Dragon Ball GT might be controversial, but it does one thing better.
Dragon Ball GT is definitely controversial among fans, especially the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga, which sparks much debate. The saga is criticized for not focusing on the search for the titular Dragon Balls as effectively as the original series did. Dragon Ball Daima featured one of the first attractions, namely a new interpretation of the Dragon Ball search story. In this iteration, the seven Dragon Balls were reduced to three (although Dragon Ball Super did this first with only two Dragon Balls on Planet Cereal), and they are now protected by guardians called Tamagami.
When first comparing Daima and GT, the way Goku and his friends find the first Dragon Ball is crucial, as it sets the tone for the rest of their quest. However, Daima's introduction of the first Tamagami (and thus the first Dragon Ball) doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by GT in the episode "Is That All There Is? Super Saiyan Goku is a Dentist." Certainly, many fans will never truly appreciate GT's tone. But the first Dragon Ball in GT introduces an important change to the series' established formula for how Goku and his friends find the Dragon Balls.
Dragon Ball GT Innovated the "Search for the Dragon Balls" Trope More Effectively
In GT, Goku's Personality is the Reason Why the First Dragon Ball is so Hard to Find
In "Is That All There Is? Super Saiyan Goku is a Dentist," Goku and his companions arrive on a planet of giants, where the first Dragon Ball is simply lying on the ground. Trunks finds it almost immediately. In fact, the episode would have ended much sooner if Goku hadn't been distracted. He's too busy eating a giant apple hanging from a tree.
Meanwhile, Trunks is fully focused on the mission and attempts to pick up the Dragon Ball he's just found. But the apple that Goku is clinging to carelessly falls on the Dragon Ball. From that moment on, a series of unfortunate events makes it increasingly difficult to retrieve it. The Dragon Ball ends up stuck inside the giant, fallen apple.
This is particularly notable because it's the only instance in the entire series where Goku himself is the reason why a Dragon Ball cannot be obtained immediately. More importantly, it's based on Goku's well-known and beloved traits: his carefree, sometimes oblivious attitude and his insatiable appetite. This is especially relevant when considering the original series.
The Black Star Dragon Ball Saga in GT is a reimagining of the original Dragon Ball series' adventures. Therefore, it was important not to needlessly repeat every method by which the Dragon Balls were found in the original series, especially since there were two separate searches for them. It's actually impressive that GT managed to create an entirely new situation.
Dragon Ball Daima's First Tamagami Doesn't Introduce Anything Noteworthy
In Daima, the Only New Concept is the Silly "Cups and Balls" Challenge
In comparison, Daima's formula, where Goku has to fight the Third Demon World's three Tamagami to obtain a Dragon Ball, is merely a variation of the scenario from the original series. At the beginning, Goku and his friends have to defeat Baba's fighters so she can help them find a Dragon Ball. The only difference between this example and Daima is that each fighter doesn't give them a Dragon Ball, but the basic idea is the same: Goku and his friends have to defeat several bosses to get one or more Dragon Balls.
In Daima, there is a surprising twist: the Tamagami challenge Goku to another trial – the familiar "cups and balls" game. Although the "cups and balls" game is new to Dragon Ball, there have been previous situations where Goku had to overcome something other than a fight to get a Dragon Ball. For example, in the first meeting with the Ox-King, there was a similar situation: The Ox-King will only give him the Dragon Ball if Goku retrieves a fan from Master Roshi.
In GT, Goku's carefree attitude is an obstacle to obtaining a Dragon Ball. In Daima, however, Goku can find the hidden ball because he is good at recognizing fast movements. This is a skill that is needed to succeed in battles. In GT, Goku's personality is used against him, which is more effective because it exploits his weaknesses. While Daima forces Goku to fall back on a skill that fans have seen many times in battle, it diminishes some of GT's impact. The ability that Goku uses in Daima works the same way as always, even if it is applied in a different type of contest.
Dragon Ball GT's Episode Structure Was Much More Complex
Daima Sacrifices Plot and Effective Setups for Fights
Daima's plot is quite simple and doesn't really support Goku's fight against the Tamagami. Before the confrontation, Goku and his friends were mainly searching for the first Tamagami, repeatedly encountering the evil Gendarmerie. In the actual episode where Goku tries to get the first Dragon Ball from the Tamagami, a deeper narrative is sacrificed in favor of the fight.
The GT episode "Is That All There Is? Super Saiyan Goku is a Dentist" has a more complex plot in comparison, which ends pleasantly by connecting two separate storylines. While Goku and Trunks are searching for the Dragon Ball that Goku later loses, Pan, disguised as an insect, is mistaken for the queen bee by a hive and taken to the hive. Both stories converge when Goku and Trunks, who saved a bee they thought was Pan, meet her as she flees the bees chasing her.
Most Dragon Ball fans naturally want to see good fights, and the fight between Goku and the first Tamagami is no exception. But the series has much more to offer than just fights. Since both series are about collecting the Dragon Balls, the fighting should be more in the background at this stage. Therefore, the fight in Dragon Ball Daima cannot compete with the more expansive journey in Dragon Ball GT.