JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's long-awaited reset: Why Steel Ball Run has every right to be the most important part of the series

By all accounts, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run has the potential to surpass the previous parts of the series. The story is refreshing and unique as Araki has introduced a world that was least expected from him. And as someone who's been knee-deep in JoJo lore for over a decade, I’ll just say it, Steel Ball Run isn’t just another JoJo part.

It’s the JoJo part. It’s the most daring, the most artistically refined, and, in my opinion, the most important part in the franchise’s entire legacy. This part introduced a world where there is almost no connection to any character from the previous instalments.

Unlike the first six parts of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, which all unfolded in a loosely connected continuity with recurring characters and bloodlines, Steel Ball Run pulls the plug and resets the timeline. Araki didn’t just change the names; he changed the rules. And I am glad he did.

Now I’ll admit it. When I was first introduced to Johnny Joestar, I was not his biggest fan. He was bitter, selfish, and broken, paralyzed from the waist down and desperate for something, anything, to give his life meaning.

But that’s the beauty of it. Johnny is a protagonist who earns his growth. Watching him evolve from a petty, angry man into someone capable of selflessness and sacrifice was one of the most powerful character arcs I’ve seen in manga.

If I were to compare Johnny, he can be described as the complete opposite character with the first Jojo, Jonathan Joestar. On top of that, this part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure introduces yet another new power system.

Hamon was a fun start. Stands took things to an entirely new level. But Spin can be described as elegant. It's controlled, it's philosophical, and it's weirdly scientific. It’s not a Stand replacement; it's a development.

If you’ve never read JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, let me summarize it for you as honestly as I can: It’s a story about a paralyzed horse jockey who teams up with a Napoleonic doctor armed with magical spinning balls to stop the U.S. government from collecting the mummified body of Jesus Christ, because said body gives you reality-warping powers. And it’s one of the most beautifully human stories I’ve ever read.

Why It Matters that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe got reset

In a time when anime is becoming increasingly formulaic, when isekai tropes, high school power fantasies, and endless shounen clones are everywhere, Steel Ball Run stands apart. It doesn’t care about genre conventions. It doesn’t care about being easily digestible. It just tells the story it wants to tell, no matter how weird, wild, or controversial.

And that’s why it’s so important. It’s proof that manga can be art. That anime can be philosophical. That storytelling doesn’t have to fit in neat boxes. Steel Ball Run is JoJo stripped down and built back up better than ever. It’s a resurrection, a new gospel for a new generation.

From Manga to Anime: Why JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Adaptation Matters

Steel Ball Run is already a masterpiece on the page. But the anime adaptation? That’s where things get exciting. David Production has done an excellent job so far. From the vivid, psychedelic madness of Part 3 to the gorgeous fight choreography of Part 5, they’ve nailed the JoJo aesthetic again and again. But Steel Ball Run poses a unique challenge: animating horses.

Animating them is notoriously hard, and that’s probably one of the reasons we haven’t gotten an official announcement yet. But if any studio can pull it off, it’s David Production. And when they do, this anime is going to be something truly special.

Because here’s the thing, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run doesn’t look like traditional manga. Araki’s art style in this part is more European, more painterly, more dramatic. The shading, the musculature, the dynamic poses, it all screams high fashion meets classical art.

Final Thoughts

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We all have our favorite JoJo parts. Mine is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, for its cozy horror vibe and lovable cast. But when it comes to importance, Steel Ball Run stands alone. It’s the part that saved JoJo. It’s the part that elevated Araki from cult favorite to literary genius.

And it’s the part that, if adapted right, will take JoJo's Bizarre Adventure from niche icon to global classic. If you’ve ever doubted what this series can do, just wait until Steel Ball Run crosses the finish line. Because trust me, this is where JoJo stops being bizarre and starts being legendary.

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