This is my favorite series ever, and it finally got a real weekly anime adaptation after 25 years—the ‘94 and ‘00 OVAs and the Phantom Blood movie, which never saw DVD/home video release do not count—there is definitely some bias in this review. That said, there’s a reason I still didn’t give it a perfect score, and it’s because I’m still trying to keep a hint of objectivity in here.
Art - 8/10
I suppose I’ll start off with how it adapted the source material. Unlike the OVAs and Phantom Blood movie, there were no cuts in content, and it actually adapted parts 1 and 2 of
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the manga: Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency. The studio, David Production, did what I would consider a masterful job in terms of bringing out Araki Hirohiko’s style into the manga. He is an artist, and you can see his art evolve throughout the long-running JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise. DP hired multiple art directors and tried to incorporate the different faces and builds in body throughout the series. Also, because there is no such thing as “canon” colors for characters, DP, in an unexpected but very innovative manner, used their poor budget to their advantage—by changing color schemes and using colorful abstract backgrounds during monologues and still-frames. I’ll give the art by itself a 10/10, even though sometimes Jonathan and Joseph, the titular JoJos in this series, suffer from Gorilla Face Syndrome, since the BD/DVDs are doing a great job of fixing it.
On still-frames, this is one of TWO flaws I found throughout the whole series. DP was contracted by Warner Bros. and they were given a pretty weak budget to work with. As a result, some might say that there are lots of times where this show is more of a “live-manga” or stream of the manga. The “animated” SFX from the source material, plentiful still-frames, and lack of actual animation at times are what add to this idea. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s not like every episode is a slideshow; however, there are DEFINITELY times when it feels that way—I’m looking at you, episode 16. Honestly, I feel like DP made it up to us with some episodes that were battle-heavy, like episode 20 and most definitely the final 3 or so episodes. Especially the last one. For this I will have to give the animation itself a 7/10. The distinct art style and use of colors boost it up to an 8 for me.
Sound - 8/10
So-no Chi no Sa-da-me, JOOOOOOOOO~JO! There are two opening themes, JOJO~Sono Chi no Sadame~ by Hiroaki “TOMMY” Tominaga , and BLOODY STREAM by Coda. Both were tailored for their respective Part in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, in both lyrics, atmosphere, and animation itself—we actually get some pretty good CG depicting events in Parts 1 and 2. They were extremely catchy, and I never skipped them. The ending theme was Roundabout by progressive rock band YES, which actually came out in the 70s—and influenced the original manga! and I applaud DP for that choice. The song’s lyrics fit extremely well and it is actually one of Araki Hirohiko’s favorite bands! Also, because it is an 8 minute song, they used different snippets, some soft, some more intense, depending on what kind of note the episode ended on. That was genius and definitely made the watching experience better. If it were up to the OP and ED alone I'd give the sound a 10/10
As for the actual soundtrack, because of the difference in atmosphere between Parts 1 and 2, or at least I assume it’s for that reason, DP hired two composers and gave us two soundtracks per part. Phantom Blood was mostly orchestral, very fitting with the late Victorian feel we get when we think of England in the 1880s. It fit extremely well and I applaud Matsuo Hayato for his beautiful soundtrack. Part 2, being much more dynamic and quite literally “all over the place”, has Iwasaki Taku, who worked with his friends Lotus Juice. The soundtrack he made has soft, orchestral pieces and, well, everything. He has rap/hip-hop, rock, metal, DUBSTEP, and even flutes and drums that bring a middle-eastern feel. Personally, I thought the dubstep was actually very good and tamer than most, and that it fit well the middle-eastern sounds he composed for with the Pillar Men, the main antagonists of Part 2. The sound direction, however, was not as amazing. Iwasaki Taku complained himself, over Twitter, that his songs were not being used correctly, and, after paying close attention to episodes 22 and 23, I can’t say I disagree. David Productions flubbed it when it came to transitioning the music and providing an appropriate atmosphere with the songs in those two episodes. For that reason, although the music itself was superb, I will have to give it an 8 total.
