Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, or "Jojo" as the majority of fans call it, is a mix of various genres such as action, adventure, thriller, supernatural, mystery, horror, and even comedy. It is derived from the manga of the same name by its creator, Hirohiko Araki.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is a generational story, mainly focused on certain members of the Joestar bloodline.
Seasons one and two depict the main protagonists with powers called "Hamon" or "Ripple." It is an energy produced by controlled breathing that takes the form of the sun, which happens to be the only thing capable of defeating the villains from seasons one and two.
Seasons three and onwards introduce a new power called "Stands." Stands are commonly portrayed as projections of humanoid-like creatures that possess various powers, such as time freezing, fire ability, and bombs. Stands have been the staple of the Jojo series, and it seems that it will stay like that for a very long time.
As of this writing, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is currently in its fifth season, having aired 12 episodes already. In the meantime, here are some reasons why Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is worth watching and so popular.
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Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Opening Themes and Intro
There’s no better way to start listing off the positives than with the anime’s opening. Classics such as "Sono Chi no Sadame", "Bloody Stream" and "Stand Proud" perfectly emulate the action and excitement that the anime provides.
The show can be serious at times, which is also mirrored by its opening theme and intro. Season three’s "End of the World" portrays the season finale, wherein Jotaro and Dio clash in a legendary final battle. However, what makes this unique is that it has a second version.
The second version, or "Dio’s version," shows Dio stopping time before engaging with Jotaro. A usual shouting match of "Ora Ora Ora!" and "Muda Muda Muda!" can be heard as their stands start punching each other at rapid speeds.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Protagonists
To put things simply, every major arc of the anime stars a member of the Joestar bloodline, but in different time periods.
Set in the Victorian era, the first season, Phantom Blood, stars Jonathan Joestar. He is a kindhearted gentleman whose whole world changes when his evil adopted brother becomes a vampire.
Season two, Battle Tendency, stars Joseph Joestar, Jonathan’s grandson. He is a brash young man who usually gets into trouble with his grandmother. He is faced with the task of defeating the "Pillar Men," ancient god-like beings recently awakened underground by Nazi operations.
Season three, Stardust Crusaders, stars Jotaro Kujo, who is the grandson of Joseph. Set in 1980’s Japan, Jotaro must save his mother’s life, with the help of fellow stand users, by defeating the returning Dio, who seems to be more powerful than before.
Diamond is Unbreakable, the fourth season stars high schooler Josuke Higashikata. Season 4 focuses on the small town of Morio and its inhabitants. Josuke and his gang try to uncover the mystery behind the death of a young girl and put an end to the killer’s schemes.
Season five, Golden Wind, is basically a mob/mafia anime. It is set in 2001 Italy and stars Giorno Giovanna, who dreams of rising through the ranks of Passione, the most powerful and influential gang, and eventually being crowned as the "Gang-star."
Season six, "Stone Ocean," is all about Jotaro’s daughter, Jolyne Kujo. Framed for murder, Jolyne must find a way to escape prison, all the while finding out who wants to steal her father’s powers and kill them.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Antagonists
A great protagonist is only defined by how great his or her antagonist is. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has a great collection of villains throughout its collective seasons, and not one of them is pleasant.
Seasons one and three are plagued by Jonathan’s vampiric adopted brother. After getting decapitated in season one, he manages to survive for years inside a coffin submerged underwater. He manages to return in season three, where he is finally defeated by Jotaro and Star Platinum.
Season 2 features the "Pillar Men." The Pillar Men are three ancient god-like beings set to destroy the world. Even though Nazis were bad, these guys were on par with them. It even took Commander Stroheim, a Nazi soldier’s aid, to defeat these guys.
Season four features Yoshikage Kira, a serial killer who brings his victim’s hand wherever he goes. Despite his control over time, his mysteries and schemes were revealed by Josuke and his friends, and he was defeated.
Season five’s Diavolo is the leader of Passione, the most powerful and influential gang in Italy. He gave a mission to Giorno’s team to recover his daughter, whom he aims to kill to hide his own identity. Giorno seeks to dethrone him and become the leader himself.
Season six features Enrico Pucci. Is this an evil man posing as a priest to avoid suspicion? He aims to fulfill a prophecy that would create heaven and achieve Dio’s ultimate happiness.
As colorful as the protagonists are, so are their antagonists. Said villains were portrayed as overpowered beasts that the protagonists couldn’t defeat. However, in the end, they always manage to find a way to win.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Use of Cultural References
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is filled with cultural references to the brim. You don’t need to be an expert on cultural references to even spot one. Season four alone is brimming with cultural references.
The main villain’s stand "Killer Queen" is based on the band Queen’s song of the same name. Josuke, the main character of season four, is based on the appearance of Prince. On the other hand, Kira, the main antagonist, is based on the musician David Bowie.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Meme Worthy Scenes
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has a lot of meme-worthy scenes, stemming from the first up to the current season. Some of these memes have found their way onto various platforms, one way or another.
Famous Jojo memes include the "it was me, Dio" meme, the "crying Polnareff" meme, and the "Yes, Yes, Yes" meme, which shows Jotaro with the words "Yes" in the background.
Due to its comedic nature, it unintentionally produces memes that circulate around the internet. Memes may be seen as a negative thing, but they boosted Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s popularity even more.
In case you missed it: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Hirohiko Araki Explains Why Giorno's Dio Connection Isn't Explored
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, like many others, is based on the manga. However, the anime is far behind the manga. The manga is currently in its eighth part, while the anime is only in its sixth part.
Because of this, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure will be present for a long time, giving newer fans time to catch up with the ever-expanding bloodline of the Joestars and their friends.
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