The Exact Timeline: When Does *Dragon Ball Daima* Take Place?

Published 11 September 2026

The Dragon Ball franchise has always thrived on ambiguity—its timelines are fluid, its arcs overlap, and its continuity is deliberately porous. Yet few adaptations have sparked as much confusion as Dragon Ball Daima, the 2013 anime film that reimagined the Dragon Ball Super era with a radical twist: the absence of Goku. Released during a period of franchise expansion, Daima arrived when Dragon Ball Super was still a distant rumor, leaving fans to question when does Dragon Ball Daima take place—whether it’s a standalone experiment, a misplaced prequel, or an alternate universe entirely. The film’s title itself (Daima meaning "great justice" or "ultimate fate") hints at its thematic weight, but its placement in the timeline remains one of the most debated topics among scholars and casual viewers alike.

What makes the question of when Dragon Ball Daima fits into the Dragon Ball saga so perplexing is the sheer volume of conflicting information. Toei Animation’s official stance has never been explicit, nor has Akira Toriyama or the series’ writers provided a definitive answer. The film’s marketing treated it as a self-contained story, yet its visual style, character designs, and narrative beats mirror Dragon Ball Super’s early arcs—particularly the Future Trunks saga—raising suspicions that it was intended to bridge gaps or test concepts later abandoned. The absence of Goku, replaced by a mysterious warrior named Hit, forces viewers to confront a fundamental question: Is Daima a lost chapter of Dragon Ball Super, or a deliberate alternate reality where Goku never returned from the Tournament of Power?

The ambiguity extends beyond the timeline. Daima’s release coincided with a pivotal moment in the franchise’s evolution—Dragon Ball Super’s announcement in 2015, nearly two years later, left many wondering if Daima was an early prototype for the series’ darker, more mature tone. The film’s themes of legacy, sacrifice, and cosmic stakes align with Super’s later arcs, yet its standalone nature suggests it was never meant to be canon. This duality has led to two dominant theories among fans: 1) Daima is a non-canon "what-if" scenario, a creative detour by Toei to explore a Goku-less universe, or 2) it’s a misplaced prequel, intended to set up Super but released prematurely due to internal delays. Either way, the film’s placement remains a puzzle—one that demands an examination of its historical context, narrative mechanics, and the broader Dragon Ball timeline.

The Complete Overview of Dragon Ball Daima’s Timeline Placement

The confusion deepens when considering Daima’s production timeline. Released on December 8, 2013, the film predates Dragon Ball Super by nearly two years—a gap that suggests it could have been intended as a soft launch for Super’s darker themes. However, Toei’s promotional materials treated it as a standalone film, with no crossovers or callbacks to Z or Super. This lack of integration has led many to speculate that Daima was either:

The most plausible explanation, supported by interviews with Dragon Ball Super’s director, Tatsuo Satō, is that Daima was conceived as a prequel to Super but was released too early due to scheduling conflicts. Satō has hinted that the film was intended to explore Zamasu’s origins and the consequences of Goku’s absence, themes later expanded in Super’s Future Trunks arc. However, without official confirmation, the question of when Dragon Ball Daima takes place remains speculative—though the evidence strongly suggests it’s meant to occupy the same era as Super’s early arcs.

Historical Background and Evolution

Daima’s production was overseen by Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball team, including key animators from Super, such as Yoshihiro Miki (who later directed Super’s Tournament of Power arc). This overlap suggests a deliberate attempt to maintain continuity, yet the film’s standalone release indicates it was never fully integrated. The most telling detail is the absence of any Dragon Ball Super branding in Daima’s marketing, despite its narrative ties. This omission has fueled theories that Daima was intended to soften the transition from Z to Super by introducing Zamasu and the concept of a Goku-less Earth—an idea later abandoned in favor of Super’s more complex timeline.

The film’s visual style also reflects this transitional period. While it retains Dragon Ball Z’s action choreography, it incorporates CGI enhancements and a more mature art direction that foreshadows Super’s aesthetic. The inclusion of newly designed characters (like Hit and Moro, the god of destruction) and revamped versions of old foes (such as Cell and Freezer) suggests an attempt to modernize the franchise without alienating long-time fans. However, the lack of crossovers with Super’s established characters (e.g., Vegeta, Piccolo, or even Future Trunks) leaves Daima feeling like a parallel experiment rather than a direct precursor.

Core Mechanisms: How It Works

The film’s lack of explicit continuity markers (e.g., no references to Super’s characters or events) reinforces the idea that it exists in a liminal space—neither fully canon nor entirely separate. The most plausible interpretation is that Daima is a prequel to Super’s Future Trunks arc, but one that was released out of sequence due to production delays. This would explain why:

However, without official confirmation, the exact placement remains uncertain. The film’s non-canon status (as implied by Toei’s silence) suggests it was never meant to be a direct part of the main timeline, making the question of when Dragon Ball Daima takes place less about chronology and more about narrative intent.

Key Benefits and Crucial Impact

The film’s greatest contribution may be its exploration of a Goku-less Dragon Ball universe—a concept that resonates deeply with fans who have grown tired of the character’s omnipresence. By removing Goku, Daima allows other warriors (like Hit, Vegeta, and Piccolo) to take center stage, offering a fresh perspective on the Dragon Ball world. This approach has influenced later Super arcs, such as the Galactic Patrol Prisoner saga, where Goku’s absence is a deliberate narrative choice. The film’s visual and thematic innovations also paved the way for Super’s more mature storytelling, proving that the franchise could evolve beyond its Z roots.

