The new arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was supposed to be the anime of the season, but Netflix has ruined it

A huge number of animes are released each year. For every one you hear about, there are five others you don’t even know are being released. For every one that reaches the mainstream, another fifty don’t even manage to become truly popular. The world of anime is extremely competitive, where talent is highly valued, and any advantage that can be taken to stand out must be seized. Few animes end up being true cultural events, for one reason or another, but some are predictable to be so. The most obvious one, at this point, is the premiere of a new arc of […]

Many animes are released each year. For every one you hear about, there are five others you don’t even know are being released. For every one that reaches the mainstream, another fifty don’t even manage to become truly popular. The world of anime is extremely competitive, where talent is highly valued, and any advantage that can be leveraged to stand out must be taken advantage of.

Few animes end up being true cultural events, for one reason or another, but some are predictable to be so. The most obvious, at this point, is the premiere of a new arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The adaptation of the legendary manga by Hirohiko Araki, divided into different relatively self-contained arcs, is currently on its ninth arc in the manga, while the anime has started adapting the seventh: Steel Ball Run.

A beloved and mistreated anime

Released on March 19 on Netflix, the first episode, a special of almost 50 minutes, was a critical and public success. Celebrated for the quality of its animation, the elegance with which they had made some changes to the original script, and how they had managed to give great agility to an exemplary first episode, it received almost unanimous acclaim. Especially because, for the past two seasons, David Productions, the anime responsible for the series, had been having trouble maintaining the quality of the animation of the series.

The problem arose when Netflix refused to confirm when they would release subsequent episodes. On March 26, no other episode was released, which made fans nervous. But that weekend was Anime Expo, one of the most important celebrations in the industry, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure had a panel. Everyone assumed they would announce the date there, so the nerves remained normal.

But it didn’t happen. On March 28, they released a new trailer announcing that the next episode would premiere “sometime in 2026.” This set off a bombshell. Fans were not happy and they were going to make it known. From that moment on, they decided to flood Netflix’s social media with memes featuring a negative color inversion of the characters from Steel Ball Run, with Egyptian hieroglyphs, asking when the subsequent episodes would be released. They had unleashed a plague. Not biblical, but certainly from the fandom, and not very different from the curse of an angry pharaoh.

How has Netflix responded to this harassment? By doing nothing. For two weeks, it has communicated no changes. Something that has only further enraged the JoJo’s fandom, because this is not the first time they have done something like this.

The previous arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure suffered a treatment that is considered very poor by the platform. In addition to the fact that the quality of the animation suffered tremendously because the studio did not have enough time to carry it out properly, Netflix released the series in two batches of episodes, without a weekly release, almost as a surprise, something that enraged the fandom.

This may seem strange to many people, but anime fans are used to weekly releases. And they understand the importance of it. Commenting on episodes on social media, forums, and Discord, writing articles and comments on blogs, is an intrinsic part of anime culture. Something that includes JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Releasing two batches of episodes all at once took away their ability to enjoy it gradually, all at once, ruining the exposure to it and affecting, at least in the eyes of the fandom, the popularity of the series among the audience.

Under that prism, what Netflix is doing with Steel Ball Run could ruin the experience of watching the series, as well as damage its ability to reach an audience beyond its fandom. And they may be right. This is why they are so violently upset about the situation.

In any case, since April 6, we know the approximate date when we will have more episodes: next autumn. And for the safety of its fans, they will be weekly episodes, not groups of episodes released all at once. Something that has divided the fandom between those who are happy to have been heard, even though they will have to wait to finish watching the series probably at some point between now and 2029, and those who are upset about the situation, because they believe that Netflix’s communication has been terrible and releasing the first episode without context could end up harming the long-term popularity of the arc.

What seems certain is that this will give David Productions time to take care of the animation and ensure that the quality is exactly what fans expect so that what happened in previous seasons does not happen again. So, while this is not the result their fandom was hoping for, it seems that, at least, it will bring some positive things with it.

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The anime of the year is called once again JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and its new arc is the most bizarre thing you've ever seen

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most highly rated and best-loved animes of the moment. With twelve years behind it and six arcs adapted so far, the anime has managed to take the popularity of Hirohiko Araki’s work to another level. While it has always been popular in Japan and countries like Italy, thanks to the anime its popularity has exploded worldwide. This has led to the publication of a series with already hundreds of volumes that shows no signs of ending in the coming years. That’s why the anime still has work to do. Premiering today, day […]

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most highly rated anime today. With twelve years behind it and six arcs adapted so far, the anime has managed to elevate the popularity of Hirohiko Araki’s work to another level. If it has always been popular in Japan and countries like Italy, thanks to the anime its popularity has exploded worldwide. Resulting in the publication of a series with already hundreds of volumes and no signs of ending in the coming years.

That’s why anime still has work to do. Premiering today, March 19, 2026, the first episode of the adaptation of its seventh arc, Steel Ball Run, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure continues to surprise with how fresh and innovative it is.But what is the reason for that? And above all, is this new arc also?