Story - 9/10
Story is pretty simple, to say the least. The original story came out in 1987, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. Phantom Blood can be pretty much summed up as Castlevania with Hokuto no Ken elements, which shouldn’t be seen as bad in any way. Araki Hirohiko wanted to make a solid base so that he could evolve his work throughout time, and I think he did a pretty good job, taking in the work of contemporaries around him. The first part is hot-blooded, fast-paced, and the definition of “camp”. Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando are probably the most one-dimensional characters you will ever find, but it is because they were so static, they polarized each other and made the fight between them so interesting. Dio Part 1's main antagonist, from the first episode, is depicted to us as the very definition of EVIL at the age of 12! Although the story is simple, the characters are definitely what make the sure. In Battle Tendency, the story takes a more adventurous route and we see our new JoJo, Joseph Joestar, go from New York, to Mexico, to Italy, to Sweden, and it’s amazing. The main antagonists of this part are a powerful trio of “Pillar Men” called Wham, ACDC, and Cars, responsible for the creation of the stone mask that set the events in Part 1. The continuity is great and you definitely feel time passing as you watch the series, characters like Speedwagon and Erina are shown old, and with every major timeskip you see differences in character design. Story, when it boils down to it, just has to be interesting. I was definitely interested in the stories for Parts 1 and 2 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. They were simple, straight, and to the point, which made it possible to expand more on the character dynamics, arguably the strongest part of this series. There were no long and obnoxious training arcs, the fights are NOT dragged out—probably the most common flaw in shonen battle series—and if there are cliches, they are exaggerated to their extremes. This series does not take itself that seriously, and when it does, you can bet that you’ll be on the edge of your seat. Story gets a 9/10 from me.
Character - 10/10
As for the characters. Araki sure knows how to get you attached to characters. And then rip them away from you. There are definitely deaths in this series and they are dramatic and will definitely tug at your heart. Also, the voice actors are passionate and work admirably together. Takehito Koyasu, with his smooth, deep voice will send chills down your spine whenever Dio is formulating a plot or mocking JoJo. Okitsu Kazuyuki may be a newbie, unlike the slew of veterans in the rest of the cast, but he makes Jonathan Joestar so damn LIKABLE with his passionate screams, calm reassurance, and definitely makes the heart of gold in this character shine brightly. Sugita Tomokazu, probably best known for his characteristic shonen gag voice as Gintoki (Gintama) and serious/apathetic voice as Kyon (Haruhi Suzumiya series), makes a perfect Joseph Joestar, because Joseph embodies the ideal shonen protagonist—smart, strong, funny, and extremely expressive. Basically, where the animation fell short, I believe that the voice actors definitely picked up the slack. Everyone has fun, because this is supposed to be a fun series. I love it. Characters get 5/5 from me. Both as they were written and how they were acted, you can definitely feel the chemistry between all the voices and that made it way more enjoyable.
Enjoyment - 10/10
Enjoyment. I keep on mentioning this when I score each aspect of the show for this review. Ultimately, when you watch an anime, or any show, movie, etc; you do so because you want to enjoy and be entertained. I can almost guarantee that if you go and watch this show with a blank slate and just a pure, unadulterated desire to be entertained, you will not come out disappointed. Just keep in mind that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a series that is 25 years in the making, and this is but the beginning. It is without a doubt my favorite manga series, and this long-awaited anime adaption gives it the justice that it deserves. If you watch it, and enjoy it, like I said you probably will, then I implore to take up the manga. You can skip right to Part 3, the most popular arc in the franchise, but I recommend reading from the beginning, you’ll pick out some tiny things left out that couldn’t be conveyed through the anime, and you’ll see the evolution of Araki Hirohiko’s art throughout the ages.
But first, if you watch the anime, I recommend Muda Muda Muda Subs [MMM] subs or CommieSubs [Commie]. They are the most accurate subs and if you prefer a better script, go with MMM, if you want better typesetting and subtitled SFX, go with Commie. Personally, I used MMM because they are a group that got together solely for this series, released in a timely schedule with accurate subs, took advice/criticism well, and also have better encoding.
I hope that after this review some of you watch this show and develop the same love I have for it!
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (2012), Battle Tendency, Phantom Blood, Sentou Chouryuu, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure The Animation
Japanese: ジョジョの奇妙な冒険
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
26
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Oct 6, 2012 to Apr 6, 2013
Premiered:
Fall 2012
Broadcast:
Saturdays at 00:30 (JST)
Studios:
David Production
Source:
Manga
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Statistics
Ranked:
#8272
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#59
Members:
1,661,349
Favorites:
37,105
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 258 / 313
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Your Feelings Categories Apr 7, 2013
This is my favorite series ever, and it finally got a real weekly anime adaptation after 25 years—the ‘94 and ‘00 OVAs and the Phantom Blood movie, which never saw DVD/home video release do not count—there is definitely some bias in this review. That said, there’s a reason I still didn’t give it a perfect score, and it’s because I’m still trying to keep a hint of objectivity in here.
