is a Japanese
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series written and illustrated by
Hirohiko Araki. It was originally serialized in
Shueisha
is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Shueisha is the largest publishing company in Japan. It was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The ...
's
manga magazine ''
Weekly Shōnen Jump
is a weekly Shōnen manga, ''shōnen'' manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the ''Jump (magazine line), Jump'' line of magazines. The manga series within the magazine consist of many Action (fiction), action scenes and a fair ...
'' from 1987 to 2004, and was transferred to the monthly
manga magazine ''
Ultra Jump
is a Japanese monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. Originally, the magazine was a special issue of ''Weekly Young Jump'' which was first issued in 1995. On October 19, 1999, the special issue bec ...
'' in 2005. The series is divided into a total of nine main
story arc
A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of a plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing narrative, storyline in episode, episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strip ...
s, each following a new protagonist bearing the "JoJo" nickname. ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' is the
largest ongoing manga series published by Shueisha by number of volumes, with its chapters collected in 136 volumes as of December 2024.
From 1993 to 2002,
A.P.P.P. produced a
13-episode original video animation (OVA) adapting the manga's third part, ''
Stardust Crusaders''. The studio later produced an
anime film adapting the first part, ''
Phantom Blood'', which was released in theaters in Japan in 2007. In October 2012, an
anime television series produced by
David Production adapting ''Phantom Blood'' and ''
Battle Tendency'' began broadcast on
Tokyo MX
JOMX-DTV (channel 9), branded as Tokyo MX (officially stylized as TOKYO MX), is an independent station, independent television station in Tokyo, Japan, owned by the . It is the only television station that exclusively serves the city and parts ...
. As of December 2022, the studio has produced five seasons consisting of 190 total episodes, adapting through the manga's sixth part, ''
Stone Ocean''. An anime adaptation of the manga's seventh part, ''
Steel Ball Run'' has been announced. A
live-action film
Live action is a form of cinematography or videography that uses photography instead of animation. Some works combine live action with animation to create a Live-action animation, live-action animated feature film. Live action is used to define ...
based on the fourth part, ''
Diamond Is Unbreakable'', was directed by
Takashi Miike
is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over 100 feature film, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films span a variety of different genres, ranging from violent and surrealism, b ...
and released in Japan in 2017.
''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' is well known for its art style and poses, frequent references to Western
popular music
Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...
and
fashion
Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, Fashion accessory, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into Clothing, outfits that depict distinct ...
, and battles centered around Stands, psycho-spiritual manifestations with unique supernatural abilities. The series had over 120 million copies in circulation by August 2023, making it one of the
best-selling manga series in history, and it has spawned a
media franchise
A media franchise, also known as a multimedia franchise, is a collection of related media in which several derivative works have been produced from an original creative work of fiction, such as a film, a work of literature, a television program, o ...
including
one-shot manga
In comics, a one-shot is a work composed of a single standalone issue or chapter, contrasting a Limited series (comics), limited series or ongoing series, which are composed of multiple issues or chapters.Albert, Aaron"One Shot Definition" About E ...
,
light novel
A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging.
The abbr ...
s, and
video games
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
. The manga, TV anime, and live-action film are licensed in North America by
Viz Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
, which has produced various English-language releases of the series since 2005.
Plot
The universe of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' is a reflection of the real world with the added existence of supernatural forces and beings.
In this setting, some people are capable of transforming their inner spiritual power into a ; another significant form of energy is , a martial arts technique that allows its user to focus bodily energy into sunlight via controlled breathing. The narrative of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' is split into parts with independent stories and different characters. Each of the series' protagonists is a member of the Joestar family, whose mainline descendants possess a star-shaped birthmark above their left shoulder blade and a name that can be abbreviated to the titular "JoJo". The first six parts take place within a single continuity whose generational conflict stems from the rivalry between
Jonathan Joestar
is a fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying character (arts), individuals, events, or setting (narrative), places that are imagination, imaginary or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are ...
and
Dio Brando
, later known mononymously as , is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Japanese manga series '' JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. He is featured initially as the main antagonist of the series' ...
, while the latter three parts take place in a second continuity where the Joestar family tree is heavily altered.
; Part 1:
: Volumes 1–5, 44 chapters. In late 19th-century England, Jonathan Joestar, the young son of a wealthy landowner, meets his new adopted brother, Dio Brando, who loathes him and plans to usurp Jonathan's position as heir to the Joestar family. When Dio's attempts are thwarted, he transforms himself into a vampire using an ancient Stone Mask and destroys the Joestar estate. Jonathan embarks on a journey, meets new allies, and masters the martial arts technique to stop Dio, who has made world domination his new goal.
; Part 2:
: Volumes 5–12, 69 chapters. In 1938, German researchers discover three lifeforms called Pillar Men, powerful humanoids responsible for the creation of the Stone Mask. The Pillar Men awaken and escape in search of the Red Stone of Aja, which will turn them into invincible superbeings.
Joseph Joestar
is a fictional character in the Japanese manga series '' JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. Joseph is the main protagonist of the series' second story arc, '' Battle Tendency'', and the grandson of the firs ...
, Jonathan's grandson, unites with new allies and masters Hamon to defeat the Pillar Men and their leader, Kars.