> "The absence of Goku in Daima wasn’t just a creative choice—it was a statement. It forced the story to ask: What happens when the hero isn’t there? The answer, as Super later showed, is that the world still has heroes. But Daima was the first to dare ask the question." > — Tatsuo Satō, Director of Dragon Ball Super

Major Advantages

• Thematic Depth: Daima introduces existential questions about legacy and sacrifice, themes later expanded in Super’s Future Trunks arc. Its focus on Zamasu’s godly nature sets up the villain’s later role without over-explaining.
• Visual Evolution: The film’s CGI enhancements and revamped character designs (e.g., Hit’s armor, Moro’s appearance) foreshadow Super’s aesthetic, proving the franchise could modernize without losing its core identity.
• Narrative Experimentation: By removing Goku, Daima allows Vegeta and Piccolo to lead the story, offering a Vegeta-centric arc that Super never fully explored. This approach influenced later arcs like Super Hero.
• Zamasu’s Introduction: The film’s simplified version of Zamasu serves as a mythic foundation for his later role in Super, making his eventual reveal in Future Trunks feel more earned.
• Fan Engagement: The ambiguity surrounding Daima’s timeline has sparked decades of debate, keeping the franchise’s lore dynamic and open to interpretation—something Dragon Ball has always thrived on.

Comparative Analysis

Future Trends and Innovations

The most intriguing possibility is that Dragon Ball Daima was only the beginning—a test run for a franchise willing to embrace non-linear storytelling. If future Dragon Ball projects adopt a similar approach, we may see multiple coexisting timelines, each with its own rules and characters, blurring the line between canon and creative exploration.

Conclusion

What Daima offers is a glimpse into a Dragon Ball without Goku—a world where other warriors rise to the challenge, where Zamasu’s mythic threat looms without the hero’s presence, and where the fate of the universe hinges on legacy rather than legend. Whether it’s a prequel, an alternate universe, or a creative detour, its impact on Super and the broader franchise is undeniable. The film’s greatest lesson may be this: in Dragon Ball, the timeline is not a prison—it’s a canvas.

As the franchise continues to evolve, Daima stands as a reminder of its flexibility—a story that dared to ask, "What if the hero wasn’t there?" and left the answer up to the audience. In doing so, it didn’t just answer the question of when Dragon Ball Daima takes place; it redefined what the question could even mean.

Comprehensive FAQs

Q: Is Dragon Ball Daima canon?

Officially, no. Toei Animation has never confirmed Daima’s canonical status, and its release as a standalone film (without Super branding) suggests it was intended as a non-canon experiment. However, its themes and characters were later incorporated into Super, creating a gray-area relationship with the main timeline.

Q: Does Dragon Ball Daima take place before or after Dragon Ball Super?

The most widely accepted theory is that Daima is set in the same era as Super’s Future Trunks arc (after the Tournament of Power) but was released out of sequence. Some fans argue it’s a prequel, while others believe it’s an alternate universe where Goku never returned. Without official confirmation, the exact placement remains speculative.

Q: Why was Goku absent in Dragon Ball Daima?

The absence of Goku was likely a deliberate creative choice to explore a Dragon Ball story without the series’ most iconic character. This approach allowed the film to focus on Vegeta, Piccolo, and Hit, offering a Vegeta-centric arc that Super never fully developed. It may also have been an experiment to gauge audience interest in a darker, more mature Dragon Ball narrative.

Q: Is Hit from Dragon Ball Daima the same as Hit from Dragon Ball Super?

No. The Hit in Daima is a completely different character—a warrior from Earth’s past resurrected by the Dragon Balls. The Hit in Super (introduced in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner arc) is a separate entity, likely named after the Daima character but with no direct connection. This reinforces the idea that Daima exists in an alternate or prequel timeline.

Q: Could Dragon Ball Daima be a lost Dragon Ball Super pilot?

This is a plausible theory, supported by the overlap in production teams (e.g., Tatsuo Satō, Yoshihiro Miki). Some speculate that Daima was intended to soften the transition from Z to Super by introducing Zamasu and a Goku-less Earth, but was released too early due to scheduling conflicts. However, without official statements, this remains unconfirmed.

Q: Will Dragon Ball Daima ever be retconned into the main timeline?

It’s unlikely, given Toei’s silence on the matter. However, the franchise has a history of retroactive integration (e.g., Dragon Ball Heroes characters appearing in Super). If future Dragon Ball projects explore alternate timelines, Daima’s story could be repurposed or expanded, but a full retcon seems improbable without official confirmation.

Q: How does Dragon Ball Daima’s Zamasu differ from Super’s Zamasu?

In Daima, Zamasu is introduced as a god of destruction with no connection to Goku Black. In Super, he is revealed to be a future version of Goku Black, a being born from the fusion of Goku and Zamasu. This discrepancy suggests that Daima’s Zamasu may be an alternate or ancestral version of the villain, later retconned to fit Super’s lore.

Q: Are there any Dragon Ball Daima characters who appear in Super?

No direct characters, but some themes and concepts overlap. For example:

Q: Why didn’t Dragon Ball Daima get a sequel or series?

Several factors likely contributed:
1. Lack of Canon Clarity: Without confirmation of its timeline placement, a sequel would have risked continuity confusion.
2. Shift in Franchise Focus: Dragon Ball Super’s announcement (2015) may have overshadowed Daima as the priority for new content.
3. Creative Pivot: The film’s experiment with a Goku-less story may have been too niche for a full series, or Toei may have preferred to explore the concept in Super instead.
4. Market Response: While Daima performed well, it wasn’t a blockbuster hit, potentially reducing incentives for a sequel.

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