Art - 8/10 I suppose I’ll start off with how it adapted the source material. Unlike the OVAs and Phantom Blood movie, there were no cuts in content, and it actually adapted parts 1 and 2 of ... Apr 6, 2013
It's time to take a trip back to the 1800s, an age of time when the Napoleonic era and the rise of many colonies took place among various empires. History isn't easy to trace with certain origins but Jojo's Bizarre Adventure has its origins traced back with its original series. The fantastic journey finally begins! Yup, it's here and and this series suddenly is one hell of an anime that will not only bring some nostologia but excitement to you. Join Jojo Joestar and his many bizarre adventures as he embarges on a journey and learn about the wonders of the world.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) ... Feb 14, 2015
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure isn't just about silly glitz and glamour that some people seem to assume upon viewing. When watching it,
It almost gave me that first impression, but to my curiosity and interest it became something more than just this being a generic show. It is an undeniably fun series first of all. Secondly, it is a shounen that is unique and different to a hell of a lot of shounen animes out there today that I feel bring an interesting blend of Dark comical yet a wacky and serious tone to viewing and the thing I love the most about this show is that ... May 17, 2014
This adaptation of JoJo covers Part 1: Phantom Blood & Part 2:Battle Tendency. Both parts are unique 80's horror shonen filled with MANLINESS! The following will be split into two reviews per part below. The reason for this is that every JoJo part should NOT be skipped as each have their own tone. Examples include: Phantom Blood being a classical vampire hunter story while Battle Tendency feels very much like an Indiana Jones film. However, both animes are filled with stylish colors, great characters & outstanding music!!
PART 1: PHANTOM BLOOD (EPS 1-9) The beginning of JoJo seems a bit rough at first but manages to give ... Nov 6, 2012
First, a premise: I am NOT a Jojo fan from any previous series, nor I ever read the manga. When I approached this new anime, I did it only out of advice from an online friend, knowing that Jojo's Bizarre Adventure was... kind of a milestone and a very famous manga? Really, that's it. I had no idea what was expecting me. Which actually made it all the more enjoyable.
Now, TO THE REVIEWMOBILE! Story: 8 The story so far, if not complex or especially well written, is fun, thrilling, and chock-full of action and awesomeness. The first impression I got from Jojo's Bizzare Adventure was that this ... Jun 17, 2015
The keyword "Bizarre" in it's title is more then appropriate.
And considering the many details the show has it's difficult to find a point to start talking about it to explain everything, but I'm going to give an attempt. The First thing to address is probably the story and the storytelling of JoJo. where it basically does everything wrong in such a way that it becomes hysterical to watch and not to mention the big layer of 80's cheese that covers it all. JoJo tells it's story through the worst way possible "exposition". and not just a little bit. The characters will explain literally EVERYTHING that is happening in ... Mar 22, 2015
For veteran viewers that's been around long enough to notice it, the manly man protagonist has become something of a dying breed. A relic of anime's past that has been dwindling away year after year with no signs of slowing down. Many saw the change as a product of the times. Something that should simply be accepted as a predestined occurrence. The manly man was no longer marketable. Their role as a protagonist was brought to retirement, reduced to being a part of the growing collection of side character archetypes, stockpiled for future use as high school delinquents and muscle-bound uncles with far too much
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Nov 10, 2013
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is popular for it's manga and I had no idea what to expect when picking up this anime. Manga is not my means of entertainment but the anime as it was presented to me intrigued me to watch it. It was recommended to me as a masterpiece, a must watch and as one of the best shounen with intelligent fights. So is it a masterpiece? To put it objectively, yes and no.Please evaluate the review after you have read it, thank you. Keep reading.
First of all for those who have no idea what this is about let me clear this up for ... Apr 26, 2014
If I had to describe JoJo's Bizarre Adventures with one word, that word would be, without a doubt, passion. A story of young and righteous men and their fight to secure a safe future for their families, friends, and ultimately, the world. A record of a fierce rivalry between the ultimate evil and a man who serves the side of justice, and the legacy they leave behind. A tale of fleeting romance, brotherly bonds, and, of course, hot blooded battles. This is the epitome of JoJo, one of the most unconventional, interesting, and captivating shows I have had the pleasure of watching thus far.
JoJo's Bizarre ... Nov 7, 2015
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
I'm new to Jojo, i haven't read the manga so i didn't knew what i was getting into, nor i was expecting more than one protagonist, i instantly thought it was similar to Hokuto no Ken with a Castlevania type of vampires, and that was great, i was really surprised at everything this anime had to offer. Story The story has two parts, Part 1 is Phantom Blood and Part two is Battle Tendency; Part 1 starts with the story of two young boys that met in their youth, Jonathan Joestar (JoJo) a boy from a wealthy and respected family and with a ... May 29, 2014
After a decidedly mixed adaption of Part 3, and a critically panned feature movie of Part 1, it took until 2012 until we got the definitive adaption of Araki's magnum opus; Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, the anime now famous for it huge, muscular men and overall crazy adventures.