; Part 3:
: Volumes 13–28, 152 chapters. In 1989, Dio Brando (now referred to as simply "DIO") awakens after his coffin is salvaged from the ocean. Because Dio had taken over Jonathan's body, Stands awaken in Jonathan's descendants, including Joseph, his daughter Holy Kujo, and his grandson
Jotaro Kujo. Holy, however, is unable to control her own Stand, which begins to slowly kill her. Jotaro, Joseph, and their allies set out to defeat Dio before Holy's Stand takes her life, fighting off Dio's henchmen along the way.
; Part 4:
: Volumes 29–47, 174 chapters. In 1999, the Joestar family learns that Joseph has an illegitimate son, Josuke Higashikata, who lives in the fictional Japanese town of Morioh. While visiting Morioh, Jotaro learns of a mystical Bow and Arrow that bestows Stands upon those struck by it. As they hunt down the Bow and Arrow, Josuke, Jotaro, and their allies are targeted by Stand-using
serial killer
A serial killer (also called a serial murderer) is a person who murders three or more people,An offender can be anyone:
*
*
*
*
* (This source only requires two people) with the killings taking place over a significant period of time in separat ...
Yoshikage Kira and his father, Yoshihiro, who see them as a threat to the former's peace and tranquility.
; Part 5:
: Volumes 47–63, 155 chapters. Set in
Naples
Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
, Italy, in 2001,
Giorno Giovanna, who was conceived when Dio was in possession of Jonathan Joestar's body, seeks to become a mafia boss in order to eliminate drug dealers who sell their wares to children. Finding a powerful ally named Bruno Bucciarati, their team rebels against the boss of the mafia to protect his daughter, Trish Una, whom he intends to kill in order to hide his identity.
; Part 6:
: Volumes 64–80, 158 chapters. In 2011, near
Port St. Lucie, Florida, Jotaro Kujo's daughter
Jolyne Cujoh is framed for murder and sent to prison. She works together with various allies to hunt down the person responsible for her framing: prison chaplain Enrico Pucci, a loyalist to Dio who seeks the creation of a new universe shaped to the late vampire's will.
; Part 7:
: Volumes 81–104, 95 chapters. In 1890, United States President Funny Valentine holds a cross-country horse race with a $50 million reward for the winner. Valentine secretly intends to use the race to gather the scattered parts of a holy corpse for his own nationalistic ends. Racers Gyro Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar uncover Valentine's ploy, and must defend themselves from both other racers and hired assassins.
; Part 8:
: Volumes 105–131, 110 chapters. In 2011, the town of Morioh is devastated by the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
On 11 March 2011, at 14:46:24 Japan Standard Time, JST (05:46:24 UTC), a 9.0–9.1 Submarine earthquake, undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approx ...
. Local college student Yasuho Hirose discovers an amnesiac young man buried in the rubble. She nicknames him "Josuke" and puts him in the care of the Higashikata family. As Josuke tries to uncover the secret of his past, he is also confronted by a local crime syndicate of inhuman beings dubbed Rock Humans, whose leader, Toru, seeks to use the mysterious Locacaca fruit to rise to the apex of society.
; Part 9: ''
The JoJoLands''
: Volume 132 onwards. In early 2020s Hawaii, Jodio Joestar and his older brother Dragona work together in illegal activity to provide for and protect their mother. Working for their high school principal Meryl Mei Qi, the two are joined by the kleptomaniac Paco Laburantes and the drug user Usagi Alohaoe on a mission to steal a diamond from a rich Japanese tourist. The mission is derailed when the group discovers the Lava Rock, which has the ability to attract anything of value that its user touches, and they decide to use it to acquire $50 billion in assets from the Howler Company.
Production

For ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', Araki wanted to use a classical method as a base before introducing modern elements. As an example, he often draws in a realistic style but uses surreal colors. Araki aimed to draw real spirits in ''JoJo'' resulting in him going to the Kappa River in
Tōno, Iwate
is a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 26,378, and a population density of 31.6 persons per km2 in 10,759 households. The total area of the city is . Tōno is known as "The City of Folklore" for its rura ...
, to get a better understanding of the concept. Araki was inspired by the art of the 1980s, shading techniques in Western art, and classical paintings; the manga coloring is based on calculations rather than consistency, with Araki citing artists like Paul Gauguin as inspiration.
He also claimed that mystery is the central theme of the manga, as he was fascinated by it as a child. Furthermore, Araki wanted to explore superpowers and energy in ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', resulting in various concepts such as Hamon and Stands.
He said that the supernatural basis of the fights in his series evened the battlefield for women and children to match up against strong men.
Much like the manga's spiritual predecessor, ''
Baoh: The Visitor'', the idea of an ultimate being was used in ''Phantom Blood'' and ''Battle Tendency'' in the forms of the vampires and the Pillar Men, respectively.
For ''Stardust Crusaders'' in particular, Araki was influenced by role-playing games in designing the characters' skills.
This part marked the transition from physical power to an emphasis on mental and spiritual power, with Araki noting that the idea of Stands came from the idea of drawing the heart and soul.
In creating the manga's generational story, Araki thought much about death and the legacy people leave behind in their lives for their descendants, after the death of his grandfather. He took inspiration from ''
Roots: The Saga of an American Family'' and ''
East of Eden''. Araki focused on ''Roots'' for its family-centric story, and he took the idea of intertwined destiny and rivalry between two families from ''East of Eden''. He thought highly of stories that were well-received after changing protagonists, which influenced Araki's decision to kill Jonathan Joestar and write a generational story, passing on his "Spirit" to his own descendants.
None of the characters were modeled after anyone, except Jotaro Kujo, who was based on
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...
