Dragon Ball DAIMA has had a lot of balls in the air, some of which have taken a long time to fall, but “Thieves” is perfectly structured and gives everyone something to do – even the anime’s villains. There’s a lot to appreciate in episode 9, from the storytelling to the action, character development, and art design & direction. “Tamagami” was a fun reminder of how exciting a single fight could be, but “Thieves” celebrates everything that makes Dragon Ball DAIMA such an enjoyable, unique, and nostalgic experience.
Goku’s Dragon Ball Puts a Target on the Heroes’ Backs
Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 9, “Thieves,” opens lighthearted and innocuously. The characters let their hair down – literally in Panzy’s case – as they recharge at a local inn. There’s a lot of cute material between Panzy sleeping with a stuffed animal and Goku struggling not to fill his mouth with food. Dragon Ball DAIMA is clearly an anime that sincerely appreciates food, and Beerus would love it in the Demon Realm. It doesn’t take long for chaos to break out, however.
“Thieves” highlights how much more challenging simple adventures become once a Dragon Ball is obtained. Dragon Ball has repeatedly proven that it’s harder to keep a Dragon Ball than it is to get one. Goku already stands out in the Demon Realm, so his latest acquisition makes him and his team a lightning rod for conflict.
The first act in Episode 9 is pretty standard Dragon Ball storytelling, but it’s handled particularly well and with endless personality. Thieves who want to take Goku’s Dragon Ball are nothing new for the franchise, but the specifics of this dilemma are what makes it so entertaining. One Demon is a shapeshifter, which is a creative way for him to carry out his scheme.
The Bird Demon’s voice is also quite distinct. Nothing is generic and one of Dragon Ball DAIMA’s great joys remains the diversity on display in the Demon Realm. There’s even a random Horse Demon in “Thieves.” The nature of the Demon Thieves’ scheme is also simple, but effective. Pilaf should take a class from these guys instead of consistently relying on wild technology.
A playful fight breaks out with the Demon Thieves that doesn’t even require Goku to turn Super Saiyan. There’s a lot kinetic action to all this. This is DAIMA’s first extensive example of aerial combat, so there’s a different flavor to this fight. A simple detail that adds a lot more to this battle is that Goku is in the equivalent of pajamas throughout the entire thing.
The whole sleepover aspect that carries over into Goku’s fight is an effective way to add some extra personality so that this clash stands out even more. This is also another opportunity for Glorio to showcase a little more of his strength. His Lightning Whip hurls the Demon Thieves away like they’re Team Rocket. On this note, Dragon Ball DAIMA’s music has been a consistent treat. The “Suspicious” track that plays whenever the characters enter a dangerous situation is beautifully incorporated upon the gang’s entrance into the inn when they’re first being sized up.
The fight isn’t particularly taxing on Goku, but it’s still an effective way to demonstrate the new challenges that await the heroes. Everyone wants a shot at the Dragon Balls and Goku looks like a weaker obstacle than the Tamagamis. It’s been a long time since a Tamagami was defeated and a Dragon Ball was loose in the wild. It’s for the best that the Demon Thieves don’t return with reinforcements and extend their fight. Minor conflicts of this nature are now just the heroes’ new normal. It’s a really effective way to heighten Dragon Ball DAIMA’s atmosphere now that the anime is entering its second half.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Finally Gives Fans The Heroic Reunion They’ve Been Waiting For
Had Episode 9 focused on the Dragon Ball hunt alone, it’d be very easy to dismiss it as delightful filler. There’s a lot more going on in “Thieves.” The opening conflict only takes up the first act, leaving plenty of room for the rest of the episode to push the story forward. Some fans are disappointed with Dragon Ball DAIMA’s pace so far, but the anime could move a lot slower if it really wanted to.
If nothing else, it’s extremely satisfying to see Goku and Vegeta interacting again while Bulma and Panzy troubleshoot problems. It’s encouraging how quickly Goku and Vegeta’s teams have made contact with each other now that they’re both in the Demon Realm. It wouldn’t have been difficult to prolong this reunion. The anime’s first few episodes even gave the impression that this would be the case. This is again a testament to Episode 9’s superb pacing. After such restraint, there’s a surprising amount of electricity created by these characters simply being in the same place again.
The reunion in “Thieves” is certainly short-lived and it’s not long before the characters head off on their separate ways. This is a bit of a tease, but it largely makes sense for both teams to divide and conquer, at least until they have two Dragon Balls. Episode 9 is also an excuse to let Vegeta and Piccolo loose on some Demon distractions. It’s satisfying to watch these two completely dominate a horde of Demons. Vegeta and Piccolo don’t seem to struggle at all in the Demon Realm’s thick atmosphere as the anime seems to have fully moved past this “obstacle,” especially since Goku spends so much time flying in this episode.
A New Villain Emerges As the Demon Realm’s Biggest Threat – And Majin Buu Reborn
Episode 9 also makes time for Dr. Arinsu’s Buu-based scheme with Great Witch Marba, which was easily the most compelling part in “Tamagami.” Dragon Ball DAIMA once again benefits from not stretching things out and immediately giving answers. There’s a deep sense of tension now that DAIMA has brought Majin Kuu into existence and the audience knows he’s out there. The heroes have enough to worry about between the Dragon Balls and Dende, without an S-class villain popping up out of nowhere.
It will be interesting to see how Majin Kuu operates, both in terms of his personality and attack style. He looks like Golden Frieza fused with Dragon Ball GT’s Eis Shenron. It’s a fun design, albeit one that’s not nearly as irregular as the random Demons that populate the Demon Realm. A design more connected to Majin Buu might have been a more effective approach, but at least he’s got the same pants and belt. Kuu not looking enough like his Majin predecessors is a benign criticism and it’s just exciting to already have this villain in the mix.