A bizarre series in every possible sense

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure began its publication on January 1, 1987, in the famous manga magazine Shonen Jump. It also published series like Captain Tsubasa and Dragon Ball, making it the go-to magazine for all young Japanese. However, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, by author Hirohiko Araki, was not an immediate success. Its first two arcs were well received for their mix of hyper-masculine characters and their fight against vampires and beings predating humanity, but it didn’t quite take off in its first two years. Until its author noticed the trend that plagued the mangas of the time: exaggerated powers and a plethora of increasingly powerful enemies confronting the protagonists.

From there came Stardust Crusaders, the third arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and, for years, the most popular. Here the idea of stands would emerge, physical manifestations of their users’ spirits, which would allow them to use incredible powers beyond all logic, and also the structure that worked so well in mangas like Dragon Ball: to confront a more powerful enemy each time, supported by a series of tremendously charismatic protagonists with unique powers, until facing a great final villain with absolutely terrifying powers.

The formula was a complete success. And over the years, Araki refined it to make it more tailored to his style. Increasingly bizarre, both in the sense of brave and strange, he left behind physical battles for mental ones, giving more abstract and complex conditions to the powers. Focusing on the uniqueness of each of the stands and characters.

This was what made it tremendously popular, but also led to it being adapted into an anime by David Productions. Premiering on October 6, 2012, the JoJo’s series was an immediate success, although like the manga, it didn’t become a boom until Stardust Crusaders. It didn’t become a global success beyond the most hardcore anime fans until its next arc, Diamond Is Unbreakable, which, due to its more detective-like style inherited from Twin Peaks, introduced Araki’s unique style to a broader audience.

The strangest (and bravest) arc to date

Now on Netflix, the adaptation of the seventh arc of the manga, Steel Ball Run, premieres. With an episode of almost 50 minutes, which corresponds to practically the entirety of the first volume, it seems we are going to have the longest season so far: this is the longest arc of the manga, except for the one that comes after Steel Ball Run, JoJolion.

And how has the result been? Absolutely spectacular. Visually, there is a much greater care than in previous seasons, with astonishing animation and overwhelming direction. The soundtrack by Kenji Kawai is also noteworthy, perfectly enhancing each scene with the appropriate tone, introducing the necessary intensity for a story of this kind. And even the most potentially problematic aspect, the animation of the horses, is nothing less than prodigious.

Because Steel Ball Run is a very particular story: in 1880 in an alternate United States, a horse race is held from San Diego to New York, from one end of the country to the other. A series of racers sign up for different reasons, but none do it solely for the money. And certainly not the two protagonists of the story: the seemingly out-of-nowhere Gyro Zeppeli and the invalid Johnny Joestar.

With countless cameos from well-known characters, but in different roles due to a reason that those who have seen the previous season will know perfectly and we don’t want to spoil, this is the most unique season so far. And also the one that will offer the most dramatic and strange moments to date. But if we consider the first episode, the only one aired so far, it seems we have nothing to fear. The writers are not afraid to change small things from the manga to introduce hints and nods to things to come, making it an even deeper and more interesting viewing experience than reading the original manga.

With only one episode released so far on Netflix and no confirmation on how many episodes there will be or whether they will limit it to one episode a week or release batches, we will have to wait until next week to know more. But what is already evident is that Steel Ball Run is going to be one of the series of the year. And very likely, the best season of JoJo’s to date.

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The new part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure already has a release date

The adaptation of the seventh part of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, titled ‘Steel Ball Run’, finally has a release date. The series will be launched on March 19, 2026, under the international distribution of Netflix. This announcement was made during Jump Festa 2026, where a new trailer was shared that features the main characters and sets the tone for this new iteration of the classic anime created by Hirohiko Araki. The curious format of Netflix ‘Steel Ball Run’ is considered one of the most beloved arcs within the extensive universe of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’. Set in the late century […]

The adaptation of the seventh part of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, titled ‘Steel Ball Run’, finally has a release date. The series will be released on March 19, 2026, under the international distribution of Netflix. This announcement was made during Jump Festa 2026, where a new trailer was shared featuring the main characters and setting the tone for this new iteration of the classic anime created by Hirohiko Araki.

The Curious Format of Netflix

‘Steel Ball Run’ is considered one of the most beloved arcs within the extensive universe of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’. Set in the late 19th century, the story follows Johnny Joestar, a young paraplegic who, after meeting Gyro Zeppeli, receives the opportunity to participate in an epic horse race across the United States. This adaptation is also distinguished by being part of a different continuity line from the rest of the series after the events of ‘Stone Ocean’, making it an ideal entry point for new viewers.

David Production, the studio behind the series, has made a considerable effort to capture Araki’s unmistakable aesthetic. The first episode, which will last 47 minutes, will adapt the first stage of the career, which has generated high expectations among the franchise’s followers. However, the broadcasting format that Netflix will use remains uncertain. Many fans are concerned about whether the series will be presented weekly or in several parts, especially after the negative experiences of the airing of ‘Stone Ocean’, where the long waits between episodes caused demotivation in the audience.

Despite these concerns, fans of ‘Steel Ball Run’ trust that David Production will not disappoint with this new installment.