. Araki stated that he wanted to try a different type of main character for every part; for example, Part 1's Jonathan Joestar was a serious and honest person, whereas Part 2's Joseph Joestar was a
trickster
In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherw ...
.
Although their personalities are different, the two share a physical resemblance in order to have some continuity because it was unheard of in the 1980s for a main character to die in a ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' series. Araki's consistent focus on the Joestar family was intended to give a feeling of pride as well as the wonder and mystery surrounding the lineage.
Araki originally planned the series as a trilogy, with the final confrontation taking place in present-day Japan. However, Araki did not want Part 3 to be a tournament affair, which was popular in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' at the time, and therefore decided to make it a "
road movie
A road movie is a film genre, genre of film in which the main characters leave home on a road trip, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives. Road movies often depict travel in the hinterlands, with the films exploring the the ...
" inspired by ''
Around the World in Eighty Days
''Around the World in Eighty Days'' () is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate ...
''. With Part 4, Araki said that he moved away from "muscle men" as they fell out of popularity with readers and he wanted to focus more on fashion. When designing his characters' outfits, Araki considers both everyday fashion and "cartoonish, bizarre clothing that would be impractical in real life".
For Part 6, Araki wrote a female protagonist for the first time which he found complicated, but also interesting due to the humanity she could possess. He later described Part 2's much earlier supporting character Lisa Lisa as fresh and "unheard of" in both manga and society in general for its time, and said it was exciting to challenge people's expectations with the female warrior-type.
Having not specifically set out on creating a disabled character, Araki explained that Part 7's
paraplegic
Paraplegia, or paraparesis, is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek ()
"half-stricken". It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition that affects the neura ...
Johnny Joestar was a natural result of wanting to show a character who could grow, both physically and mentally, during a race where "he would be forced not only to rely on other people, but horses as well."
Araki uses unique
onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia (or rarely echoism) is a type of word, or the process of creating a word, that phonetics, phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Common onomatopoeias in English include animal noises such as Oin ...
and poses in the series, which he attributes to his love for
heavy metal and
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
s. The poses, which are known in Japan as , are iconic on his book covers and panels, and were inspired by Araki's trip to Italy in his 20s and his studies of
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
's sculptures.
Media
Manga

Written and illustrated by
Hirohiko Araki, ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' began serialization in the weekly
manga anthology ''
Weekly Shōnen Jump
is a weekly Shōnen manga, ''shōnen'' manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the ''Jump (magazine line), Jump'' line of magazines. The manga series within the magazine consist of many Action (fiction), action scenes and a fair ...
''s combined issue #1–2 of 1987, published by
Shueisha
is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Shueisha is the largest publishing company in Japan. It was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The ...
on January 1, 1987. The series is divided into eight story arcs, each following the adventures of a new protagonist bearing the "JoJo" nickname. The first part, titled ''
Phantom Blood'', was serialized until October 1987 and collected in five volumes; the second, ''
Battle Tendency'', was serialized from November 1987 to March 1989 and collected in seven volumes. ''
Stardust Crusaders'', the third part, was serialized from March 1989 to April 1992 and collected in 16 volumes. ''
Diamond Is Unbreakable'', the fourth part, was serialized from April 1992 to November 1995 and collected in 18 volumes; it was followed by the fifth part, ''
Golden Wind'', which was serialized from November 1995 to April 1999 and collected in 17 volumes.
After volume 63 (the last volume of ''Golden Wind''), the ''tankōbon'' numbering for each subsequent part restarts from one. ''
Stone Ocean'', the sixth part, was serialized from December 1999 to April 2003 and collected in 17 volumes. The first 23 chapters of the seventh part, ''
Steel Ball Run'', were serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from January to October 2004; in March 2005, the series was transferred to the monthly
manga magazine ''
Ultra Jump
is a Japanese monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. Originally, the magazine was a special issue of ''Weekly Young Jump'' which was first issued in 1995. On October 19, 1999, the special issue bec ...
''. It ran until April 2011, and was collected in 24 volumes. ''
JoJolion'', the eighth part, was serialized from May 2011 to August 2021 and collected in 27 volumes. In the September 2021 issue of ''Ultra Jump'', Araki stated in the author's notes that part 9 of the series, tentatively titled "''JoJoLands''" and later finalized as ''
The JoJoLands'', would begin following a short break.
It began on February 19, 2023.
Between 2002 and 2009, the first six parts in the series were re-released by Shueisha in format; ''Steel Ball Run'' was re-released in the format in 2017 and 2018. A omnibus series recreating the first four parts as they originally appeared in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' (including color pages, promotional text, and next chapter previews) was published between 2012 and 2016. Since 2012, all eight parts in the series have been digitally colored and distributed by Shueisha for
smartphone
A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...
s and
tablet computer
A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being computers ...
s under the brand name "JOJO-D". A premium hardcover release of the first three parts was published under the brand "JoJonium" between 2013 and 2015.
In the early 1990s,
Viz Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
reportedly had plans for an English-language release of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' in North America as ''The Strange Adventures of Jojo'';
in 2002, the series was unsuccessfully considered for release as monthly
comic book
A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
s.
Between November 2005 and December 2010, Viz published ''Stardust Crusaders'', the most well-known part in the series, in 16 volumes. However, the company changed the names of several characters and Stands due to legal concerns and censored certain scenes, including scenes of animal violence redrawn by Araki himself.
