The Daima anime from Toei Animation is adding new characters to the Dragon Ball world, such as the Namekian elder named Neva. Two key members of the Daima production team have revealed that Akira Toriyama took a special interest in Neva’s design. This was because he particularly enjoyed drawing older characters in his manga and anime work.
Dragon Ball Daima director Aya Komaki and Dragon Ball executive producer Akio Iyoku recently shared their experiences working on Daima in an interview booklet that came with the Japanese Blu-ray release. The interview, which is quite long, was translated by X (formerly Twitter) user @Venixys and posted online. According to Iyoku, Toriyama always intended for Neva to be a significant character in the series. He explained, “Toriyama often liked creating endearing elderly characters-like grandparents-and making them central to the story is a common element in his work.”
One of Akira Toriyama’s Favorite Dragon Ball Characters Was an Unexpected Anime-Original
In Daima, Neva is presented as a funny, slightly forgetful Namekian who helps Gomah find Earth’s seven Dragon Balls. He later joins forces with Goku and Vegeta, becoming a key supporter on their adventure. It’s eventually shown that he is one of the protectors of the Dragon Balls, alongside the Tamagami warriors. Komaki mentions that Toriyama specifically asked for Neva to move very slowly in the script. Chiikashi Kubota, the lead animation director for Episode 1, made numerous adjustments based on Toriyama’s notes, especially in scenes featuring Gomah, Degesu, and Neva together on Gomah’s ship.
Dragon Ball includes many older characters who act as crucial guides and instructors for Goku. While Goku’s teacher, Master Roshi, is well-known, Neva is depicted with a very wrinkled face, much like the original designs. To stay true to Akira Toriyama’s initial vision for Neva, animation director Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru meticulously refined Neva’s artwork by “skillfully adding lots of wrinkles” to every drawing. Komaki noted that Nakatsuru shared Toriyama’s “great fondness” for the character Neva.
Dragon Ball Executive Producer Assures Fans: ‘The Series Will Continue’
First airing in the Fall 2024 anime season, Dragon Ball Daima finished its 20-episode run on February 28, 2025. Despite the passing of its creator, Akio Iyoku and other experienced anime staff have promised fans that the Dragon Ball franchise will live on. “Did you enjoy Dragon Ball Daima? We’re actively developing new projects following this series,” Iyoku stated. “The Dragon Ball story will definitely continue… please stay tuned for more!” As of October 1, 2025, Toei Animation hasn’t made any official announcements regarding the future of either Dragon Ball Daima or Dragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Daima can be watched online on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll. You can find both Dragon Ball and its continuation, Dragon Ball Super, in English through VIZ Media.
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2025-10-03 02:10