Latest news with #DAIMA
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dragon Ball DAIMA and Solo Leveling power up for 2025 Astra Awards
The Hollywood Creative Alliance's annual Astra TV Awards have just announced their 2025 anime nominations , and fan-favorite titles dominate the list. In the Best Anime Series category (introduced just last year), the six nominees include Dragon Ball DAIMA (Crunchyroll/Netflix) and Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow ( Crunchyroll ), along with Dan Da Dan , Fire Force Season 3 , Lazarus , and The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Notably, voice actors from DAIMA and Solo Leveling also earned nods: Stephanie Nadolny (young Goku) is up for Best Lead Voice-Over Performance for Dragon Ball DAIMA , while Solo Leveling 's Aleks Le (as Sung Jinwoo) is nominated for Best Lead Voice-Over and Justin Briner (supporting) for Best Supporting Voice-Over. Dragon Ball DAIMA charges into Astra nominations Credits: Crunchyroll Dragon Ball DAIMA – a brand-new anime saga celebrating Akira Toriyama's 40th anniversary – is a heavyweight nominee. The series (set right after the Majin Buu story of DBZ ) sends Goku on a magical new adventure in the Demon Realm. Fans and critics have praised it as a 'breath of fresh air,' noting its top-notch animation and nostalgic tone. One reviewer commented that DAIMA feels like a return to 'the heart of what made Dragon Ball so great,' and another noted it 'has been such a massive hit with fans since it first made its debut'. It's no surprise Dragon Ball DAIMA landed a Best Anime Series nomination and a voice acting nod: Nadolny's performance was singled out among the year's best. Solo Leveling season 2 continues the streak Solo Leveling – originally a Korean web novel and webtoon turned hit anime – also leads the nominations. Its second season, Arise from the Shadow , begins in early 2025 and picked up from the first season's explosive finale. The story follows Sung Jinwoo, a low-ranked hunter who gains incredible new powers, and it has become a global phenomenon. The season 2 premiere shattered Crunchyroll records: it was 'the most liked premiere episode in the history of the streaming service' and has garnered over 400,000 audience reviews already. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With that kind of enthusiasm, Solo Leveling Season 2 easily earned a Best Anime Series nomination. Its stars were recognized too: Aleks Le's leading performance as Jinwoo and Justin Briner's supporting role were both nominated. Critics note that the anime's polished animation and faithful adaptation of the beloved webtoon have won it wide acclaim, making these Astra nods well-deserved. Other notable anime contenders Several other popular anime join DAIMA and Solo Leveling among the Astra nominees. Key mentions include: Dandadan (Crunchyroll) – A fantasy-action comedy about two teens battling ghosts and aliens. Critics hailed it as 'one of the best anime of 2024' for its inventive mix of high-flying action and quirky humor. It earned a Best Anime Series nomination alongside the big titles. A fantasy-action comedy about two teens battling ghosts and aliens. Critics hailed it as 'one of the best anime of 2024' for its inventive mix of high-flying action and quirky humor. It earned a Best Anime Series nomination alongside the big titles. Fire Force Season 3 (Crunchyroll/Adult Swim) – The long-awaited conclusion of Fire Force. Fans of the fire-fighting heroes have eagerly awaited this final arc, and its nomination recognizes the series' strong following and dynamic fight scenes. The long-awaited conclusion of Fire Force. Fans of the fire-fighting heroes have eagerly awaited this final arc, and its nomination recognizes the series' strong following and dynamic fight scenes. Lazarus (Adult Swim) – An original sci-fi anime directed by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe. Early reviews praise Lazarus as a 'kinetic anime with no shortage of provocative ideas,' noting its stylish action and ambitious premise. Its inclusion underscores how even brand-new series are making an impact. An original sci-fi anime directed by Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichirō Watanabe. Early reviews praise Lazarus as a 'kinetic anime with no shortage of provocative ideas,' noting its stylish action and ambitious premise. Its inclusion underscores how even brand-new series are making an impact. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Crunchyroll) – Continuing the romantic mystery of a young palace doctor in imperial China. The first season was a sleeper hit praised for its engaging story, and the second season's nomination reflects its loyal fanbase. Each nominee was chosen for a reason: whether groundbreaking creativity ( Dandadan , Lazarus ), satisfying finales ( Fire Force ), or clever storytelling ( Apothecary Diaries ), anime experts and fans alike have recognized their excellence. Industry reaction and Astra's significance Anime fans and critics have welcomed these nominations as a sign that anime is getting its due in mainstream awards. Online discussions show excitement – anime forums and social media are abuzz with supporters urging each other to celebrate these shows. Industry observers note that this is still a very new development: as Otaku USA reported, Astra only introduced a dedicated anime category in 2024. In fact, Solo Leveling won the first-ever Best Anime Series award last year, marking a milestone. The fact that major anime like Dragon Ball are now in contention at Astra means that the Western TV industry is recognizing anime's global