Story: The first 'season' of Jojo covers the first two arcs of Araki's manga; Part 1: Phantom Blood and Part 2: Battle Tendency. Phantom Blood features primarilly Jonathon Joestar, a wealthy astroicrat living with his father George Joestar, with the addition of Dio Brando, who has come to stay due to a promise from George. However, things take a decidedly ... Nov 27, 2012
YES YES YES YES YES AND YES
FINALLY SOMEONE HAS LISTENED TO MY PRAYERS Although this might sound like a fan boy ranting (IT IS INDEED), it doesn't not deny the fact that this show with all its history from the first anime featuring volume 3 star dust crusaders, is the epitome and the pinnacle of FRIG-GIN AWESOMENESS If you (like me) have watched the old series and liked it then boy oh boy, you're in for a treat from sound (AWESOME OPENING THEM AND ENDING THEME WTF !!!) to art, and characterization and plot, to engaging and heart-wrenching animation, it will fuckin spoil you with dozens of stellar images ... Dec 7, 2014
(This has been adapted from my reddit thread)
Nothing on this planet exists quite like the notion of family. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents; everyone has or has had them. And while we may not always get along over the dinner table, deep down the connections we share with our family are unlike anything else we know. Many times, these bonds are tested, often verging on the point of breaking. But with a careful hand (and maybe a bit of Hamon), the ties that bind us can truly never be broken. Such is the tale of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and what a tale ... Jun 8, 2014
How to describe JoJo's Bizarre Adventure... Imagine Johnny Bravo and Zoolander fighting the Ginyu Force in a anime funded by Old Spice. Yes, I said it. It is a cavalcade of over-the-top manliness camp that couldn't bore you if it even tried. And that is what I will review JoJo for what it is, leaving any expectations of a deep, well written story at the door.
Story: 7 JoJo's story takes place in several different time eras, from 19th century Britain to pre-World War 2 Europe (and Mexico, surprisingly). The accuracy of how it captures the essence of those eras is up to debate. A lot ... Mar 30, 2015
When an anime is pigeonholed based on its most popular or well-known feature, it does a great disservice to the anime. People only see the show as a part of what makes it unique.
Should you watch Jojo's Bizarre Adventure *only* because it is "GAR" or super-manly-moe-stomping-fun? Absolutely not. Should you watch Jojo's Bizarre Adventure because it has an interesting premise, great art, amazing music and voice acting performances, and some fascinating characters? Absolutely YES. Story: The show is divided into 2 parts, with different feels. The first is a Victorian-era action-adventure, with our hero learning to master a supernatural power, and fighting supernatural enemies. The second ... Dec 16, 2012
When I heard there was going to be a 2012 adaptation of Jojo, I expected the focus to be on just Stardust Crusaders. What I didn't expect was that it would adapt all parts up to Stone Ocean, which makes me a happy panda.
Now, onto the review: Story: The story is split into different segments due to there being parts in the story and so far we only have Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency so its not finished, but I'll try not to spoil anything, but it all ties to the Joestar's conflict with Dio. The story starts with George Joestar being found near death and owing ... Feb 9, 2014
If you don't feel like reading a full review of Jojo, all you have to know is this: This is the most fun you'll ever have watching a show. It sounds like hyperbole, and most of the time it would be, but this show is truly that fantastic. Let's skip the summary (which you can find above) and jump right into what makes this show so great.
First of all, it is utterly absurd in the best ways possible. The evil villains are super evil, the good guys are super good, and everyone is SUPER MANLY! This is without a doubt the most gar show out ... Dec 11, 2012
I love Jojo's bizarre adventure and this anim is a good surprise, because I don't see a film phantom blood (the film anime Jojo's is not translate at french and english)I discover a first party( I was read at manga)
The opening and ending are beautiful, it's happy and I wait a three saison (Jôtaro Kujo)because a first adaptation is bad ( too short). I see a two party battle tendancy (first episode with a sub english, i wait version french, but the battle tendancy seem respect the manga. PS: Excuse me , my english is bad and I'm french. Nov 18, 2012
Yes, I am a jojo fan. I read all the manga (on 8). I'll try to keep the baised opinions to a minimum.
Story: Very easy to pick up, as you would expect with any shonen. But as a shonen, it is quite generic. Well, Phantom Blood was written around the time of Dragonball, so I'm not too surprised. I do like the concept of ripple energy though. Also, every character has a habit of explaining everything, every move, every object, every attack in detail, so it might get a tad annoying (though I don't mind it). Art: Araki's stronest point. JoJo is beyond famous for its ... Mar 15, 2014
So here I am with my second review, this time about Jojo´s Bizarre Adventure.
As with my last review, feedback will be very appreciated. Well then let´s begin Story (7/10): The story of Jojo´s is quite simple and straightforward, we have our villain that wants to take over the world and our protagonist that wants to defeat the villain and save humanity. The thing about this series is that it doesn´t take itself too seriously, I mean at all, because not much of what happens has any sense or logic, everything is over the top and they like to explain everything with our protagonist special power "The Hamon" (or Ripple ... |