Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Soundtrack: The 2020 Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai anime (Japanese: Dragon Quest: Dai no Daiboken) is a full remake/adaptation of the classic manga series of the same name, written by Riku Sanjo and illustrated by Koji Inada, based on the popular video game franchise Dragon Quest. Produced by Toei Animation, this 100-episode series aired on TV Tokyo from October 3, 2020, to October 22, 2022, and adapts the entire manga – unlike the original 1991 TV series, which only covered part of the story.
The story follows a young hero named Dai, who, along with his companions, fights to protect the world from an army of demons, including the Dark Lord Hadlar and his master, Dark King Vearn.
Quick Facts
| Title | Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020 TV series) |
| Based On | Manga by Riku Sanjo (story) and Koji Inada (art) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Release Date | October 3, 2020 – October 22, 2022 (100 episodes) |
| Composer | Yuki Hayashi |
| Studio / Network | Toei Animation / TV Tokyo |
| Streaming | Crunchyroll (simulcast); full series on Hulu (US, since July 2023) |
| Status | Completed – full series aired and available to stream |
Who Composed the Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Soundtrack?
Yuki Hayashi composed the score for the 2020 anime adaptation, released across two Original Soundtrack volumes by Avex Pictures. Hayashi is one of Japan’s most prolific anime and drama composers, known for My Hero Academia, Haikyu!!, Zettai Reido, and (in collaboration with Hiroyuki Sawano) Kiznaiver. This 2020/2022 Dai no Daiboken soundtrack is entirely separate from the music of the original 1991 anime, which was scored and themed differently (see below).
Theme Songs: 2020 Remake vs. the 1991 Original
It’s easy to mix these up since both adaptations share the same story, so here’s the breakdown:
2020 Anime (Toei Animation, 2020-2022)
- Opening themes: “Ikiru o Suru” by Macaroni Enpitsu (episodes 1-50); “Bravest” by Taichi Mukai (episode 51 to the finale)
- Ending themes: “mother” by Macaroni Enpitsu (eps 1-25); “Akashi” by XIIX (eps 26-50); “Namae” by Humbreaders (eps 51-74); “Tobutori wa” by Mitei no Hanashi (eps 75 to the finale)
1991 Original Anime (Toei Animation, 1991-1992)
- Opening theme: “Yuusha yo Isoge!!” (勇者よ急げ!!, “Hurry, Heroes!!”), composed by legendary Dragon Quest game composer Koichi Sugiyama, with lyrics by Kohei Oikawa, performed by Jiro Dan, released November 1, 1991.
In short: if you’re looking for Yuki Hayashi’s score, you want the 2020 series. If you’re looking for Koichi Sugiyama’s iconic theme song, that belongs to the original 1991 broadcast.
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Soundtrack List
Here is the score tracklist from the 2020 series’ Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, composed by Yuki Hayashi:
- The Adventure of Dai
- The Tiny Heroes
- Welcome, Hero
- Castle Town
- Peaceful Village
- Into the Vast World
- Destroyed Town
- Sovereign Rock Castle
- Joyful Reunion
- Lost Heart
- Indomitable Fighting Spirit
- Compassionate Heart
- Discipline of Avan
- Consolation
- Requiem
- Anger and Grief
- Power of Purification
- Evil Magic
- The Battle of Sovereign Rock Castle
- Hadlar, the Superior Being
- Vearn, the Dark King – Violin Version
- Confrontation – Showdown of Death
- The Hadlar Royal Guard
- The Black Core
- Reconciliation and Bonds Restored
- Pressure from a Truly Evil Foe
- Battle with Vearn
- Quiet Tension
- A Peaceful Respite
- The Cave of Trials
- Searching for a Breakthrough
- The Sacred Inheritance
- The Beast King Commandos
- Dragonoid Dai
- Epilogue
You can listen to the complete soundtrack on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
Official Trailer: If you are curious to know more about this series and interested in watching it, you can check out the trailer below to get a glimpse of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020) soundtrack?
Yuki Hayashi composed the score for the 2020-2022 Toei Animation series, released across two official soundtrack volumes.
Is the 2020 anime the same as the 1991 original?
No. Both are based on the same manga, but the 1991 TV series only adapted part of the story, while the 2020-2022 series adapted the entire manga across 100 episodes. They also have completely different music – the 1991 series’ iconic theme was composed by Koichi Sugiyama, while the 2020 series’ score is by Yuki Hayashi.
What is the correct English title and romanization?
The official English title is “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.” The original Japanese title romanizes as “Dragon Quest: Dai no Daiboken.”
Where can I watch Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai?
The series is available to stream in full on Hulu in the United States (since July 2023), and it originally simulcast on Crunchyroll.
Has the series finished airing?
Yes. The 2020 series is complete, having aired 100 episodes between October 2020 and October 2022.
Related reading: Anime Soundtracks | Streaming Guide | TV Soundtracks