The absence of Gohan in the latest installment of the Dragon Ball franchise, titled Dragon Ball Daima, has led to considerable discussion among fans. During an interview at the Anime Pasadena convention, voice actor Kyle Hebert, who portrays adult Gohan, suggested that his character’s absence may have been beneficial. Hebert speculated that Gohan’s lack of participation could have spared him from the transformations and challenges faced by other characters in the series, particularly Goku.
Attendees of the convention, held from November 8-9, 2025, in Pasadena, California, were eager to understand Gohan’s role—or lack thereof—in Dragon Ball Daima, which was released in October 2024. Hebert mentioned that since the timeline of Daima occurs before the events of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Gohan would not have yet undergone his significant transformation into “Beast.” Instead, the character is established as being busy with his studies, as noted by Bulma in the opening episode when she states, “He’s studying.”
While fans are left to wonder about Gohan’s fate, Hebert elaborated on how his character might have been affected had he been included in Daima. He hinted that Gohan would likely have been transformed into a child, along with the rest of the fighters who faced Majin Buu, due to a wish made by the antagonist Gomah. This wish resulted in the reduction of all fighters involved in that conflict to childhood forms.
Understanding Gohan’s Absence
The decision to omit Gohan from Dragon Ball Daima seems to be more than just a narrative choice. Although the anime presents Gohan as occupied with his scholarly pursuits, speculation suggests that the timing of the anime’s release in relation to Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero may have influenced this decision. The latter film prominently featured Gohan and introduced his evolved form, raising concerns about overexposure of the character in recent narratives.
Historically, Gohan has been positioned as a potential successor to Goku within the franchise. Notably, creator Akiro Toriyama previously shifted the focus away from Gohan, reinforcing a pattern where the character has not always taken center stage. Despite this, Hebert believes that Gohan’s absence in Daima allowed him to focus on his academic work and personal life, particularly as he recently married.
The narrative of Dragon Ball Daima revolves around Goku and his allies, who are inexplicably shrunk and must journey to the Demon Realm to restore their original sizes. This plotline allows for explorations of friendship, teamwork, and adventure, with Goku and Vegeta taking the lead against Gomah and other antagonists.
Fans of the franchise can look forward to future developments, as Gohan’s character continues to evolve within the broader Dragon Ball universe. The engaging discussions at events like Anime Pasadena highlight the enduring popularity of the series and the significance of character arcs that resonate with audiences.
As the franchise continues to expand, the choices made regarding character appearances and developments are likely to remain a topic of interest among its dedicated fan base.
