Dragon Ball Daima: Fixing Toriyama’s Namekian Lore

Supporters are thrilled about how Dragon Ball Daima is enriching the mythology of the franchise. The latest installment in the Dragon Ball series has filled in gaps for the Demon Realm’s history, which significantly enhances our understanding of the Kais and Namekians. It has now been established that Kais, including Supreme Kai and King Kai, were originally from the Demon Realm along with the Namekians. Previously, beings like the Supreme Kai and King Kai were considered deities in the Dragon Ball universe, while the Namekians, such as Piccolo, were just seen as another extraterrestrial race. This new information brings the Namekians closer to Toriyama’s original concept of them within the series.

Prior to the disclosure that Piccolo and Kami were actually a race known as Namekians, they were often perceived as deities or supremely powerful entities by fans. Due to Namek and Namekians being integral parts of the Dragon Ball universe since the Saiyan saga and beyond, this fact is often overlooked. Kami was the earliest form of god-like beings presented in the series, even predating King Yamma and the Kais. Although Dragon Ball Daima doesn’t explicitly state that Namekians are gods, it does establish a stronger connection between Namekians and the Kais, suggesting that the Namekians existed before most other species. This fresh information brings the species closer to what Piccolo and Kami were initially portrayed as in the series.

King Piccolo and Kami Were the first Gods of Dragon Ball

In the realm of Dragon Ball, King Piccolo stood out as Goku’s first significant non-human adversary. Previously, Goku had clashed with animal-like beings, lethal assassins, and enigmatic characters like Pilaf, but Piccolo was unlike any other villain. He towered above others with his green skin, peculiar pink bumps beneath his limbs, slug-like antennas, and a chilling demeanor. Despite not fitting the conventional demonic appearance, fans accepted his claim to be the King of Demons. His otherworldly nature made him the most fitting description as a demon, with King Piccolo being the closest representation of Satan in the series before Mr. Satan emerged during the Cell Games, though their situations were distinct.

In the aftermath of King Piccolo’s downfall, a new figure emerged, assuming the role of Earth’s protector. Essentially regarded as the planet’s deity due to his name mirroring the Shinto term for God, he was previously associated with King Piccolo, who represented an evil aspect before they separated. This original narrative presents Kami and Piccolo as analogous to the Christian figures of God and the Devil. The origins of Kami were intentionally obscure, leading many to believe he was a prehistoric being tasked with guarding Earth. It’s also known that Kami created the Dragon Balls, but the specifics of their creation have remained shrouded in mystery. His ability to produce Dragon Balls can only be interpreted as divine power, reinforcing his divine status.

Kami’s Role Became Less Significant as the Series Continued

In the process of revealing more details about their origins, Kami and Piccolo lose some of their mystique and divine aura. The fact that they’re revealed as alien species from another planet diminishes their enigmatic charm compared to when King Piccolo was first introduced. Also, learning that other Namekians can create Dragon Balls makes their ability seem less exceptional, leaving viewers questioning why other characters can’t also generate multiple sets of Dragon Balls. Despite the validity of Planet Namek and Namekians in the Dragon Ball universe, their inclusion slightly dilutes the impact of Piccolo and Kami in the original series.

Over time, as the show introduced more divine characters such as King Kai, Supreme Kai, the Gods of Destruction, Angels, and Zeno, Kami’s importance appeared less pronounced than initially perceived. His role as Earth’s protector gradually lost significance, with his successor Dende mainly using the Dragon Balls for repairs. Even Piccolo’s influence was reduced when adversaries like Cell and Buu surpassed him in power. The series seemed to downplay the uniqueness of Namekians, particularly in contrast to Saiyans.

Dragon Ball Daima makes Piccolo a God Again … Sort of

In the Dragon Ball universe, it was initially thought that the Kais, or Glind, were almost divine entities, close to gods. However, once other deities were introduced, their significance lessened, much like the role of Kami. Still, they maintained their status as quasi-divine figures. Interestingly, when it was unveiled that Namekians originated from the Demon Realm, their divine and demonic nature was reaffirmed. This revelation also brought Piccolo back to his roots, implying that he, too, is a denizen of the same otherworldly plane as the universe’s demonic and godly beings.

In simpler terms, this new series, “Dragon Ball Daima,” implies that the Dragon Balls have an unusual origin linked to the Demon Realm, which the Namekians possess some mysterious power from. This reestablishes the Namekians as an ancient race older than Saiyans and Humans in the universe, adding a new layer of significance to their species that hasn’t been explored for years.

However, “Dragon Ball Daima” might downplay the uniqueness of Glind by suggesting they can be born from trees like other species. On the flip side, it also reinforces that Namekians are not ordinary beings either.

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2025-01-30 21:12