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 it is.
STORY
Our story begins with Jonathon Joestar, a young boy who earns himself a new brother, Dio Brando. After many altercations, the two find themselves at a crossroad.
Immediately when the anime begins, it gives off an enticing presence. It's not overpowering, but you know right from the get-go that this one behaves completely different from anything before it. The overly detailed characters, the verbose explanations, and the over-the-top outcomes of anything that goes on culminate in this amazing vibe the show gives off. It might be somewhat unfair to say, but it's better to experience it than to have it described to you. That's how unmistakable and unique the show feels.
The story, getting slightly spoiler-y, spans multiple generations of the Jojo family tree. It's actually quite fascinating for two reasons: it shifts the focus from one main character to the next and allows for complete and fulfilling story arcs. Time skips in any show are always a tricky thing to pull off, because it requires the audience to reinvest themselves in characters that either had rushed/skipped character development or in ones that are brand new.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure opts for a mix of the two. It utilizes both old and new characters to make the transition easier. By providing the old ones, we as an audience already understand and know their background. Their purpose, then, was to serve as catalysts for the new. In this way, the new characters never feel distant, since their literal familial history gives them the needed personality and character traits. Now, obviously, the later characters stand apart from their ancestors in one form or another, but the way in which everything tied together so nicely was great to see.
If there was an award in "Explaining the Current Predicament," Jojo's Bizarre Adventure would win with flying colors. No matter the situation, no matter how dire things may seem, the show will, without fail, explain exactly what is going on. Interestingly enough, this never gets old. This is most likely due to the nature of the show itself being incredibly over-the-top and crazy in the first place. The overall goals during each arc are simple, and are not the focus. Instead, it's what is happening then and now. Whether Jojo is running with a football or holding a glass of water, every detail is looked at. This further adds to the already awesome presence the show gives off.
One final note. Being completely honest, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is the same from beginning to end. It doesn't explore any themes, it's not trying to enlighten you, and it never provides a new insight on life. It's a wacky ride from start to finish. And while in context it is coherent in the story it tells, there is really nothing here to analyze. It's tough men and women fighting to save the world.
ANIMATION
Another standout feature in this adventure is the art style that the anime adopts.
First and foremost come the character designs themselves. Gone are the days of huge eyes and scraggly teenagers late into high school. No, the characters here are "real" men and women. Taking place in areas outside of Japan, the characters fit the part, both in aesthetic and physical appearance. Furthermore, everyone is heavily detailed. Contours on their faces, sharp lines for their muscles, and varying outfit choices make them stand out not only from among different shows but from one another as well.
Second, the style. Style here isn't so much the art but in how it is presented. In this case, it is done in "comic book" fashion. Actions sometimes get accompanying onomatopoeia, facial close-ups, frame breaks; it really feels like a comic book has come to life right before your eyes.
Last but not least is in the art itself. The show essentially takes all the colors of the rainbow, puts them in a bucket, grabs a handful of this paint, and chucks it at the drawings. What we get are a flurry and amalgamation of colors that are constantly changing. It not only makes the scenes contain varying and interesting color palettes, but makes the different scenarios refreshing to look at since they morph every few minutes or so. It's a really cool effect that the show employs masterfully.
One of the show's faults comes in its actual animation. For the most part, it is quite minimal. The massive amount of character details, the cool presentation, and the revolving art are the portions of the show that saw the majority of the resources, leaving little for this section.
CHARACTERS
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure has a slew of characters, but I'll talk about some of the more important ones: Baron and Caesar Zeppeli, Speedwagon, Jojo, and of course, Dio.
Baron and Caesar are what most men aspire to be: charming with the ladies, strong both physically and mentally, and stalwart in their convictions. But above all else, they have the innate ability to do whatever it takes to turn the situation in their favor. If anything, their characters serve to demonstrate that sometimes we can't always do things on our own. Sometimes, we require a little outside influence.
Speedwagon is that guy you wish you had as a friend. It doesn't matter what you may be doing, he always has your back through thick and thin. And if we had to give that explanatory award to one individual, Speedwagon earns it without a doubt. Almost exclusively there to give us the rundown of what is going on at that very second, his "power" isn't demonstrated until much later, and even then it is only alluded to. Constantly in the shadows of the more vocal and obtuse men of the show, he may seem like a side character, but there is no Jojo without Speedwagon.
Jojo is definitely a good protagonist. Smart, strong, and skilled in many arts, his ability to turn a situation in his favor is rivaled by no one. His success as a "Hamon" user makes him a force to be reckoned with, and his chivalrous ways allow him to be the true gentleman that he's always been. Right alongside Speedwagon and the others, you'll be calling out "Jojo!" right up until the finish. At this point, you may be asking yourself, "Yea, but which one?" To which I respond, "Exactly."
Arguably the best character from the show is Dio Brando. His characterization is interesting because of how well it plays with the family idea. Driven by hate towards his own father and the Joestar name, he makes it his mission to thwart Jojo whenever he can. He's not necessarily wrong, just completely misguided. He's intelligent and honorable as a warrior, and his ideals about obtaining power and ruling over all are evil. But these goals mirror his true feelings; he's extremely lonely. Pushing Jojo and Jojo's father away was more instinctual than intentional. He never really experienced true love, in any form, in order to allow him to realize that what he always really wanted was right next to him all along.
SOUND
The first OP sort of "sets the stage" for what the show is all about. It's not so much a song as it is a small poem. The best part is actually the "Jojo" part that happens a select view times; it sort of sounds like the beating of a heart.
The second OP is more artistic in its lyrics and presentation. The trumpets, vocals, and continuous drum/cymbal beat make it a bit more lively, coinciding with the more lively atmosphere and characters.
The ED is obviously the most interesting. Not only because it is a Western song, but why it was chosen in the first place. My interpretation is not so much in the lyrics themselves but in just the title alone: "Roundabout." That is, as is demonstrated by Jojo time and again, the solution to the problem at hand is almost always quite roundabout.
The rest of the soundtrack does have some good pieces, such as the triumphant score that plays when Jojo is going to win or the Pillar Men's more Aztec sounding piece. Also of note here is the sound effect, used to great effect, when the camera is zooming in or moving from one scene to the next.
Voice acting wise, I found everyone did fine work in the roles they represented. This is especially true for characters like Speedwagon or Von Stroheim who consistently had to scream or elevate their voices to match the scenarios at hand.
ENJOYMENT
I can't recall not laughing during any single episode for this one. There was always something ridiculous happening on screen, from the comedic writing to the crazy yet "realistic" answers for the zany holes that the characters found themselves in. Even just Speedwagon saying, "What?!" or the bad guy at the time going, "Impossible!" would always give me the biggest grin imaginable.
The show is not afraid of showing some rather gruesome material. Things such as accordian'd fingers, heads chopped horizontally at nose-level, and melting flesh are the norm. If someone gets unsettled by such content, the anime might not be for them. But if you can handle such brutality, it just makes the entire experience that much more enjoyable.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is just straight up fun. It's presentation, the story, and the writing make it supremely different from almost any other show out there. On enjoyment alone the show could be considered perfection. It honestly is that much of a great time. But considering the whole package, the final product doesn't quite reach that status. Yet it goes without saying there isn't and probably will never be anything quite like Jojo.
SUMMARY
Story: Good, Jojo makes its mark
Animation: Good, unique art style with little actual animation
Characters: Great, Jojo, Dio, Speedwagon, and the rest play their parts
Sound: Good, okay OPs, good ED, nice soundtrack, nice VA work
Enjoyment: Great, really nothing else like it
Final Score: 8/10