popularity. Moreover, honoring voice actors (as Astra does) highlights the importance of performance in these shows – something fans have often championed. The Astra Awards are run by the Hollywood Creative Alliance and are becoming a notable barometer of quality in entertainment. By giving anime its own platform, they help bridge the anime community with the broader TV industry. For years anime fans campaigned for recognition beyond fan-voted awards, and seeing favorites like DAIMA and Solo Leveling nominated feels like a vindication of anime's growing influence. With voting open, fans will watch closely when the winners are announced in mid-2025. Either way, the nominations themselves are a win – they spotlight top anime of the year and affirm that series like Dragon Ball DAIMA and Solo Leveling are not just popular but truly outstanding in the eyes of critics and audiences alike. This year's Astra nods underline that anime continues to surge as a global entertainment force, earning respect on stages around the world. READ MORE:
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dragon Ball DAIMA: Why Piccolo was sidelined despite namekian lore expansion
Dragon Ball DAIMA surprised fans with a deep dive into Namekian history, offering a fresh perspective on their origins. However, amidst this exciting new lore, one glaring oversight stood out: Piccolo , the franchise's most iconic Namekian, was barely involved. As the series explored the origins and true nature of the Namekian race, fans were left wondering why the character most closely connected to this lore was pushed to the background. Dragon Ball DAIMA: Namekian origins rewritten as demons In Dragon Ball DAIMA, the history of the Namekians was reimagined in a bold new direction. It was revealed that they weren't simply peaceful aliens from a distant planet they were demons who fled the Demon Realm to escape persecution. This revelation not only deepened the mystery surrounding their origin but also provided new context for their power and their ability to create Dragon Balls. Along with this twist, the introduction of Neva, a new Namekian character, further expanded the lore. While these new developments added a fresh layer to the Namekian story, Piccolo's connection to this discovery was strangely absent. Piccolo's missed opportunity in DAIMA: Fans are disappointed Despite the intriguing exploration of Namekian history, Piccolo's role in Dragon Ball DAIMA felt surprisingly limited. With so much focus on his people's true origin, it was a missed opportunity not to explore Piccolo's personal reaction to these revelations. What did Piccolo think about his people being demons? How did he feel about his ties to the Demon Realm? These questions could have added emotional depth to his character, but unfortunately, they were left unanswered. In the recent Dragon Ball series, Piccolo's role has often been sidelined. In Dragon Ball Super, he became a mentor for Goten and Trunks, overshadowed by the bigger battles involving Goku and Vegeta. While his transformation into Orange Piccolo in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero gave him some much-needed attention, DAIMA didn't make full use of his potential. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Piccolo's potential in DAIMA: A missed character development Piccolo has always been a fan favorite, known for his wisdom, power, and emotional depth. Dragon Ball DAIMA presented an opportunity to explore these traits in greater detail, but unfortunately, it was missed. The series introduced new Namekian lore that could have resonated deeply with Piccolo's journey. Imagine how impactful it could have been to see him react to the truth about his demonic origins, or how he might have interacted with Neva regarding the history of the Namekian people. Instead of remaining a background character, Piccolo's presence in the narrative could have provided much-needed emotional weight. His long-standing struggle with self-improvement and his people's complicated past made him the perfect character to explore the revelations about the Demon Realm. Sadly, DAIMA chose not to dive into these opportunities. How Piccolo could have played a major role in Dragon Ball DAIMA With DAIMA delving into Namekian lore, Piccolo should have been front and center in the exploration of these revelations. His connection to the Demon Realm could have led to powerful character moments. How would Piccolo reconcile his evolution from villain to hero with the shocking truths about his people's demonic origins? The emotional conflict within Piccolo would have added a rich layer to the story. A storyline where Piccolo confronts the true nature of his race could have been one of the most significant moments in the entire series. His internal struggle with these newfound truths would have provided not only personal growth but also a deeper connection to the Namekian lore. Looking ahead: Piccolo's future in Dragon Ball While Dragon Ball DAIMA missed the chance to explore Piccolo's character fully, the door remains open for future storylines. With Orange Piccolo's debut in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, fans are hopeful that he will play a larger role in future installments. The revelations in DAIMA provide the perfect foundation for deeper exploration into Piccolo's heritage and growth. Future Dragon Ball series have the opportunity to take Piccolo's character to new heights by addressing his heritage, power, and the implications of his people's demonic origins. Fans are eager to see him take a more central role and, hopefully, regain the spotlight he so richly deserves.