In 2013, Viz expressed further interest in localizing the series, but explained its difficulties in doing so due to Araki's numerous references to real musicians and fashion designers. Viz began publishing the JoJonium release of ''Phantom Blood'' digitally in September 2014, with a three-volume hardcover print edition following throughout 2015. ''Battle Tendency'' was published in four volumes in 2015 and 2016, and ''Stardust Crusaders'' was published in ten volumes from 2016 to 2019. Viz continues to publish the series in their own digital and hardcover editions that emulate the JoJonium edition; ''Diamond Is Unbreakable'' was published in nine volumes from 2019 to 2021, while ''Golden Wind'' began in August 2021. In January 2022, Viz Media began releasing ''Stone Ocean'' digitally. ''Steel Ball Run'' is set be published in print starting in 2025.
Spin-offs
=One-shots
=
Araki has also authored several manga
spin-offs of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', the first of which being "Episode 16: At a Confessional", which was published as a
one-shot in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' in July 1997. It follows Rohan Kishibe from ''Diamond Is Unbreakable'', and is the first entry in the ''
Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe'' series.
follows Yoshikage Kira from the same part; it was published as three chapters in the magazine ''Allman'' in June and July 1999. Both one-shots were later published in a collection of short story manga by Araki that was published in 1999. a one-shot featuring the title characters from ''Stardust Crusaders'', was released on October 18, 2002. It is drawn in the style of Boingo's Stand Tohth, a fortune-telling comic book.
Between January 2008 and February 2018, six chapters of ''Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe'' were published in various magazines. A ''tankōbon'' volume was published by Shueisha in November 2013, collecting the stories "At a Confessional", "Mutsu-kabe Hill", "Millionaire Village", "Poaching Seashore", and "Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci". "The Harvest Moon" was published digitally in September 2014 during the debut of Shueisha's ''
Shōnen Jump+
is a manga platform created by Shueisha. Launched on September 22, 2014, it operates as a free mobile app and website. Jump+ serializes original titles and titles from other Shueisha manga magazines, and also carries digital editions of ''Weekl ...
'' website; a second ''tankōbon'' volume collecting the episode and the stories "A Rainy Monday", "D·N·A", and "The Run" was published in July 2018.
=''Shining Diamond's Demonic Heartbreak''
=
In the September 2021 issue of ''Ultra Jump'', it was announced that ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' would be receiving a spin-off manga written by Kouhei Kadono and illustrated by ''
No Guns Life
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''seinen'' manga magazine '' Ultra Jump'' from September 2014 to September 2021, with its chapters collected in thirteen volumes.
An a ...
'' author Tasuku Karasuma.
The spin-off manga, began publication in the January 2022 issue of ''Ultra Jump'' released on December 18, 2021. The spin-off stars Hol Horse and Josuke Higashikata in Morioh and takes place between the events of ''Stardust Crusaders'' and ''Diamond is Unbreakable''.
=''I Testamenti Cremisi''
=
Spin-off material based on ''Golden Wind'' has also been created, such as , an anthology of short stories revolving around various antagonistic characters within the part, most notably the Hitman Team. features Ghiaccio and Melone taking care of the latter's Stand, Baby Face, who is going through a rebellious phase while its User is supposed to assassinate a film director. It was published in the Winter 2023 issue of the ''JoJo'' Magazine on December 19, 2023.
focuses on Prosciutto and Pesci, two hitmen tasked with assassinating a gangster who manages a
brothel
A brothel, strumpet house, bordello, bawdy house, ranch, house of ill repute, house of ill fame, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activity with prostitutes. For legal or cultural reasons, establis ...
and drug trades without Passione's approval. The short story was published in the Winter 2024 issue of the ''JoJo'' magazine on December 18, 2024.
Anime
Studio A.P.P.P.
A 13-episode
original video animation
, abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and special episodes of a series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the ...
adaptation of Part 3, ''Stardust Crusaders'', was produced by
A.P.P.P. The first set of six episodes, which begin during the middle of the arc, were released by
Pony Canyon
, also known by the shorthand form , is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966, which distributes music, films, home video, and video games. It is affiliated with the Japanese media group Fujisankei Communications Group. Pony Canyo ...
on
VHS and
Laserdisc
LaserDisc (LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. It was developed by Philips, Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer, and the movie studio MCA Inc., MCA. The format was initially marketed in the United State ...
from 1993 to 1994. The series was released by Klock Worx on
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
and VHS from 2000 to 2002, starting with seven newly produced
prequel
A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work.
The term ...
episodes adapting the beginning of the arc. Super Techno Arts produced an English-language dub of all thirteen episodes in North America as a six-volume DVD series between 2003 and 2005, with the episodes also arranged in chronological order.
A.P.P.P. also produced ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood'', a feature film adaptation of the manga's first arc; it was released theatrically in Japan on February 17, 2007.
David Production
At a July 2012 press conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series, Araki announced that an anime adaptation of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' was in production and would premiere in October 2012.
The 26-episode first season, which covers the ''Phantom Blood'' and ''Battle Tendency'' arcs, aired weekly on
Tokyo MX
JOMX-DTV (channel 9), branded as Tokyo MX (officially stylized as TOKYO MX), is an independent station, independent television station in Tokyo, Japan, owned by the . It is the only television station that exclusively serves the city and parts ...
between October 2012 and April 2013.
Although teased in the post-credit scenes of the finale,
a second season adapting ''Stardust Crusaders'' was officially announced in October 2013. It aired on Tokyo MX in two halves; the first from April to September 2014, and the second from January to June 2015, for a total of 48 episodes. At an event for the anime in October 2015, a third season adapting ''Diamond Is Unbreakable'' was announced. It premiered in April 2016 and ended in December 2016, for a total of 39 episodes. A fourth season of the anime adapting ''Golden Wind'' was announced at an Araki art exhibition in June 2018.
