Even after almost 40 years, Dragon Ball is still competing with new-gen hits, with DAIMA Episode 19's rating being one of the highest this year.
The revolution that began in 1986, with the airing of Dragon Ball, is still going strong almost 40 years later. Even now, the series competes with giants like One Piece and new-gen hits such as My Hero Academia and Solo Leveling. Because in 2025, Dragon Ball proved its staying power again with one of the highest-rated episodes on IMDb: Dragon Ball DAIMA Episode 19, which debuted with an impressive 9.9 rating.
Top 4 highest rated anime episodes of 2025 on IMDb! pic.twitter.com/WGHaGzZRCQ
— Hyper Goku (@hypergoku8) December 1, 2025
The One Piece Episode 1136 also scored 9.9/10, and, of course, both episodes were incredibly important for fans. But for Dragon Ball, the moment hit differently. It tapped into decades of nostalgia, love, and emotional investment, everything fans have carried with them since childhood, all coming together in one powerful installment.
SSJ4 Goku vs Kuma’s Backstory: Which Is Better
When you look at Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 form, it’s pure fan-service hype in the best way. First and foremost, the form is undeniably so stylish, and it also feels like a love letter to classic Saiyan lore. It’s peak Dragon Ball energy, that is capable of making fans go, “Yeah, THIS is Goku.” It may not be deep storytelling, but it’s undeniably cool.
Meanwhile, Kuma’s backstory is an emotional wrecking ball. Oda built it with layers of tragedy, sacrifice, political cruelty, and parental love. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you finish reading/watching because it adds so much weight to every scene Kuma appears in.
Here’s a further comparison between Dragon Ball DAIMA and One Piece:
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| TITLE | RELEASE DATE | MyAnimeList Score | RottenTomatoes |
| Dragon Ball DAIMA | October 11, 2024 | 7.59/10 | 95% |
| One Piece | October 20, 1999 | 8.73/10 | 92% |
So, which is better? If you want raw hype, SSJ4 Goku wins easily. But if we’re talking actual storytelling, Kuma’s backstory blows it out of the water. It’s richer, heavier, and delivers the kind of narrative depth Dragon Ball rarely tries to reach. So yeah, it depends on your personal preference.
Dragon Ball DAIMA Gunning for Anime of the Year
It wouldn’t be too far off to say Dragon Ball DAIMA can even aim for the Anime of the Year title at this point. Not only did it drop one of the highest-rated episodes of the year, but the show kept surprising fans with how polished, fun, and energetic it felt.
For a franchise this old to still hit like that is wild. And with the fanbase as huge and loyal as Dragon Ball’s, it’s totally possible for DAIMA to sweep a few categories if everyone rallies behind it. Best Animation, Best Fight, Best OST, even Best Boy/Girl categories; if fans unite and vote, the show could seriously walk away with multiple awards.
So, would you like to see it on top? Honestly, it’d be iconic to watch Dragon Ball take the crown again after all these years.
With the momentum DAIMA has right now, it wouldn’t even feel undeserved. And with Toyotarou at the helm next, we might even get further continuation of the series, which is crazy to even think about.
Dragon Ball DAIMA is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
