Dragon Ball Daima might have ended, but its repercussions are still being felt almost a month after its grand finale. Goku’s quest to defeat the Demon King was undoubtedly a memorable adventure that changed how fans of Akira Toriyama’s work saw the world he created. Nonetheless, most viewers are aware that some of its biggest revelations and plot twists left behind massive plotholes in the timeline.

The issue has been so pervasive in the fandom, that even the team behind the series has come to learn about it. Proof of this is a recent interview with the beloved Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, one of the most prominent animators and character designers in the franchise. When asked about the problems Daima caused for the Dragon Ball timeline, the producer implied the series could strip Super from its canon status.

Nakatsuru Shares His Opinions on Daima’s Plotholes

Super Saiyan 4 Might Have Confirmed Super Is Not Canon

On March 15, 2025, a popular French influencer by the name of Sofian le GEEK led an interview with Nakatsuru about his work on Dragon Ball Daima, translated by @Venixys. The conversation, which focused mostly on the artist's opinions about the franchise, quickly developed into a discussion about the controversy surrounding the latest entry. When the topic of the Super Saiyan 4 transformation and the challenge it creates for the sequel were approached, the interviewer made sure to address the transformation’s absence during the Super manga, which made many fans doubt its status as canon.

Nakatsuru, who was seemingly not aware of this issue before the interview, judging by his hesitation while answering, stated that he was not aware of such changes. Despite his extensive work on the series, the issue of Super being canon was not a concern of the team. Nonetheless, the artist did comment that it might be possible that Super could become non-canon after the release of Daima. In his words, the story of Goku’s adventure in the Demon Realm could have a deeper meaning that he has not yet been made aware of.

Daima Likely Did Not Make Super Non-Canon

The Animator’s Answer Was Neither Denial nor Confirmation

Although Nakatsuru’s words about Super’s canon status being in danger might cause alarm among fans, there is truly no need to worry about the issue. The animator’s words did not in any way confirm that the intention behind Daima was to make the sequel series a part of an alternative universe. Despite how beloved and important Nakatsuru is to the franchise, it is unlikely that an animator will involve himself with the overarching story. It is no secret to fans that artists in the anime industry are often quite overworked, as their conditions have only worsened over the years.

Nakatsuru’s doubts when addressing the issue are likely caused by the lack of information he has about plans for the franchise’s future. Nevertheless, stripping Super of its canon status would be one of the worst decisions the team behind the series could make. The sequel series is without a doubt one of the most popular among fans, with many viewers assured that it could even rival the popularity of the original. Moreover, followers are still impatiently awaiting the return of the manga series, despite the many disappointing updates about the topic.

Making Super an alternative universe would only serve to hurt both the popularity of the widely successful sequel and of Daima. As such, there is almost no possibility that the prequel will affect Kakarot’s multiversal quest in any way. If this was the decision taken, Nakatsuru would likely have been more certain about his answers and would not have given the interviewer a vague answer. Further details about this issue may be addressed in future entries in the Super manga.

Daima’s Plotholes Can Still Be Mended

The Franchise Can Still Address the Issues Efficiently

Even though it is true that the lack of an explanation for Super Saiyan 4 has greatly hurt the timeline of the Dragon Ball franchise, there is still time for it to be fixed. The return of the Super manga has still not been officially announced, meaning the team behind the series has time to include an explanation in other side materials. Furthermore, the last scene of the Daima anime opened the door for a second season to exist, meaning the Z Warriors could soon go back to the Demon Realm and explain why Goku never uses the form again.

Future entries in the Dragon Ball franchise will have the duty of mending the mistakes left behind by the ending of Daima. Still, fans do not need to worry about any of their favorite Super adventures becoming non-canon, as the team behind the series has not given any indication this status could change soon.