There are many similarities between Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball GT. In fact, some of these connections are so explicit that fans initially thought that DAIMA might be Toriyama’s attempt to reboot Dragon Ball GT and hammer out a canonical version of the series that properly fits into the franchise’s universe. Kid-sized transformations and spaceship-fueled Dragon Ball quests definitely align with Dragon Ball GT. However, one of the biggest — and most understandable — criticisms against Dragon Ball GT is that dozens of strong and beloved characters are ultimately sidelined for an extended, non-stop Goku showcase. Admittedly, Dragon Ball GT isn’t the only series to shelve other valuable characters in favor of more Goku love. However, it feels the most egregious in Dragon Ball GT because it fails to follow through on everything that Dragon Ball Z’s endgame promised. There’s no excuse to essentially ignore characters like Gohan, Goten, and Buu. Uub and Vegeta get a little more love, but they still come across as afterthoughts, and they’re not allowed any individual wins. It’s smart for DAIMA to acknowledge Dragon Ball GT, but be discerning enough to not just shamelessly copy it. In doing so, DAIMA will be able to fix one of the fandom’s biggest problems with Dragon Ball GT.
Dragon Ball DAIMA’s trailers, which were largely focused on Goku, had fans genuinely concerned that the series would be another opportunity to celebrate Goku at the expense of everyone else. It would feel like a missed opportunity to introduce Mini versions of Piccolo and Vegeta, only to not do anything with them. Two separate teams means that everyone gets something to do and audiences aren’t burnt out by one character doing everything. Furthermore, DAIMA has addressed certain storylines that would be most effective if they’re explicitly explored by other characters. For instance, the news that Namekians come from the Demon Realm has the potential to put Piccolo on a soul-searching quest where he confronts his origins and the circumstances behind his father, Demon King Piccolo. Additionally, Vegeta was briefly turned into a Majin himself, which will likely trigger tension once he’s in the Demon Realm. Goku doesn’t have the same relationship with these ideas, and they’d be less moving if he were the one who navigates through them. Dragon Ball DAIMA’s decision to embrace two separate teams of heroes opens the anime up to the most rewarding storytelling, action, adventure, and character development opportunities.