JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (TV)

The year is 1868; English nobleman George Joestar and his son Jonathan become indebted to Dario Brando after being rescued from a carriage incident. What the Joestars don't realize, however, is that Dario had no intention of helping them; he believed they were dead and was trying to ransack their belongings. After Dario's death 12 years later, George—hoping to repay his debt—adopts his son, Dio.

While he publicly fawns over his new father, Dio secretly plans to steal the Joestar fortune. His first step is to create a divide between George and Jonathan. By constantly outdoing his foster brother, Dio firmly makes his place in the Joestar family. But when Dio pushes Jonathan too far, Jonathan defeats him in a brawl.

Years later, the two appear to be close friends to the outside world. But trouble brews again when George falls ill, as Jonathan suspects that Dio is somehow behind the incident—and it appears he has more tricks up his sleeve.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Joestar, Joseph Main

Sugita, Tomokazu Japanese

Brando, Dio Main

Koyasu, Takehito Japanese

Speedwagon, Robert E. O. Main

Ueda, Youji Japanese

Joestar, Jonathan Main

Okitsu, Kazuyuki Japanese

Zeppeli, Caesar Anthonio Main

Satou, Takuya Japanese

Lisa Lisa Main

Tanaka, Atsuko Japanese

Zeppeli, Will A. Main

Shioya, Yoku Japanese

Kuujou, Joutarou Supporting

von Stroheim, Rudol Supporting

Imaruoka, Atsushi Japanese

Kars Supporting

Inoue, Kazuhiko Japanese

Mizusaki, Junpei Producer, Episode Director

Oomori, Hiroyuki Producer

Fukuda, Jun Producer

Kajita, Kouji Producer

Reviews

Sep 29, 2024

oozePOP

Recommended

The first season of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is quite a fun ride. At first, it felt a little too chaotic for my liking, but with time, this show will grow on you. The visual aspect of this show alone is enough to attract you, but the hilarious and wild story will keep you watching. There's not too much room for character development in this season, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You don't really grow attached to any specific characters, so you don't really need to see any character development. When you tune into this anime, all you should expect is completely unexplainable craziness. ...

You might find that this anime moves a little slow at first, and sure, the story is a little slow-moving, but a big part of the fun of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is to just enjoy the ride. If you watch this anime just wanting to watch an arc conclude and then move on to the next arc, you will miss out on a lot of the finer details of this anime, like the clever and funny fight scenes and the dramatic music that drives the scenes forward.

jojo'z Bizarre Adventure is a must-watch for anime fans who like to collect the most unique and quintessential anime. It's not my favorite anime of all time, but it's entertaining and enjoyable enough to warrant me reading the manga even though I'm already watching the anime.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Sep 24, 2024

raviwe

Mixed Feelings

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is, in my opinion, the greatest manga I've ever experienced, and this adaptation captures its beginnings. While the adaptation benefits from hindsight in addressing aspects of the manga that might not have aged well, it also sacrifices important thematic developments. I believe its reputation as a "meme series" often overshadows the depth of the story. Yes, it’s highly "memeable," but it’s much more than that.

Let’s break it down: We'll start by discussing what this manga is about and the themes it explores. Then, we’ll consider whether the beginning might be misleading, and finally, we’ll delve into how well it utilizes the major ... elements of the medium to convey its message.

I’ll also touch on whether this adaptation serves as a good starting point for new viewers compared to other Parts and the original manga. [Not really a spoiler]—the manga is a lot better, but the adaptation is still very good.

So, what is this show about?

Every part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure shares the common theme of "love for humanity," with a special focus on karma, especially as it pertains to fate, family, and community. Each Part also explores additional themes that complement the larger narrative, allowing for a deeper examination of these subjects. The concepts of fate and the "ripples" your actions have on family and society are particularly strong thematic threads here.

Part 1 centers around honor and courage, set in the 1880s, with the ideal of the gentleman as its focus.

Part 2, set in the 1930s, shifts the focus to heroes, emphasizing will and courage. It’s worth noting that the 1930s was the decade of the rise of the Nazis. In my opinion, few manga portray Nazis as effectively as JoJo's. While it’s unclear how intentional this was, Nazi ideology’s connection to the idea of the "ubermensch" (or "superman") serves as a stark contrast to the heroic ideal. This contrast is somewhat common in Western comics but remains effective and relatively rare in manga.

