting way for DAIMA to commemorate all of Dragon Ball‘s rich history.

Dragon Ball Super and DAIMA are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.