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SinceJoJo’s Bizarre Adventurefirst received an anime in 2012, manga fans have been clamoring for an adaptation of its seventh part,Steel Ball Run. At least in the West,Steel Ball Runis consistently touted as one of the best installments of the franchise, and as soon as the anime started taking off, its eventual release became a major topic of discussion within the fandom.
People have wanted aSteel Ball Runanimefor years now, and now more than ever, it’s weird that there isn’t one.Stone Ocean, the part to immediately precedeSteel Ball Run, ended almost two years ago, yet there’s been no word on whenSteel Ball Runwill come out, and overall,the complete silence onSteel Ball Run’s anime makes the anticipation for it all the higher. There are some reasons behind why it might be taking so long or, in a worst-case scenario, won’t be happening, but ideally, good news will come out sooner, rather than later.
Why So Many JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Fans Want A Steel Ball Run Anime
Steel Ball Run’s Popularity Explained
On the topic of a potentialSteel Ball Runanime, the first thing that needs to be addressed is why so many people want to see it, to begin with. WhileJoJo’s Bizarre Adventurehas always had great artwork,Steel Ball Runis often seen as the point when the artwork truly became gorgeous thanks to the extensive detail and realism put into every chapter.A potentialSteel Ball Runanime could make the magnificent artwork of the manga even better through animation, and with how well previous parts have succeeded at that,Steel Ball Runwould be even better.
Steel Ball Run’s action is also a big selling point of the series.JoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis famous for its creative superpowers and fight choreography, and that arguably reached its peak inSteel Ball Runwith how unique the Spin and various Stands were, especially sinceSteel Ball Runwas the first part to largely forego humanoid Stands engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The stellar artwork further emphasized that creativity, and sure enough,aSteel Ball Runanime would be the perfect way of showing off just how creativeJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s action can look in animation.
The biggest reason forSteel Ball Run’s popularity, however, stems from its writing. Not only is the writing far more serious and mature than previous installments while still having plenty of levity, butJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Runis often seen as having the best character writing of any installment ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, with Johnny Joestar’s arc of becoming a better person one of the biggest highlights of the entire franchise.Steel Ball Runhas done a lot to endear itself to fans, and it’s easy to see why so many people want to see it animated.
Steel Ball Run Is Too Complicated To Rush Out An Anime
Why Steel Ball Run Needs As Much Time As Possible
As for whySteel Ball Run’s anime is taking so long, one possibility might stem from how complicated an anime would be. As previously mentioned,Steel Ball Runhas incredibly gorgeous artwork, and while it’s to be expected for art to change between mediums,Steel Ball Runis one case where that could very well ruin the experience. Because of that,theSteel Ball Runanime might be taking so long to ensure that the artwork and animation live up to the quality of the manga, whichwould be especially hard if it runs continuouslylike other installments.
The visuals also feed into another potential problem: the horses. Horses are notoriously hard to animate because of their size and constant motion, and unfortunately,Steel Ball Runis centered around a cross-country horseback race with most of the action taking place while characters are riding their horses.Steel Ball Run’s central gimmick of horseback riding means that it will be difficult to animate well, so assuming it’s still on the table, David Production might be trying to think of a way to be faithful to the manga while still making it look good.
The Studio Behind JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Might Be Too Busy For Steel Ball Run
There’s No Time For A Steel Ball Run Anime, At The Moment
Another point to consider is that David Production, the studio behindJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, might not have time to work onSteel Ball Run. Not only is David Production working onthe upcomingUndead Unluckone-hour special, which will most likely lead to a second season, but they’re also working on the final two seasons ofFire Force, which are already confirmed to run through 2026.David Production might not have the time or resources to work onSteel Ball Runbecause ofUndead Unluck,Fire Force, and any other projects, and it’s unknown when they would find the time.
A resource-related delay might be toSteel Ball Run’s benefit, however. Any anime needs to have a good team and a reasonable production schedule behind it to be as good as possible, so ifSteel Ball Runwas put out as quickly as possible without the proper resources to make it work, then it would end up being subpar or downright terrible.Steel Ball Runnot coming out as soon as possible means it has a better chance of looking as good as possible, and with that thought in mind, it’ll be worth waiting however long that will take.
Will JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Ever Get An Anime?
Is A Steel Ball Run Anime Even On The Table?
Of all the points to address surrounding aSteel Ball Runanime, the biggest one is if an anime is even on the table. As popular asJoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis, David Production spent 10 years on the franchise, even while occasionally tackling other projects, so it would be understandable for the team behind it to feel fatigued after all that time. Add in how much more difficultSteel Ball Runwould be to adapt because of how different it is from other parts, andit’s an unfortunately real possibility thatSteel Ball Runwon’t get an anime anytime soon, if at all.
The only possible hint of good news comes from a recent update with the English manga. Earlier this year,Steel Ball Runwas officially licensed in English, and while that has no bearing on a potential anime,theSteel Ball Runmanga being licensed in English could be hinting at an anime being in development, as it would make sense to familiarize English fans with the manga before the anime premieres. Whatever the case, an anime ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Runis well overdue, and hopefully, it won’t be too much longer before it’s a reality.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Cast
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is an action-adventure anime series based on the manga of the same name. The story spans multiple generations of the Joestar family, each member confronting supernatural foes through the power of “Stands,” spiritual manifestations of their fighting spirits. The series begins with Jonathan Joestar’s struggle against the villainous Dio Brando and evolves through the exploits of his descendants.