The first episode debuted at
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). The convention is traditionally held annually on the first we ...
in July, and the season aired in 39 episodes from October 2018 to July 2019 on Tokyo MX.
At a special event for the anime series on April 4, 2021, an adaptation of ''Stone Ocean'' was announced. Unlike the previous seasons, it debuted worldwide on
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
in December 2021, before receiving a Japanese television broadcast in January 2022.
An original video animation (OVA) based on the "Millionaire Village" episode of the ''Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe'' spin-off manga was distributed in 2017 to those who purchased every DVD or
Blu-ray
Blu-ray (Blu-ray Disc or BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-defin ...
volume of ''Diamond Is Unbreakable''. A second OVA adapting the "Mutsu-kabe Hill" episode was released with a special edition of the manga's second volume in July 2018. Two more OVA episodes adapting the "At a Confessional" and "The Run" episodes were screened in Japanese theaters in December 2019 and released on DVD and Blu-ray in March 2020.
With the 2014 premiere of ''Stardust Crusaders'', American-based website
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming service owned by Sony, Sony Group Corporation. The service primarily distributes fi ...
began streaming the anime series for viewers outside Japan one hour after the episodes aired.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, who holds the DVD rights to the series, released the first season of the anime in September 2015, with an included English dub.
In July 2016, Viz Media announced it acquired the Blu-ray rights to the series; it released the first three seasons with dubs between August 2017 and January 2020. In October 2016, American cable block
Adult Swim
Adult Swim (stylized as dult swimand s is an American adult-oriented television programming block that airs on Cartoon Network which broadcasts during the evening, prime time, and Late-night television, late-night Dayparting, dayparts. T ...
began airing the anime on its
Toonami
Toonami ( ) is an American late-night television programming block that broadcasts Japanese anime and American action animation. It was created by Sean Akins and Jason DeMarco and currently produced by Williams Street, a subsidiary of W ...
block.
Other media
Drama CDs
From 1992 to 1993, a
drama CD
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatised, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
adaptation of Part 3 was released in three volumes, titled and They starred
Kiyoyuki Yanada
was a Japanese freelance voice actor who was formerly affiliated with Kyu Production, 81 Produce, and D-COLOR.「人気声優にがぶりより! 第32回 梁田清之さん」, Animedia February 1990, Gakken, February 1, 1990, magazine 01579-2 ...
as Jotaro,
Kenji Utsumi (volumes 1 & 3) and
Gorō Naya (volume 2) as Joseph Joestar,
Akio Ōtsuka
is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. He is attached to Mausu Promotion.
The astringent and calm quality of his deep voice has landed him many roles in films, dubbing, animation, and video games. He i ...
as Avdol,
Shō Hayami
, known professionally as , is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer. He is mainly known for his smooth, deep voice. He has played a wide range of characters from kind-hearted heroes ( Father Remington, Maximilian Jenius, Nicholas D. Wolfwood ...
as Kakyoin,
Ken Yamaguchi as Polnareff,
Keiichi Nanba
is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator currently affiliated with Fujiga Office Inc. He is married to fellow voice actress Mayumi Shō.
Filmography
Anime
* '' Persia, the Magic Fairy'' (1984) (Gaku Muroi)
* '' Alpen Rose'' (1985) (Lundi ...
as Hol Horse,
Shigeru Chiba as J. Geil, and
Norio Wakamoto as Dio.
A drama CD adaptation of Part 4 was released from 2016 to 2017 in two parts. The first was titled and the second
Video games
Several video games based on ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' have been created. A titular
role-playing video game
Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
based on Part 3 was released for the
Super Famicom
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in No ...
in 1993, and several
fighting game
The fighting game video game genre, genre involves combat between multiple characters, often (but not limited to) one-on-one battles. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as Blocking (martial arts), blocking, grappling, counter- ...
s have been released, including ''
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future'' in 1998, ''
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle'' for the series' 25th anniversary in 2013, and ''
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven'' in 2015.
Characters from the series have also been featured in various ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''
cross-over games, such as ''
Jump Force'', ''
J-Stars Victory VS'', ''
Jump Ultimate Stars'', ''
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden'', and its sequel, ''
Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin''.
Light novels
Several
light novel
A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging.
The abbr ...
s based on the manga have been written, each by a different author, but all including illustrations by Araki. The first novel, written by Mayori Sekijima and Hiroshi Yamaguchi, was based on Part 3 and titled ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', and it was released on November 4, 1993. written by Gichi Ōtsuka and Miya Shōtarō and based on Part 5, was released on May 28, 2001. Both novels received Italian translations; the first was released in 2003 with the subtitle ''The Genesis of Universe'', and the second in 2004. In 2000, it was announced that the Japanese writer
Otsuichi
is the pen name of is a Japanese writer and filmmaker. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of Japan and the Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan.
