REVIEW: ‘Dragon Ball DAIMA’ Episode 12 — “True Strength”

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12, “True Strength,” continues the fights as Vegeta (Yûdai Mino) and Majin Duu (Fukushi Ochiai, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway) must rise to new levels to defeat their respective Tamagami opponents. But when the dust settles, what will await the parties seeking the Demon World’s Dragon Balls?

The entirety of this episode is spent following the dual fights as they unfold. Much like their initial moments, the pair of battles play out in contrasting fashion. But even as they craft strikingly different paths to their endpoints, both can create entertaining moments for the viewer.

For Majin Duu, Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12 fully presents Duu as a gag character—his goofy fighting levels up in this episode, showcasing the ridiculous nature of his personality. The character wears his connection to Majin Buu on his sleeve, as his gummy-like twists and attacks feel reminiscent of that fighter. However, this sequence also feels like a pointed attempt to one-up the character’s inspiration in every way. Where Buu felt childlike, Duu feels like an adult attempting to be childlike. His moves aren’t just silly but complex in ways Buu’s weren’t. It is as if the character’s purpose is to outdo Majin Buu, but he loses some of what makes Buu entertaining.

This also extends to Duu’s personality. Where Buu loved sweets and could be bribed with them, Duu petulantly stops fighting mid-battle and refuses to continue until he gets chocolate.

While he waits for Majin Kuu (Tomokazu Seki) to return, he flees from his opponent’s numerous attacks. All of this comes together to create a character that feels humorous and sometimes annoying.

Despite Duu coming off as a mixed bag of a character, Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12 still manages to make an entertaining tale out of his side of the episode. Some stellar fight animation makes the battle’s most significant moments shine. Some extra humor is also brought into the story when Gomah (Shôtarô Morikubo, Tokyo Revengers) and Degesu (Jun’ya Enoki, Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions) discover what Arinsu (Yôko Hisaka) is up to. The pair’s reaction upon this discovery delivers some excellent visual comedy that franchise fans will appreciate.

Once the battle ends, Duu is forced to take a final test to claim the Dragon Ball. With a bit of help from Kuu, he can overcome what seems like an impossible math problem to claim his prize. Arinsu seems poised to make her big move in the coming episodes with one Dragon Ball firmly in her grasp.

On the other side of Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12, we pick up right where we left off, as Vegeta appears to be swallowed by one of the Second Demon Planet’s monstrous Kraken. Narrowly escaping this fate, Vegeta’s struggles do, however, highlight his lack of affinity for fighting underwater. Something his opponent quickly tries to work to his advantage.

When the Tamagami’s attacks prove too much, Vegeta falls to the bottom of the ocean. Believing his foe defeated, the Tamagami leaves the Saiyan Prince alone for a moment, allowing Vegeta’s anger to mount, culminating in a surprise reveal: Vegeta can go Super Saiyan Three!

Just like other high watermark moments in this series, Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12 holds nothing back as it makes Vegeta’s first transformation into this new form as excellent as one would hope.

Once the ridiculously long-haired fighter is ready, he trounces his once-worthy foe. Barely uncrossing his arms for the rest of the battle, Vegeta outclasses his foe at this level. When he uncrosses his arms, it delivers trademark moves like his signature Galic Gun, layering some nostalgia into the entertaining fight sequence.

The onlookers express awe from the sidelines as they witness Vegeta’s newest form. Only Bulma (Aya Hisakawa) is left unsurprised. When Goku (Masako Nozawa) questions how Vegeta has leveled up again, she proudly states that he’s been training a lot since their battles with Buu. Her glowing pride in her husband’s unending accomplishments is the only thing in the sequence that shines as bright as Vegeta’s aura.

Once Vegeta stumbles through a tricky word problem, he claims the second Dragon Ball, which accounts for all three. But with the Z Fighters possessing two and Arinsu holding the third, it feels like the inevitable clash between Duu and the Saiyans can’t come long.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12 delivers loads of action and a couple of reveals as it wraps up the current stage of the plot. Despite some struggles with Duu’s character, the humor mostly lands, complementing the narrative’s action as the current leg of the story wraps up and prepares to line up the pieces for the next battle.

Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 12 is streaming now on Crunchyroll and will arrive on Netflix next week.