ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スティール・ボール・ラン
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Tong Li Publishing (Taiwan, China)
May 2005 Issue – May 2011 Issue[1]
《Steel Ball Run] (Japanese:スティール・ボール・ラン; English:Steel Ball Run) is aHirohiko Arakimanga series created byJoJo's Bizarre Adventurethe seventh part of, with derivative works such as anime and games.
Introduction
| Parallel world timeline begins Prequel: Part 6: Stone Ocean ← |
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Main Manga Series |
Sequel: → Part 8: JoJolion |
JoJo's Bizarre AdventureThe seventh part of.
In 1890, an ultra-long-distance horse race across the North American continent with a total length of 6,000 kilometers, "STEEL BALL RUN" (SBR), is about to begin. This is the story of the protagonistJohnny Joestara story of crossing adolescence and moving towards adulthood. Johnny Joestar was once a top jockey, but a shooting incident left him paraplegic. He meets a mysterious man,Gyro Zeppeli. The spinning steel balls in Gyro's hands allow Johnny to stand once again. In order to find a way to stand up again, Johnny follows Gyro and participates in the SBR.
On the surface, the SBR is organized by event promoterStephen Steel, but the mastermind behind the race is actually the U.S. government. The President of the United States,Funny Valentineplanned this race to collect the mysterious Saint's Corpse parts scattered across the North American continent. Each piece of the Saint's Corpse—implied in the story to be the corpse of Jesus—can grant the holder a Stand ability, and the complete corpse possesses even greater divine power. The President's goal is to obtain the complete corpse to ensure the glory of the United States.
Main Characters
Protagonist Duo
Individual Contestants
- Diego Brando
- Hot Pants
- Sandman
- Pocoloco
- Mrs. Robinson
- Oyecomova
- Boom BoomFamily of ThreeGroup
- Diego from a remote parallel world, namely THE WORLD Diego
Tournament Organizers
- Stephen Steel
- Lucy Steel
- Mountain Tim
- Funny Valentine(The Mastermind)
The President's Side
- Funny Valentine
- Pork Pie Hat Kid
- Dr. Ferdinand
- Ringo Roadagain
- Blackmore
- Eleven Men
- Mike O.
- Axl RO
- Magent Magent
- Wekapipo(Later defected)
- D-I-S-C-O
Other Characters
Chapter List
| Chapter Number (Total Chapter Number) | Serialized Title | Official Title |
|---|---|---|
| Volume 1: September 25, 1890, San Diego Beach | ||
| 001 (753) | San Diego Beach, September 23, 1890, 2 Days Before the Start | "STEEL BALL RUN" Press Conference |
| 002 (754) | San Diego Beach, September 23, 1890, 2 Days Before the Start, Part 2 | Gyro Zeppeli |
| 003 (755) | San Diego Beach, September 23, 1890, 2 Days Before the Start, Part 3 | Johnny Joestar |
| 004 (756) | San Diego Beach, September 23, 1890, The Start | September 25, 1890, 3 Hours Before Departure |
| 005 (757) | 15,000 Meters: Hilly Terrain, 10:00 AM | 1st STAGE: 15,000 Meters |
| Volume 2: 1st STAGE: 15,000 Meters | ||
| 006 (758) | 15,000 Meters: Dried-up River, 10:05 AM | Dried-up Riverbed; Diego Brando |
| 007 (759) | 15,000 Meters: Uphill, 10:08 AM | Pocoloco and Sandman |
| 008 (760) | 15,000 meters, Thicket, 10:12 AM | Crossing the Thicket |
| 009 (761) | 15,000 meters, Downhill, 10:14 AM | The Long Downhill |
