As a lifelong Dragon Ball fan, I have to say Akira Toriyama’s final project, *Dragon Ball Daima*, is absolutely blowing me away! The story is fantastic – it’s a really fun adventure that throws Goku and the Z Fighters into a whole new world, the Demon Realm, after they’re mysteriously turned back into kids. Apparently, the new Demon King, Gomah, sees them as a threat, even in their smaller forms! Seeing them navigate this strange place and face off against new enemies is incredible. But the biggest surprise? The return of Super Saiyan 3, and then… Super Saiyan 4! Honestly, the fandom *lost it* when Goku powered up like that during his fight with Gomah. While SSJ4 originally appeared in *Dragon Ball GT* back in 1996, *Daima* is presenting a reimagined version of it, and it’s totally changing how we understand this transformation. It feels fresh and exciting, and it’s a perfect send-off to Toriyama’s legacy.
The explanation for Goku’s transformation was unique, and the series finale revealed how Neva’s abilities played a role. Now, Aya Komaki, the series director, has shared insights into the creative choices behind Super Saiyan 4 (SSJ4) during production. This information comes from a new lore booklet released in Japan about SSJ4. While the booklet isn’t available worldwide yet, a fan named @Venixys on X has translated it for international fans.
Dragon Ball Daima’s Series Director Explains What Makes Super Saiyan 4 Unique
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— Enomis (@Venixys) September 24, 2025
Komaki shared that in episode 18, when Mini Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan 4, they intentionally depicted it as Neva’s power flowing into and unlocking Goku’s potential, rather than Goku forcing the transformation himself. They wanted it to look like the power ‘blossomed’ within him thanks to Neva’s influence.
Komai explained that they intentionally incorporated red into the transformation sequence, even into the usually blue Kamehameha wave, because Super Saiyan 4 is often associated with the color red. They worked closely with the filming and animation teams, carefully adding these red elements bit by bit. He believes the final result is a unique and original take on a classic technique, while still remaining true to the established style.
The translator also shared comments from Akio Iyoku, the series’ Executive Director, about the significance of a key turning point in the story. Iyoku explained that the character’s development needed a catalyst for change, and they wanted the transformation to be unexpected and impactful for viewers.
Super Saiyan 4 was designed to be unique, so Goku couldn’t achieve it just by training or fighting. He was already strong when he transformed, but needed Neva’s help to gain enough power to battle Gomah. This is similar to how Goku first became a Super Saiyan God in *Dragon Ball Super* – it happened before he and Vegeta completely mastered the form. However, unlike that situation, only Goku reached Super Saiyan 4, and Vegeta didn’t get a chance to transform beyond Super Saiyan 3.
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2025-09-25 20:54