Dragon Ball community split by fan calling Daima Goku not "a strong dumb guy like in DBS"
The Dragon Ball community is known for having strong opinions regarding Goku's characterization in Super. Some claim that he was dumbed down in that sequel, while others think it made sense for his progression. Now, with the current Daima anime, there was a user on X named @RobieArt claiming that this is the version of the character.
This was emphasized because of a clip of his battle with Glorio, with some fans claiming that he should be a martial arts expert at this point in Dragon Ball and know how to behave in combat.
The perception of a good percentage of the community is that his ability to be serious at times was lost in Super while others claim that his most intense moments in that sequel are constantly undermined.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and the people quoted and not Sportskeeda as a publication.
The Dragon Ball community is divided when it comes to Goku's portrayal in Daima and Super
The recent fight in Daima featuring Goku and Glorio divided the community since it featured a great display of power and skill from the protagonist, which is something that a lot of fans claim to have missed. There is the perception of a good percentage of the fandom that Goku's portrayal in Super dumbed him down, constantly not taking things seriously at critical moments and lacking the knowledge of a martial arts expert.
On the other hand, Goku's interpretation of Daima seems to be a bit more balanced, as he is often goofy and lighthearted when spending time with Glorio, Panzy, and Shin, but he manages to get serious when it matters.
This was a sentiment that was further emphasized when he fought Tamagami Number Three in the latest episode, with some fans claiming it was one of his best displays in recent years.
There are also fans who claim that Goku's serious and skillful moments in Super tend to be undermined by the community, such as his rage when he discovered that Zamasu killed his family in another timeline or his performance in the Tournament of Power arc.
All of this makes it clear that the character's evolution after the original series has been a path with a lot of ups and downs.
More reactions online
A lot of people in the anime community have mentioned that Goku's character in Dragon Ball has never evolved but that would certainly not be the case when considering his path in the original series.
He went from being a kid in the wilderness to a married man with children, a lot of friends, several life experiences, and even with views of the future since he trained the likes of Gohan, Trunks, and Goten as his successors to protect the planet.
Therefore, the dissatisfaction with his portrayal in Super is because he seems to have lost that experienced display of a martial artist and went back to zero, with critical moments such as him not knowing the value of meditating, as seen in the Super Hero arc.
However, there are also moments where his characterization has been quite underrated, such as giving Gohan the role of leader in the Tournament of Power and his performance against Jiren.
"the way you described goku in daima is literally goku in dbs," someone said.
"I really like this Goku honestly. Having a ton of fun watching the episodes," another person said.
"I can’t help but feel like they really dropped the ball on Goku's character in Dragon Ball Super. What do you think? It’s just not the same!" someone else said.
There is also the fact that Daima had much greater input from author Akira Toriyama while the Super anime had the contributions of several writers and directors.
That is why a lot of Super fans ask people to read the Moro and Granolah arcs from the manga since they consider Goku's characterization to be a lot stronger and more coherent when compared to the original series.
"Mfs dont even try to hide that they didnt read the manga anymore," someone said.
"They're saying you're wrong but low-key I agree. Daima Goku and Super Goku differ in choreography. Daima fights are more about technique and execution rather than the impact and flashiness that the Super anime uses. Daima values quality more while Super values hype impacts," another person said.
This is a discussion that is bound to continue for a long time in the Dragon Ball community until there is an interpretation of Goku that manages to please the vast majority of the fandom.
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