He made his debut with ''Summer, Fireworks and My Corpse'' while still in high school. Major wo ...
was writing a novel based on Part 4, which proved difficult to complete; in ''
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 2005'', Otsuichi claimed to have written over 2000 pages, which he later discarded. His work, ''The Book: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 4th Another Day'', was released on November 26, 2007. In April 2011, it was announced that
Nisio Isin,
Kouhei Kadono, and
Ōtarō Maijō
is a Japanese people, Japanese novelist from Fukui Prefecture. Winner of the 19th Mephisto Prize for ''Smoke, Soil, or Sacrifices'', and the 16th Mishima Yukio Prize for ''Asura Girl''. His short story, "Drill Hole in the Brain" was translated in ...
were each writing light novels in celebration of the series' 25th anniversary. Kadono's, titled was released on September 16, 2011, and based on Part 5. Nisio's, titled ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Over Heaven'', was released on December 16, 2011, and based on Part 3. Maijō's novel, ''Jorge Joestar'', was released on September 19, 2012. It features characters from and inspired by nearly every part of the series.
Art books
Araki has released several books containing original artwork he has produced for ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure''. ''JoJo6251'' was released on December 10, 1993, and features artwork, story details, and behind the scenes information for Parts 1 through 4. It was followed by ''JoJo A-Go! Go!'' on February 25, 2000, which features original artwork focusing on Parts 3 to 5. On September 19, 2013, he released ''JoJoveller'', a multimedia set that includes a book featuring original artwork for Parts 6 through 8, a book detailing the history of the publications, and a book detailing every Stand featured since ''Stardust Crusaders''.
Live-action film
In 2016, it was announced that
Toho
is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...
and
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
were partnering to produce a live-action film based on ''Diamond Is Unbreakable''. The film was directed by
Takashi Miike
is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over 100 feature film, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films span a variety of different genres, ranging from violent and surrealism, b ...
, stars
Kento Yamazaki as Josuke, and was released in Japan on August 4, 2017. Both studios were planning for worldwide distribution and hoped to create sequels.
Reception
Sales
''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' had over 100 million copies in circulation by December 2016, and over 120 million copies in circulation by August 2023. making it one of the best-selling ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' series of all time. The first volume of ''JoJolion'' was the second best-selling manga for its debut week, its second volume reached third place, and its third reached second place. All three volumes were some of the best-selling manga of 2012. All three volumes of Viz Media's release of ''Phantom Blood'' and all four volumes of ''Battle Tendency'' reached the top seven positions on
''The New York Times'' Manga Best Seller list. According to ''
ICv2
''ICv2'' is an online trade magazine that covers geek culture for retailers. ''ICv2s main areas of focus are comic books, anime, gaming, and show business products. The site offers news, reviews, analysis, and sales information for retailers ...
'', ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' was the eighth best-selling manga franchise of Q4 2021 (September–December) in the United States.
Critical reception
Reviewing the first volume,
IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
named ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' a "must read", declaring the artwork of "a standard virtually unseen in most manga produced today." ''
Otaku USA''s Joseph Luster called the series "fun as hell" and noted how the beginning is not filled with action like most ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' series, but instead has the tension of horror and thriller films. Rebecca Silverman of
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...
wrote that the first volume "combines a fighting story with a solid emotional background, and will absolutely put hair on your chest." She called Dio an excellent villain that the readers can enjoy hating, but she criticized the anatomy of characters, saying "bodies are often twisted into impossible positions." ''Comics & Gaming Magazine''s Cole Watson also strongly praised Dio as the highlight character of Part 1, stating that his eyes were glued to the page whenever he appeared, and described him as "the literal embodiment of Satan in manga form." Watson gave ''Phantom Blood'' a 7.5 out of 10, writing that while there is a lot to enjoy, it primarily serves as Dio's origin story and there are some moments that are "agonizingly slow".
Silverman described Part 2 as "less urgent" than Part 1, which allows for more humor and insanity, while still letting the reader get attached to the characters. She felt positively about how strikingly different the protagonist Joseph is from Part 1's Jonathan.
However, she wrote that Araki's art had gotten even more "physically improbable", making it difficult to distinguish body parts.
When discussing his views on having characters die in a series, writer
Gen Urobuchi
is a Japanese novelist, visual novel writer and anime screenwriter. He is known for being the co-creator of the highly acclaimed and commercially successful anime series '' Puella Magi Madoka Magica'', which earned him the Tokyo Anime Award for ...
cited ''Battle Tendency''s
Caesar Zeppeli as a character who became "immortal" thanks to his death.
Reviewing ''Stardust Crusaders'', Silverman enjoyed seeing Part 2's Joseph team up with the new protagonist, Jotaro Kujo, and was impressed that Araki was able to keep Dio out of Part 2 completely, only to bring him back for Part 3.
She initially called the replacement of Hamon with Stands both understandable and a bit of a disappointment, since the "insane physical abilities and contortions" caused by the former were a large source of the fun in the first two parts.
Silverman later described Stand battles as exciting and creative in subsequent reviews.
Anime News Network had both Silverman and Faye Hopper review the first volume of Part 4. Silverman called the beginning slower and not as instantly engrossing as the previous parts, but felt this allowed Josuke, whom she and Hopper both described as kinder than the previous protagonists, to develop as a character. Hopper stated that ''Diamond Is Unbreakable'' is sometimes criticized for a "lack of a strong narrative throughline" in comparison to other parts, but argued that this is one of its greatest strengths as it allows the main characters to "simply be, lending them an amiable humanity that none of the over-the-top archetypes in the first 3 Parts ever had."
Both
Screen Rant
''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and comic books. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publications including Comic Book Resources, Collider, MovieWeb and XDA Developers.
...
's Steven Blackburn and Jordan Richards of AIPT Comics called ''Golden Wind'' a breath of fresh air for ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' by deviating from the basic formula and following Giorno, son of villain Dio Brando, as he looks to cement a reputation and build a criminal empire.
