Like millions of others, I've always been a sucker for Akira Toriyama's timeless, absurdly charming art. When I first discovered Dragon Quest as a kid, I was completely fixated with it; I couldn't believe that there were video games featuring his art. I remember stalking a copy of Dragon Quest VII at my local Blockbuster that was always out of stock. I'd go up there weekly to try and rent it, and always had to settle for something else. I recall so many instances of picking up the sample box and just staring at the cover art for the game and letting my imagination run wild with whatever I thought the game might be about.
My first real taste of the series ended up being through one of my all time favorite video games: Dragon Quest VIII on my PS2. I don't even remember asking for this game, but my parents pulled an all-timer gamble and got me an incredible gift in this game. They actually pulled this off again the next year by randomly getting me Final Fantasy IV on the GBA in an Easter basket. They never got me big presents in an Easter basket, just candy, and I hadn't asked for the game either, but nevertheless, a phenomenal game sat there nestled between Peeps and a chocolate bunny candy bar.
The Dragon Quest franchise is home to a whole host of acclaimed video games, as well as myriad multimedia adaptations. In 1989, a manga called Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai began and has since gone on to become one of the best-selling manga of all time. As a small aside, I was thrilled to discover that the creative duo behind this manga also wrote and illustrated one of my favorite manga - Beet the Vandel Buster. The Adventure of Dai received an anime adaption in 1991, which wasn't able to properly adapt the entirety of the story, as it was airing while the manga was still being written. Then between 2020 and 2022, another adaption aired and through this show, we finally received a full retelling of this iconic story.
As the title of the series suggests, the story follows Dai - a young boy who goes on an incredible adventure. Truthfully, just calling it "an incredible adventure" is underselling it pretty significantly. Dai's quest has massive stakes and he has to quickly develop into a formidable hero who can save the world from the Demon King Hadlar. Like any good fantasy adventure, Dai is joined by a party of friends who want to help him along the way. His team consists of: his mentor Avan, a world famous hero and adventurer, the cowardly, yet talented mage, Popp, a spunky healer turned martial artist named Maam, a princess and his love interest, Leona, as well as two former villains: Hyunckel, an incredibly powerful warrior and Beast King Crocodine, a hulking reptilian commander of Hadlar's armies.
The story becomes considerably more complicated and tangled as it progresses onward. Hadlar is shown to be a somewhat minor foe, as the true villain, Vearn, is introduced. Vearn is surrounded by unbelievably powerful and dangerous henchmen, and each of them are tasked with wiping out Dai's party. Eventually, Dai's true lineage is revealed and this also has dire consequences on the safety of the party. He has immensely potent powers lying dormant within him, and he has to learn how to awaken and control them, so that he can defeat Vearn and save the world.
I think one of the shining elements of The Adventure of Dai is the camaraderie between the adventuring party. It reminds me almost of One Piece in some ways, with the focus on the group's dynamics and how they interact with each other. Each member of the team has a distinct personality, with strengths and weaknesses that make them feel like fully realized characters. Popp, whose craven character is often annoying, is Dai's best friend and he always comes through for Dai and the party. Maam has some significant growth over the course of the series too, as she literally changes roles in the party. She begins as a healer for Dai and Popp, and then leaves them for a time and returns as a powerful martial artist. The villain-turned-hero party members both have fantastic growth journeys over the course of the story as well. It feels like each character in the story is given enough time and substance to be fleshed out in truly interesting ways over the course of the journey.
The pacing of the show is impeccable. One hundred episodes sounds like a big commitment, but literally each and every episode moves the plot forward in one way or another. I never felt like the show was wasting my time or spinning its wheels, which is very unique for most anime, in my experience. Whether an episode is about the party debating an important topic for how to move forward, or the episode is entirely devoted to showcasing some flashy, awesome battle, it all feels appropriately paced. I think this is largely due to the anime being an adaptation of a long finished manga, so they didn't have to create filler episodes or arcs to pad out any time. I really appreciated this commitment to telling the story and not weighing it down with meaningless fluff.
I would absolutely recommend watching The Adventure of Dai. It's one of the better shows that has come out in the last several years, and it has kind of flown under the radar, at least in the West. Fortunately, the Dragon Quest franchise has been exploding in popularity in the U.S. in the last couple of years, so I trust that people will explore the series deeper and find this wonderful show. I think if you're already a Dragon Quest fan, the show will be a treat, with its excellent writing and faithfulness to the source material. If you're not already a fan of the series, I think the Adventure of Dai could be the perfect jumping on point.
VERDICT: Recommended
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