| 010 (762) | 15,000 meters, Final Straight, 10:17 AM | Final Straight! 2,000 meters remaining! |
| 011 (763) | 15,000 meters, Before the Finish Line, 10:18 AM | Final Straight! 1,000 meters remaining! |
| Extra Chapter | ~The Circumstances Behind the Hosting of the STEEL BALL RUN~ | |
| Volume 3 2nd.STAGE Across the Arizona Desert | ||
| 012 (764) | 1st.STAGE Arrival Order Confirmed | 1st.STAGE Champion Disqualified |
| 013 (765) | 2nd.STAGE Begins | The Sheriff's Request to Mountain Tim |
| 014 (766) | Mrs. Robinson | Crossing the Arizona Desert: Choosing the Shortest Route |
| 015 (767) | Andre Boom Boom | Villains Born in the Desert ① |
| 016 (768) | The Boom Boom Family | Villains Born in the Desert ② |
| 017 (769) | Mountain Tim | Outlaws from the Desert ③ |
| Volume 4: Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny | ||
| 018 (770) | A Battle of Three | The Devil's Palm ① |
| 019 (771) | Cursed Abilities | The Devil's Palm ② |
| 020 (772) | The Zeppeli Family | Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny ① |
| 021 (773) | The Waystation | Gyro Zeppeli's Destiny ② |
| 022 (774) | Intense Bombardment in the Desert | Terrorists from a Faraway Country ① |
| 023 (775) | Pursuit in the Mountainous Area | Terrorists from a Faraway Country ② |
| Volume 5: The President's Conspiracy | ||
| 024 (776) | Interlude | INTERLUDE (Interlude) |
| 025 (777) | The President's Order: "Find the Corpse" ① | Tusk ① |
| 026 (778) | The President's Order: "Find the Corpse" ② | Tusk ② |
| 027 (779) | The President's Order: "Find the Corpse" ③ | Tusk ③ |
| Volume 6: Scary Monsters | ||
| 028 (780) | Diego Brando | Scary Monsters ① |
| 029 (781) | Diego Brando ② | Scary Monsters ② |
| 030 (782) | Diego Brando ③ | Scary Monsters ③ |
| Volume 7: A Little Tomb on the Vast Prairie | ||
| 031 (783) | Diego Brando ④ | Scary Monsters ④ |
| 032 (784) | Across the Lakeside | 3rd. STAGE Goal: Canon City |
| 033 (785) | A Little Tomb on the Vast Prairie ① | A Man's World Part ① |
| Volume 8: Entering a Man's World | ||
| 034 (786) | A Little Tomb on the Vast Prairie ② | A Man's World Part ② |
| 035 (787) | A Little Tomb on the Vast Prairie ③ | A Man's World Part ③ |
| 036 (788) | Lucy Steel | The Green Tombstone Part 1 |
| Volume 9: A Stormy Night Approaches | ||
| 037 (789) | A Little Green Grave | The Green Tombstone Part 2 |
| 038 (790) | A Little Green Grave Part 2 | Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...) Part 1 |
| 039 (791) | A Little Green Grave Part 3 | Catch the Rainbow (On a Stormy Night...) Part 2 |
| Volume 10: Illinois Skyline Route, Michigan Lakeside Route | ||
| 040 (792) | Lucy's Determination | Silent Way Part 1 |
| 041（793） | Since When Was the Enemy There? | In a Silent Way, Part 2 |
| 042（794） | A Further Stage | In a Silent Way, Part 3 |
| Volume 11: Create the Golden Rectangle! | ||
| 043（795） | The Golden Rectangle | In a Silent Way, Part 4 |
| 044（796） | The Golden Spin! | In a Silent Way, Part 5 |
| 045（797） | The Rules of the Lakeside | The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain Part 1 |
| Volume 12: Conditions for the Corpse, Conditions for Friendship | ||
| 046 (798) | Rules of the Lakeside ② | The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain Part 2 |