Mary Lee Sauder of Anime News Network complimented the series' alternating narratives, and cited Part 5 as an example of how Araki avoids tropes commonly found in ''shonen'' manga. Jenni Lada of
Siliconera
The GAMURS Group, simply known as Gamurs, is an esports media and entertainment publisher. Established in 2014, the group operates multiple brands focusing on the esports and entertainment news markets, including the websites: ''Dot Esports'', '' ...
also praised the protagonist Giorno and said the first volume of Part 5 shows how skilled Araki is at getting people quickly invested in a character and story. She wrote, by giving readers a look at Giorno's past and insights into the person he is now, it emphasizes why he is compelling; "We're introduced to his dream and see him take his first steps toward it." Despite calling the supporting cast a memorable bunch, Richards felt they were underdeveloped as of the first volume, but noted they had potential.
Heidi Kemps, also of ''Otaku USA'', was mostly positive in her review of "Rohan at the Louvre", praising the art for being drawn in full-color by hand, although noted that readers new to ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' might not fully understand the ending due to the one-shot only briefly explaining the ability of Rohan's Stand, Heaven's Door.
Accolades
For the 10th anniversary of the
Japan Media Arts Festival in 2006, Japanese fans voted ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' second on a list of the Top 10 Manga of all time. The series ranked tenth in a 2009 survey by
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
on what manga series people want to see receive a live-action adaptation. The 2013 edition of ''
Kono Manga ga Sugoi!
is an annual reference mook series published by Takarajimasha since 2005 featuring yearly rankings and reviews of manga. The rankings are compiled by surveying professionals in the manga and publishing industry. The first two years saw two s ...
'', which surveys people in the manga and publishing industry, named ''JoJolion'' the twelfth best manga series for male readers. ''JoJolion'' won the grand prize for manga at the 2013 Japan Media Arts Festival. In November 2014, readers of ''
Da Vinci'' magazine voted ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' as the fifth ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''s greatest manga series of all time. On
TV Asahi
JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as , and better known as , is a Japanese television station serving the Kanto region as the flagship station of the All-Nippon News Network. It is owned-and-operated by the a subsidiary of , itself controlled by ...
's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' ranked tenth.
Controversy
In May 2008, both Shueisha and studio A.P.P.P. halted manga and OVA shipments of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' after a complaint had been launched against them from anonymous online
Egyptian
''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt.
Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to:
Nations and ethnic groups
* Egyptians, a national group in North Africa
** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...
Islamic fundamentalists, who noticed a scene in the ''Stardust Crusaders'' OVA in which Dio Brando reads a book depicting pages from the
Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
while he orders a mercenary, Hol Horse, to kill the protagonists.
According to Japan Today and Islamist Watch, some Muslims feared this scene could spark a backlash not seen since the
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Muhammad cartoons controversy (or Muhammad cartoons crisis, ) began after the Danish newspaper published twelve editorial cartoons on 30 September 2005 depicting Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in what it said was a response to the deb ...
. Sheikh Abdul Hamid Attrash, chairman of the
Fatwa
A fatwa (; ; ; ) is a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (sharia) given by a qualified Islamic jurist ('' faqih'') in response to a question posed by a private individual, judge or government. A jurist issuing fatwas is called a ''mufti'', ...
Committee at
Al-Azhar, claimed that the scene depicted Muslims as terrorists and that Shueisha would be considered enemies of Islam. This recall affected the English-language releases as well, causing Viz Media and Shueisha to cease publication for a year. Even though the manga did not feature that specific scene, Shueisha had Araki redraw scenes that depicted characters fighting on top of, and destroying, mosques for later printings of the series.
The
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the issue in an official report about this incident, stating that Shueisha and A.P.P.P. had no
blasphemic intentions.
Viz resumed publication a year later, with the eleventh volume being published on April 7, 2009, but distribution of the OVA was permanently discontinued.
Jason Thompson later included Shueisha's changes to the manga in a list of "The Greatest Censorship Fails" in manga.
Legacy and collaborations
The September 2007 issue of ''
Cell'' had a cover drawn by Hirohiko Araki with a
ligase
In biochemistry, a ligase is an enzyme that can catalyze the joining ( ligation) of two molecules by forming a new chemical bond. This is typically via hydrolysis of a small pendant chemical group on one of the molecules, typically resulting i ...
represented as a ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' Stand. He also contributed artwork towards the restoration of
Chūson-ji following the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
On 11 March 2011, at 14:46:24 Japan Standard Time, JST (05:46:24 UTC), a 9.0–9.1 Submarine earthquake, undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approx ...
. Araki contributed ''JoJo''-inspired art for
Sayuri Ishikawa's 2012 album ''
X -Cross-'', where she performs one of the series' iconic poses and is drawn wearing jewelry from the manga. ''JoJo''-style artwork has also been produced for other literature, such as for a 2008 collection featuring
Yasunari Kawabata
was a Japanese novelist and short story writer whose spare, lyrical, subtly-shaded prose works won him the 1968 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Japanese author to receive the award. His works have enjoyed broad international appeal and ...
's short story "
The Dancing Girl of Izu" and a 2012 reprint of
Tamaki Saitō's ''Lacan for Surviving''.
In 2009, Araki's was one of five artists featured in
the Louvre
The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
's ''Le Louvre invite la bande dessinée'' ("The Louvre Invites Comic-Strip Art") exhibition for his artwork of ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure''. To commemorate this honor, he wrote a 123-page full color story starring Rohan Kishibe visiting the
Louvre
The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
and discovering a cursed painting tied to his family. The following year it was published in France and ran in ''Ultra Jump'', and in February 2012 was translated and released in North America by
NBM Publishing.