Unfortunately, the adaptation seems eager to move past this part to reach later segments, significantly watering down the themes compared to the manga. Given that JoJo's is more consistent in its themes than in its plot, the adaptation may come off as more whimsical and flimsy.

First things first, let’s talk art direction.

This is where the animation truly benefits from hindsight. In the early days of JoJo's, the art was the area where Araki grew most as an artist. The animation studio had the opportunity to align the art more closely with the themes, avoiding some of the experimental aspects that didn’t quite work in the original manga.

The sound design is even better. Though there are moments of inconsistency, overall, it’s phenomenal. The openings are masterpieces that almost elevate the anime to the manga’s level, in my opinion. The theme songs for the main protagonists and antagonists are also excellent.

So, how does it start?

In a way, this entire series is a starting point. The thematic setup is fantastic, and everything is more tightly woven than one might realize on a first viewing. The pacing, however, varies wildly. Part 1 feels frantic, as if rushing to get to the actual story in Parts 2 and 3 even more so than the manga. Part 2, on the other hand, takes its time but still rushes through certain sections.

Now, let’s talk about world-building. The world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a slight alteration of our real world, with alternative explanations for certain things and the inclusion of fictitious characters, places, and events.

It’s hard to say if this adaptation provides a good preview of what’s to come. The story changes significantly as it progresses, and even the structure differs from what you’ll see in later Parts.

On starting points: If you’re adamant about experiencing JoJo's as it was intended, the Part 1 manga is the best starting point. However, if you’re open to exploring the series overall, I’d recommend watching the anime first and then circling back to the manga later. The manga is much better at thematically setting up what’s to come, but the anime is still a great experience and benefits from hindsight.

As for skipping Parts, Parts 1 to 3 were planned together. Despite what some might say, you can start the series from other Parts (except Part 6, which was made as an extension of Part 3 in many ways). I recommend Parts 5 and 7 as alternative starting points. I fell in love with JoJo's from the get-go, and there’s a starting point for everyone—just choose one and ignore those who say otherwise. On the other hand, if you think you’d enjoy starting at Part 4, you’d probably enjoy Part 1 as well, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping it.

What about the characters?

The characters are the hidden gems of JoJo's. They feel like they were created for another show where they’d be the main characters, yet they end up here as seemingly random helpers with an abundance of background and personality.

They might even remind you of people you meet in real life—they simply come and go. Likewise, they don’t always complete their character arcs or receive explanations for their behavior, and they often leave the scene too soon. It’s as if Araki is recounting a story that actually happened, with these characters being real people who played a part in it.

This starts to shift in Part 2, where a main cast of recurring characters gets more screen time. Since each character is significant to the themes, everyone in this Part gets a character arc (which is uncommon in JoJo's, so don’t get used to it).

I also want to address the recent myth that "static characters are bad." That’s nonsense. Superman and Goku have plenty of static arcs that are great. Character development is fantastic when it serves the story, as can be seen in JoJo's. Characters who need development get it; those who don’t might still receive it if it fits their personality. The story and characters don’t need to warp just to accommodate an arbitrary factor.

What about the story itself?

Part 1 is the simplest of JoJo's stories and the weakest point of this arc. JoJo's can’t start with complexity, and that aligns with the character discussion. If a character has a different objective, they probably wouldn’t even be depicted. Araki is a masterful storyteller in the most fundamental sense.

He crafts a story that could be told around campfires, relying heavily on tension and themes. Tension is a simple concept and the only deeper element in this first part, which revolves around how evil the antagonist can be—and he delivers. The themes build from part to part, allowing for more complex explorations.

Part 2, however, is the story of one of JoJo's most beloved protagonists for a reason. It’s almost as much about Joseph Joestar as it is about what’s actually happening. While it still lacks some complexity, the themes are already much more intricate than in the first part.

As indicated in the Themes section of this review, the themes in Part 2 are much deeper, as they build upon the foundation laid in Part 1.

So, what did I think of it as a whole?

I think JoJo's is far less niche than people give it credit for—and much deeper and better written too. It has a lot of suspense, with even some horror elements. The art is masterful, and the themes eventually reach profound depths. In the manga, Parts 7 and 8 even explore more complex plot developments and mature thematic ramifications.