Steel Ball Run will be released weekly on Netflix, but we will no longer be able to binge-watch

David Production has confirmed the long-awaited continuation of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ with the ‘Steel Ball Run’ saga, a piece of news that has excited fans of Hirohiko Araki’s work. Although a specific release date has not yet been set, it is speculated that the new season could arrive between late 2026 and 2027. Goodbye to compulsive consumption Just as happened with ‘Stone Ocean’, ‘Steel Ball Run’ is expected to be streamed internationally on Netflix. However, there is a significant change in the release strategy, as a weekly airing model is anticipated instead […]

David Production has confirmed the highly anticipated continuation of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ with the ‘Steel Ball Run’ saga, a piece of news that has excited fans of Hirohiko Araki’s work. Although a specific release date has not yet been set, it is speculated that the new season could arrive between late 2026 and 2027.

Goodbye to compulsive consumption

Just as happened with ‘Stone Ocean’, ‘Steel Ball Run’ is expected to be streamed internationally on Netflix. However, there is a significant change in the release strategy, as a weekly release model is anticipated instead of releasing the entire season at once. This decision comes after the mistakes made during the distribution of ‘Stone Ocean’, which had a confusing division into parts and prolonged waits between episodes, negatively affecting audience interest.

Netflix has learned from the criticism of its “binge watching” approach, instead employing a more traditional simulcast method for its major anime productions. This change has had positive results with other titles like ‘Dandadan’ and ‘Sakamoto Days’, which have managed to capture more attention and maintain a constant conversation among fans thanks to the weekly airing of episodes.

The challenge now for David Production is to meet the high expectations that accompany ‘Steel Ball Run’. This arc is considered one of the most beloved within the franchise, and fans are eager to see how its complex narratives and characters are adapted. It is essential that the production does not repeat the mistakes of the past to ensure that the future of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ remains bright and relevant in the world of anime.

Get ready for Steel Ball Run: The new and vibrant reboot of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

David Production has recently completed the adaptation of the ‘Stone Ocean’ arc of ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, raising questions about the future of the saga. However, a few months ago it was confirmed that part 7, titled ‘Steel Ball Run’, is in the works, and images of the main characters, Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, have already been revealed. Focusing on the horses, ‘Steel Ball Run’ presents itself as a sort of reboot or remake of the series, offering a new timeline that could attract new fans. This installment takes place in the context of an epic race from San […]

David Production has recently completed the adaptation of the ‘Stone Ocean’ arc from ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, raising questions about the future of the saga. However, a few months ago it was confirmed that part 7, titled ‘Steel Ball Run’, is in progress, and images of the main characters, Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, have already been revealed.

Focus on Horses

‘Steel Ball Run’ presents itself as a sort of reboot or remake of the series, offering a new timeline that could attract new fans. This installment takes place in the context of an epic race from San Diego to New York in the year 1888, where significant battles and complex conspiracies intertwine. However, one of the biggest challenges for the production will be the animated representation of the horses, a central element in the narrative, which has raised concerns about a possible misuse of CGI, similar to what has been seen in other series.

The animation of the horses, recognized for its complexity, will be essential to maintain the unique essence of the story, given that Hirohiko Araki has assured that these animals are depicted from multiple angles in the manga. This challenge is not minor; after the success of ‘Golden Wind’, David Production is aware that ‘Steel Ball Run’ must meet the high expectations of the franchise’s followers.

Despite being a highly anticipated title for the veterans of the series, a release date for ‘Steel Ball Run’ has not yet been announced. Fans will need to be patient while the studio ensures that they deliver a product that meets the creative demands that Araki’s work requires.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is back! Discover the trailer for its new adventure

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the iconic anime series created by Hirohiko Araki, has good news, as it returns with the Steel Ball Run series, which is the sixth part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The confirmation was made during JOJODay 2025, recently held in Japan, where a first teaser and a poster were presented that anticipate the new installment. This season marks the return of the series after the end of Stone Ocean, which left fans eager for more content from the peculiar JoJo universe. The western anime Steel Ball Run is set in North America of […]

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the iconic anime series created by Hirohiko Araki, has good news, as it returns with the Steel Ball Run series, which is the sixth part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The confirmation was made during JOJODay 2025, recently held in Japan, where a first teaser and a poster were presented, anticipating the new installment. This season marks the return of the series after the end of Stone Ocean, which left fans eager for more content from the peculiar JoJo universe.

The western anime

Steel Ball Run is set in North America in 1890 and follows the adventures of Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli in an exciting horse race. Throughout this journey, the protagonists not only seek the grand prize that will allow them to fulfill their dreams, but they also face intense Stand battles, characteristic of the series. The blend of horseback action and supernatural confrontations promises to maintain the distinctive mark that has captivated viewers since its inception.

As the story unfolds, fans can expect stunning animated scenes that are sure to leave many in awe. According to fan opinion, this narrative is a return to the essence of JoJo, offering a vibrant visual experience full of surprises. However, very little has been revealed about the production details, including the release date. For now, it has also not been confirmed whether the series will be available on popular platforms like Netflix or Crunchyroll.

With expectations rising and the legacy of the series in mind, Steel Ball Run is set to take viewers into a new and exciting chapter in the history of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.