The third episode of Dragon Ball Daima, broadcast in Japan on October 25, 2024, finally brings Goku into the Demon Realm. It is the episode that introduces the show's world: how you get there, how it is divided and why it is so dangerous. And it ends with the adventure's first classic setback.
Summary
Glorio flies his ship to the planet Batapi, where a Warp Lord is waiting: a huge fish-like being that acts as a portal between the universes and the Demon Realm. Goku compares it to a goldfish, much to the creature's annoyance. The Supreme Kai disguises Goku's ears so he can pass for a demon, Glorio enters the password and the three are whisked away, but the Supreme Kai does not manage to relay the code to Kibito by telepathy in time.
At a relay point, Glorio explains that the Demon Realm is divided into three worlds. The First, home to Gomah's kingdom, is only open to palace staff; they are heading to the Third, the only one Glorio can access, even though he works in the First. The tunnels between the worlds were sealed with magic when the Supreme Kai was still a child, and now the only way to travel is through the Warp Lords.
The Third Demon World resembles Earth, with floating islands, active volcanoes and a giant statue of Dabura. When Goku steps out for some fresh air, he notices he is moving more slowly: volcanic fumes make the air heavy. The Supreme Kai has never been there, and Glorio remarks that a Glind like him, one of a refined people from the Second World, would never have had a reason to visit. Soon a band of bow-wielding bandits attacks, and Glorio chases them off.
In town the group looks for a hotel, and Glorio haggles the price down by showing the weapon on his belt. Goku, still hungry after his interrupted dinner at the Lookout, orders five hamburgers at a bar, but the regulars spot his round ears and pick a fight: first Glorio, then Goku deal with them. The next morning Glorio's ship is gone. In its place is a note, pinned to the ground with an axe.
Our take
The episode shares the series' title, and not by chance: this is where the Demon Realm takes shape. Toriyama, who designed vehicles, monsters and background characters as well as writing the story, has fun with a world halfway between fairy tale and frontier, full of bandits, inns and inflated prices. It has the spirit of Goku and Bulma's first journeys, and anyone who remembers the original series will feel at home.
The smartest detail is the heavy air. It takes away the heroes' ability to fly freely and forces them to walk, which means to explore. The bar brawl, all acrobatics and props, feels like a Hong Kong martial arts film. Meanwhile Glorio stays ambiguous: he protects Goku, but never tells the whole story.
Trivia
- "Daima" is the official English title, identical to the Japanese one. The English dub premiered on Toonami on June 29, 2025.
- "Daima" is a word Toriyama invented: in Japanese it is written with the characters for "great" and "demon".
- Written by Yūko Kakihara, storyboarded by Yoshitaka Yashima and directed by Takao Kiriyama, with Kozue Komatsu as animation director and Miyako Tsuji as chief.
- This episode reveals that the Supreme Kai belongs to the Glind, a people from the Second Demon World.
- On Toonami's first airing, burnt-in closed captions appeared by mistake because of an error in the master tape; later reruns fixed it.
Characters
- Goku, the Supreme Kai and Glorio
- The Warp Lord
- Bandits, the innkeeper and the bar regulars