One of the biggest missed opportunities in the Dragon Ball Daima anniversary series is the complete absence of Gohan. Recently, the producer behind the project explained that Gohan nearly made at least one appearance in the anime.
Dragon Ball Daima takes place right after the events of the Majin Buu arc, sending Goku on a brand-new adventure through the Demon Realm alongside Supreme Kai. The film opens with a wish that turns everyone into “mini” versions of themselves, giving fans a chance to see many classic characters redesigned in a cute, childlike style for the occasion. However, not everyone was so lucky.
Gohan’s mysterious absence throughout Dragon Ball Daima is especially disappointing considering the series also celebrates 40 years since Akira Toriyama’s original manga debuted.
According to Dragon Ball Daima producer Akio Iyoku, a mini Gohan design was actually created for the anime but was never used.
Gohan Almost Made an Appearance in Dragon Ball Daima
As Iyoku explained, “We asked sensei to draw him, just in case,” referring to the possibility of mini Gohan appearing. However, that design ultimately never made it into the series.
Looking back, Iyoku and the creative team admit they probably should have included Gohan in one of the exciting scenes. But in reality, Gohan was completely absent from the anime, which is considered one of the biggest oversights of the film.
While fans were introduced to many interesting new characters in the Demon Realm, with Supreme Kai playing a central role and bringing fresh interactions with Goku, missing out on Gohan’s potential adventure is seen as a major gap in the entire Dragon Ball series. Even though this story was created by Akira Toriyama himself, it completely overlooks the fact that young Gohan was an essential part of Dragon Ball Z, accounting for about 75% of its storyline. Clearly, fans want to see more than just Goku in action.
Gohan Was Key to Dragon Ball’s Success
Although Gohan only appeared in the later parts of Dragon Ball, he was part of some of the most memorable moments in Dragon Ball Z history. Young Gohan essentially became the new main character, as even Goku recognized that Gohan would eventually be strong enough to save Earth one day. When that moment finally came, it marked a whole new era for the franchise.
Gohan stepped back when Goku returned to the main role during the Majin Buu arc. So it’s understandable why he wasn’t fully considered for a major role in Dragon Ball Daima. Even though he had just reached his peak power at that time, we later saw Gohan adopt a more relaxed lifestyle with less fighting in Dragon Ball Super.
While it’s unfortunate how Gohan was sidelined, it fits the overall story. Plus, having mini Gohan appear would have meant two young Gokus in the new anime, which is likely the practical reason behind his absence.
Source: Comicbook