Summary
Over the years,Dragon Ballhas captivated millions of fans across the globe and has confirmed itself as one of, if not the single most, important Shonen anime series of all time. The characters introduced in this franchise are some of the industry’s most iconic and most of the biggest moments in the series are remembered as being foundational for how anime is viewed by the general population of the world to this day.
As such, some of the most important moments throughout theDragon Ballfranchise relate to the transformations that various characters undergo. From Goku’s original transformation into a Super Saiyan inZto his unlocking of the Ultra Instinct Divine Transformation inSuper,forms have always been incredibly uniqueand important. Thus,Dragon Ball Daimaintroduced its own unique state that has set the fandom ablaze, so let’s look at it.
FirstDaimaAppearance
Dragon Ball Daima, Episode 18, “Awakening”
WhenGTfirst aired in 1997, it was met with mostly negative reception, with most thinking that it had very little to do with what madeDragon Ballspecial in the first place and was trying to bank on nostalgia to be good. It was also the only series within the larger franchise thatwasn’t worked on by Akira Toriyama, making many feel as if it was just a cash grab that worked to play on things fans already loved.
However, there were quite a few things that fans generally loved aboutGT, specifically the signature form of the series; Super Saiyan 4. This form was built up as the greatest state a Saiyan could naturally reach within the traditional line of Super Saiyan transformations, and it was almost unanimously loved. Although beloved, Super Saiyan 2 and 3 often caught some criticism for not being unique in their design, and that they only made the user’s hair longer and spikier, so this was more or less expected for any potential new forms as well.
However, as Goku was fighting Baby, he took on an entirely new state that was far stronger than Super Saiyan 3 and had what many still regard asthe best design of any transformationacross the franchise. The point behind this form was that the user had the sheer destructive power of the Saiyan Oozaru form, but they contained their rage, staying the same size but with an incredibly altered appearance.
AlthoughGTgot a bunch of criticism, fans were sad to see Super Saiyan 4 go and had been begging for it to be reintroduced into the series, preferably in canon. These prayers were answered in Episode 18 ofDragon Ball Daima, where fans were left shocked to see Goku attain this transformation again to fight an empowered King Gomah.
You may have anticipated my attacks so far, but you have no idea what I’m capable of now. And what you don’t know… could hurt you!
After turning into his Super Saiyan 3 form, Goku fought the Demon King but was proven to be greatly outmatched due tothe power boost Gomah receivedfrom the Tertiary Oculus. As he lay there, broken and defeated, Neva gave him a substantial energy boost from his own power which seemed to cause a chain reaction with Goku’s Saiyan cells. This reaction gave him a massive power-up and caused his form to change into something completely unlike what had been shown in the previous episodes ofDaima.
This state covered his body with fur and made his hair red; finally introducing the legendary Super Saiyan 4 transformation into the canon ofDragon Ball. This form was incredibly strong and gave Gomah a real run for his money, showing that, functionally, it is very similar to itsGTcounterpart and thatGTis still very much a part of this franchise. Many fans of the series were left with a massive smile on their faces after seeing howGT’slegacy is living on in the canon of the franchise withDaima.
The Key Differences In Both Super Saiyan 4s
How DoGTandDaima’sSuper Saiyan 4 Differ?
The current and old iterations of this form are, naturally, incredibly similar in terms of design and functionality. However, there are a few notable differences, chief of which is how the transformation was achieved in the first place. InGT,the first transformation into a Super Saiyan 4is impossible to achieve without the user’s exposure to Blutz Waves, which Goku encountered initially through the moon. After this, the transformation can be done freely.
This is different inDaima, since it currently seems that the only way for someone to transform into a Super Saiyan 4 could be through Neva’s intervention. It’s unclear if Neva is needed specifically, if it can be done with any guardian of the Dragon Balls, or if it’s only possible in the Demon Realm, but outside influence seems to be a given. Other than this, there are minor differences in design, with theDaimaversion having brighter colored fur and red hair instead ofGT’sblack. Most notably, however, is the fact that Goku remains in his child form inDaimaalthough he’s far bulkier, while Kid Goku fromGTtransforms back into an adult while in Super Saiyan 4.
Dragon Ballcan be streamed onCrunchyroll.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Dragon Ball Daima is the latest anime in Akira Toriyama’s legendary franchise. After being transformed into a child, Goku must travel to a new world to try and turn things around.
