Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020 TV series)

Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
Series 2020
The cover of the first Blu-ray volume released by Avex Pictures.
Native name
KanjiDRAGON QUEST -ダイの大冒険-
Revised HepburnDoragon Kuesuto: Dai no Daibōken
No. of episodes100
Release
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo)
Original releaseOctober 3, 2020 (2020-10-03) –
October 22, 2022 (2022-10-22)
Season chronology
Next →
Series 2021

The 2020 Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime is based on the manga series of the same name written by Riku Sanjo and illustrated by Koji Inada, based on the popular video game franchise Dragon Quest. It tells the story of a young hero called Dai who, along his companions, fights to protect the world from an army of monsters led by the Dark Lord Hadlar and his master, the Dark King Vearn. It was announced during Jump Festa 2020 that there would be a new anime adaptation that would premiere in 2020. The anime was produced by Toei Animation and is a hybrid of 2D and CG animation.[1] Unlike the original 1991 series, it adapted the entire plot of the manga series in 100 episodes. The series aired on TV Tokyo and other affiliates from October 3, 2020, to October 22, 2022.

The opening themes for the series are "Ikiru o Suru" by Macaroni Enpitsu from episodes 1–50 and "Bravest" by Taichi Mukai from episode 51 until its finale.[2] The ending themes are "mother" by Macaroni Enpitsu from episodes 1–25,[3][4][5] "Akashi" by XIIX from episodes 26–50, "Namae" by Humbreaders from episode 51-74[6] and "Tobutori wa" by Mitei no Hanashi from episode 75 until its finale.[7]

Toei simulcast the series with English subtitles in North America, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and Europe via Crunchyroll, as well as Hulu in the United States.[8] An English dub was produced by Toei and Ocean Media. It was initially the subject of a do-no-work notice issued by the American actor's union SAG-AFTRA.[9] Muse Communication licensed the second series in Southeast Asia.[10] The first 25 episodes began streaming in the United Kingdom on BBC's iPlayer on September 26, 2022.[11] In North America, the first 50 dubbed episodes were made available on a variety of download to own platforms beginning November 8, 2022.[12] The entire series began streaming in the United States on Hulu on July 1, 2023.[13]

  1. ^ "Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken Manga Gets New Anime Adaptation in Fall 2020 (Updated)". Anime News Network. December 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "Taichi Mukai Performs New Opening Theme for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Anime". Anime News Network. September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "New Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken Anime Unveils Cast, October TV Premiere". Anime News Network. May 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-06-20. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  4. ^ "New Dragon Quest: Adventure of Dai Anime's Video Reveals Opening Song, October 3 Debut". Anime News Network. September 6, 2020. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Watch: Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Debuts Opening, Ending Themes". comicbook. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "XIIX Perform New Ending Theme for Dragon Quest: Adventure of Dai Anime". Anime News Network. March 19, 2021. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Mitei no Hanashi Performs New Ending Theme for Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Anime". Anime News Network. April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Mateo, Alex (October 1, 2020). "Hulu, Crunchyroll to Stream Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Do Not Work Notice: Dragon Quest: Legend of Dai". SAG-AFTRA. April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 21, 2020). "Muse Asia Licenses Burn the Witch, Love Live! Nijigasaki Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  11. ^ Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - Series 1: 1. Dai, The Little Hero, archived from the original on September 28, 2022, retrieved September 29, 2022
  12. ^ Harza, Adriana (November 4, 2022). "Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Anime's English Dub Debuts in N. America on November 8". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Beveridge, Chris (June 19, 2023). "Hulu Schedules 'Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai' Anime English Dub Streaming Premiere". Fandom Post. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.