Part 2 is also an incredibly enjoyable segment on its own, as Joseph is that rare protagonist who is both smart and written by a smart writer. His tactics are always grounded in something theoretically possible, yet are unthinkable in battle.

For me, it’s a 9 out of 10, and that’s the rating I’d give for those who read the manga. However, given how much better the manga is, I’m forced to give the adaptation:

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Apr 22, 2024

KulMan

Not Recommended

(TLDR at the end) Part 1: I first should clarify what i count as part 1. In season 1 of jojos, there are 2 stories told, that of Jonathan and Joseph. I dont consider this whole season as part 1. I consider part 1 when Jonathan was the lead, and part 2 is when Joseph was the lead..

Now that we got that clear, lets get into my thoughts about part 1: I really hate that power system Hamon. It was kinda fun and interesting at the beginning, but it got boring really fast.
Lets talk about the mc for a bit now... The main ... character, Jonathan is a very bland character. Horrible writting. Jonathan is one of those characters that is too perfect that is always in the right, which kinda ruins a characters writing. He is a gentlemen that respects women, he is a kind man, willing to forgive his best friend for every crime he has commited. I just wish he did something immoral/wrong so that we could get good character writing.

i'll talk about the villain now. Dio, one of the most iconic villains in all of anime. He is the reason why I didnt just drop the anime. This character is pure evil. He has recieved alot of kindness from others, but he never cared to repay it. In fact, he turned his back to the people that were horrible to him. I really love villains that are pure evil. They tend to be very well written. He is very consistent in his "Villainessness". There isnt a moment where a single kindness is shown from him. These types of characters are really rare. Usually, most pure evil villains in anime are inconsictent, but Dio is one of the exceptions.

You know, the dynamics between Jonathan and Dio had alot of potential, since you know, Dio is like the personification of evil, and Jonathan is the personification of good, and the contrast is amazing, but the dynamics were very poorly executed. I dont remember much about the anime, so i cant go into more detail about side characters and stuff. What i remember is Speedwagon tho. I believe he made his appearance in the first part. Speedwagon is such a good support character, and i absolutely love him. This might be a weird comparison but he is kinda like Alfred from "Batman". He is like the mentor and a useful person to all of the jojos. To sum up, the anime did a lot of right things, but the good is overshadowed by the horrendous power system and the mc, so thats why i didnt like it. Overall, this part is quite disappointing.

TLDR of part 1: Part 1 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure introduces Jonathan Joestar as the main character and Dio Brando as the iconic villain. While the dynamic between Jonathan and Dio has potential, it falls short due to Jonathan's bland characterization and the poorly executed power system of Hamon. Despite the introduction of memorable supporting characters like Speedwagon, the flaws in the main aspects of the story overshadow its strengths, making it bad overall.

(TLDR at the end.) Part 2: My favorite Joestar, Joseph Joestar! He is also one of my favorite characters. Joseph wasnt very well written, im gonna admit that, but at least he wasnt perfect like Jonathan from part 1. You know, this is like one of the characters that are so enjoyable that they make me forget about their writing, and that doesnt happen that often. Joseph is a really smart character, my favorite feature in any anime character. Joseph isnt affraid to fight dirty. In fact, that is his main thing in this part, fighting dirty. He is willing to risk his life to save others tho, which is commandable.

But you know, for me having an mc perfect like that could be really damaging for an anime. The mc can be soo good that you basically forget the side- cast. This is exactly what happened for me in part 2. Every single character was overshadowed by Josephs superiority in enjoyability. Also, we dont have Dio anymore as the main villain. Instead, we get Kars. I mean, kars is a fairly decent and underrated villain, but yeah, he is nothing compared to Dio. See, this is what im talking about. Kars is a good villain, but since we had Dio in part 1, im ofc going to be dissapointed when the villain is no where near as good as Dio. That is very subjective tho. Also, we still have Hamon in this part, and its even more unbearable in here, since the more it is used, the more tiring it gets. Overall, this part is rather lacking.

TLDR of part 2: Part 2 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure features Joseph Joestar as the main character, known for his wit and willingness to fight dirty. While Joseph is enjoyable, his overshadowing of the side characters and the lack of a compelling villain like Dio detract from the overall experience. The continued use of the Hamon power system also becomes more tiresome in this part, contributing to its overall disappointment.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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