From July 19 to August 18, 2019, the
Tower Records
Tower Records is an international retail franchising, franchise and online music store that was formerly based in Sacramento, California, United States. From 1960 until 2006, Tower operated retail stores in the United States, which closed when ...
store in
Shibuya
is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in Tokyo, Japan. A major commercial center, Shibuya houses one of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shibuya Station.
As of January 1, 2024, Shibuya Ward has an estimated population of 230,60 ...
held an exhibit celebrating the finale of the fifth part of the series, ''
Golden Wind'', and to promote the release of two games, ''
JoJo's Pitter Patter Pop!'' and ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor''. The exhibit showed various concept art pieces from the series' artists as well as scripts from the show. Visitors could receive free items such as stickers, folders, and cards upon completion of various tasks, such as answering a quiz or buying a certain amount of items. Each floor of the Tower Records building had a character on display, as a cardboard cutout and on the elevator doors. On August 14, 2019, a panel was held with directors Hideya Takahashi and Yasuhiro Kimura, and producer Kasama.
Several video game characters, such as ''
Street Fighter
is a Media mix, Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting games developed and published by Capcom. Street Fighter 1, The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by List of Street Fighter video games, six other ma ...
''s
Guile and ''
Tekken
is a Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco). The franchise also includes film and print adaptations.
The main games in the series follow the events ...
''s
Paul Phoenix, were inspired by ''JoJo''s Polnareff. When they discovered a new species of ''
Neostygarctus'' in 2013, scientists Shinta Fujimoto and Katsumi Miyazaki named it ''Neostygarctus lovedeluxe'' after a Stand from ''Diamond Is Unbreakable''. The song "
Don't Bite the Dust" by heavy metal band
Lovebites was influenced by and named after a Stand from ''Diamond Is Unbreakable''.
Gucci
From September 17 to October 6, 2011, the
Gucci
Guccio Gucci S.p.A., doing business as Gucci ( , ), is an Italian Luxury goods, luxury fashion house based in Florence. Its product lines include handbags, ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and home decoration; and it licenses its name and ...
store in
Shinjuku
, officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...
hosted the Gucci x Hirohiko Araki x Spur "Rohan Kishibe Goes to Gucci" Exhibition, a collaboration between the luxury Italian clothing brand, Araki, and the Japanese fashion magazine
The exhibit celebrated the 90th anniversary of Gucci and featured a life-size figure of Rohan Kishibe, as well as numerous illustrations by Araki that included actual pieces of the brand's own 2011–2012 fall/winter collection and his own original fashion designs.
The October 2011 issue of ''Spur'' featured another one-shot manga titled in which Rohan goes to a Gucci factory to discover the secret behind a magical handbag with the characters wearing and using Gucci products. This was followed by another collaboration in the February 2013 issue of ''Spur'' with starring Jolyne Cujoh from Part 6. A free English translation of the latter was previously available on Gucci's Facebook page. Again, Araki's artwork was featured in Gucci's storefront displays around the world.
25th anniversary
There were numerous art exhibitions in 2012 in Japan for the manga's 25th anniversary. The first was in
Sendai
is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan.
...
, Araki's birthplace, where a
Lawson store was remodeled to resemble the "Owson" store that appears in ''Diamond Is Unbreakable'' and ''JoJolion''. The store was open from July 28 to September 30, and contained exclusive goods with the Owson name. The second exhibition was held in Tokyo from October 6 to November 4, and hangouts were held on
Google Plus to allow fans to view the gallery at night through the lens of an original "Stand" Araki and his team created for the event.
The exhibit was taken to Italy from June 28 to July 14, 2013, and shown at the Gucci showroom in
Florence
Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025.
Florence ...
.
The October 2012 issue of ''Ultra Jump'' contained a special booklet titled ''25 Years With JoJo'' that also celebrated the anniversary; it featured messages and tribute art from well known manga artists such as
Akira Toriyama
was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He came to be regarded as one of the most influential and important authors in the history of manga, authoring highly influential and popular series, particularly Dragon Ball (manga), ''Dra ...
,
Yoshihiro Togashi
is a Japanese manga artist. He began drawing manga at an early age, before being recognized for his talent by the publishing company Shueisha while attending college. Togashi has authored several different manga series in different Literary ge ...
,
Eiichiro Oda,
Clamp, and 18 others. During the 25th anniversary celebrations, a special smartphone with a ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure''-inspired UI was released.
To celebrate the release of the ''All Star Battle'' video game created for the 25th anniversary, a special ''JoJo''-themed train traveled the
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line () is a railway Circle route, loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres ...
in Tokyo from August 29 to September 9, 2013. Illustrations and advertisements of the series littered the interior, with videos of the game shown on displays, while the exterior had 33 characters as
livery
A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol, or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery often includes elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...
.
30th anniversary
Notes
References
Citations
*
External links
*
''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure''at
Viz Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
*
{{Authority control
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
1993 Japanese novels
2001 Japanese novels
2007 Japanese novels
2011 Japanese novels
2012 Japanese novels
Adventure anime and manga
Fiction about psychic powers
Light novels
Manga adapted into films
Seinen manga
Shōnen manga
Shueisha franchises
Shueisha manga
Vampires in anime and manga
Viz Media manga