Seven reasons why you should watch "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure"

Cassie Mammone

12.11.2025

Translation: machine translated

With "Steel Ball Run", the seventh part of the popular manga "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure" is being realised as an anime. High time to catch up on the predecessors.

«Steel Ball Run» is due to be released on Netflix in 2026. The streaming service is thus fulfilling the wish of many fans who have been longing for the seventh instalment of «Jojo's Bizarre Adventure» as an anime adaptation since the end of «Stone Ocean» in December 2022.

The animation studio David Production, which has realised all previous parts, remains responsible for «Steel Ball Run».

Here are seven reasons why now is the perfect time to get started with «Jojo's Bizarre Adventure» - and prepare yourself for the seventh instalment.

1. an epic family feud that spans several generations

«Jojo's Bizarre Adventure» tells the story of the cross-generational feud between the Joestar family and their arch-enemy Dio Brando. Within each instalment, a «Jojo» is always the protagonist. The common nickname is a combination of the heroes' first names and surnames.

How exactly the connection to Dio arises and how it persists is something you'll have to see for yourself. If you stick with it, the anime will reward you with numerous aha moments. The Joestars and their offspring remain fatefully linked to Dio.

While the Joestars initially face Dio in direct combat, supernatural powers in the form of the so-called «Stands» are added from the third part onwards. From then on, the epic saga really gets going.

In short, the Stands are the manifestation of your own life energy - or in other words: a way to introduce unlimited cool powers.

2. six good parts have already been animated

Before «Steel Ball Run», six parts had already been adapted as anime:

• 1. «Phantom Blood» (Jonathan Joestar): 9 episodes
• 1. «Battle Tendency» (Joseph Joestar): 17 episodes
• 1. «Stardust Crusaders» (Jotaro Kujo): 48 episodes
• 1. «Diamond is Unbreakable» (Josuke Higashikata): 39 episodes
• 1. «Golden Wind» (Giorno Giovanna): 39 episodes
• 1. «Stone Ocean» (Jolyne Kujo): 38 episodes

The first two parts differ from the later ones not only because of the stands. Some fans therefore recommend skipping the parts and starting directly with the stands. I would advise against this because the family feud part and some later moments lose their impact.

3. even more manga fodder through parts eight and nine

If you enjoy the anime by «Jojo», you don't have to wait years for the story to continue. At least not yet. If necessary, you can change the medium and continue with the manga.

After «Steel Ball Run» there is more content with parts eight («Jojolion») and nine («The Jojolands») until you reach the current state (pun not intended). While the eighth part has been completed, the ninth part is still being published. A new chapter is released once a month, which has more pages compared to weekly releases.

The manga has been published in German since 2021. However, the German editions are currently only on their fourth instalment. It is therefore likely to take a while for them to catch up. To read the eighth and ninth parts, you will need to access the English (or Japanese) volumes.

It is still unclear whether the series will continue after the end of «Jojoland's». Although mangaka Hirohiko Araki would like to continue with «Jojo» for as long as possible, he is now 65 years old. It therefore also depends on his health how long «Jojo» will continue.

4. «Jojo» has style

If you've ever come into contact with «Jojo» or anime culture in general, there's a good chance you've seen the legendary «Jojo» poses. They are often highly stylised and exaggerated. They enjoy a high meme and status in the «Jojo» community.

The mangaka Hirohiko Araki draws inspiration for the poses from models in the real world. In the unofficial «Jojo»-Wiki, fans have compiled a comprehensive collection of the numerous references. You can see some well-known examples in this short video:

«Jojo» has even made it into the famous Louvre art museum. As part of the 2009 exhibition «The Louvre Invites the Comics», an illustration by Araki was exhibited alongside four other artists. The image shows the character Rohan, who appears in several «Jojo» instalments and, coincidentally, is a talented mangaka like Araki himself.

5. «Jojo» doesn't take himself too seriously - and that's a good thing

One of the reasons I hang out at a lot of shonen anime is their similarity. When they turn out well thought out and unique like «Hunter x Hunter», I don't mind. But if it all comes down to the fate of the world depending on the chosen hero, I get bored. Been there, done that.

«Jojo» brings a breath of fresh air to the action-packed world of anime. With the Stands from the third part onwards, things get really crazy. At first, the supernatural powers of the Jojos and their companions are understandable and cool. Jotaro's Stand, for example, is incredibly strong and kills everything in its path. His companions Avdol and Polnareff, on the other hand, can control fire or skilfully wield a sword.

The fights and the stands become more bizarre with each part. It's pure pleasure to see what new ideas Araki comes up with. The fights are very creatively written so that they are always entertaining.

In addition, «Jojo» is generally known for its many absurd moments - it's not called «Jojo's bizarre adventure» for nothing.

6. «It's a Jojo Reference!» aka the meme culture

If you spend (too much) time on the internet, there's a good chance you've come across a meme originating from «Jojo». When I watched the anime for the first time, I had numerous aha moments.

One example is the «To be Continued» meme:

This is taken one-to-one from the first «Jojo» part:

I always love it when people who catch up on «Jojo» tell me how they discovered a new meme reference. The anime has secured a permanent place in internet culture due to its quirky nature.

PS: As a little bonus, here's a compilation of various scenes from the first five parts - but without context. The result is delicious:

7. one music reference to go, please!

Mangaka Hirohiko Araki not only knows a thing or two about fashion, but also about music. That's why he incorporates song or band names as references in his work. At some point, he no longer does this inconspicuously, but simply names stands and their users directly after them.

For example, in the fifth part alone, the bands King Crimson, Metallica, Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Beach Boys. And that's just a fraction of the music references in this part.

Anime has established a tradition of using English songs for its credits. This is unusual for anime, which usually relies on works by artists from Japan, but welcome.

This allows you to enjoy Savage Garden (which is a stand in part six) at the end of each episode of the fourth instalment:

I particularly enjoy listening to the albums of the musicians referenced in the background when reading manga. Thanks to Araki, I came across a hit or two. A little spoiler for «Steel Ball Run»: One of my favourites is the song aka Stand Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC.

So, what are you waiting for? Treat yourself to something good and watch Jojo's Bizarre Adventure» before «Steel Ball Run» « ! And when the time finally comes and the seventh manga instalment is animated, one of the highlights of the series awaits you.

Header images: Hirohiko Araki / David Production

Cassie Mammone

Freelance Editor

cassie.mammone.freelance@gmail.com

I wrote my first text about video games when I was eight years old. I haven't been able to stop since. The rest of my time is spent on my love for 2D husbandos, monsters, my cats and sport.

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