| 047 (799) | Rules of the Lakeside ③ | The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain Part 3 |
| 048 (800) | Rules of the Lakeside ④ | Tubular Bells Part 1 |
| Volume 13: Shattered Steel Ball | ||
| 049 (801) | Battle for the Government House | Tubular Bells Part 2 |
| 050 (802) | Battle for the Government Mansion ② | Tubular Bells Part ③ |
| 051 (803) | Steel Ball vs. Steel Ball | Wrecking Ball Part ① |
| Volume 14: Qualifications for the Victor | ||
| 052 (804) | World of Ice | Wrecking Ball Part ② |
| 053 (805) | Wekapipo's Method | Wrecking Ball Part ③ |
| 054 (806) | Wekapipo Is Here! | Wrecking Ball Part 4 |
| 055 (807) | The Sixth Stage Finish | Qualifications for the Victor |
| Volume 15: A Dream of Gettysburg | ||
| 056 (808) | The House of Memories | Civil War Part 1 |
| 057 (809) | The House of Memories Part 2 | Civil War Part 2 |
| 058 (810) | The House of Memories Part 3 | Civil War Part 3 |
| 059 (811) | The House of Memories - Part 4 | A Dream of Gettysburg |
| Volume 16: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap | ||
| 060 (812) | The Land of the Decisive Battle | Both Sides Now - Part 1 |
| 061 (813) | True Power - Part 1 | Both Sides Now - Part 2 |
| 062 (814) | True Power - Part 2 | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap |
| 063 (815) | Seven Days in a Week | |
| Volume 17: D4C | ||
| 064（816） | The True Power ③ | Chocolate Disco Part ① |
| 065（817） | The True Power ④ | Chocolate Disco Part ② |
| 066（818） | The True Power ⑤ | D4C Part ① |
| 067（819） | Incomprehensible Chain | D4C Part ② |
| 068（820） | The President Is Coming! | D4C Part ③ |
| Volume 18: Ticket to Ride | ||
| 069 (821) | The President is Coming! ② | D4C Part ④ |
| 070 (822) | The President is Coming! ③ | D4C Part ⑤ |
| 071 (823) | Lucy Imprisoned | Ticket to Ride Part ① |
| 072 (824) | Heading to the Delaware River ① | Ticket to Ride Part ② |
| Volume 19: We Can't Become Millionaires | ||
| 073 (825) | To the Delaware River ② | D4C Part 6 |
| 074 (826) | To the Delaware River ③ | D4C Part 7 |
| 075 (827) | Proof of Weakness | D4C Part 8 |
| 076 (828) | The Last Bastion | D4C Part 9 |
| Volume 20: Love Train - The World Becomes One | ||
| 077 (829) | The Chasing Signboard | D4C Part 10 |
| 078（830） | Phenomena and the Goddess | D4C Part 11 -Love Train- |
| 079（831） | Justice and Evil | D4C Part 12 -Love Train |
| 080（832） | Justice and Evil ② | D4C Part 13 -Love Train- |
| Volume 21 Ball Breaker | ||
| 081（833） | Justice and Evil ③ | D4C Part 14 -Love Train- |
| 082（834） | Justice and Evil ④ | D4C Part 15 -Love Train- |
| 083 (835) | Justice and Evil ⑤ | Ball Breaker Part 1 |
| 084 (836) | The Goddess's Envy | Ball Breaker Part 2 |
| Volume 22: BREAK MY HEART BREAK YOUR HEART | ||
| 085 (837) | LESSON 5 | Ball Breaker Part 3 |
| 086 (838) | LESSON 5 ② | Ball Breaker Part 4 |
| 087 (839) | LESSON 5 ③ | Ball Breaker Part 5 |
| 088 (840) | LESSON 5 ④ | Break My Heart, Break Your Heart Part 1 |
| Volume 23: High Voltage | ||
| 089 (841) | LESSON 5 ⑤ | Break My Heart, Break Your Heart Part 2 |
| 090 (842) | A New World | High Voltage Part 1 |
| 091 (843) | A New World ② | High Voltage Part 2 |
| Volume 24: The Stars and Stripes Forever | ||
| 092 (844) | A New World ③ | Gathering Clouds, Part 3 |
| 093 (845) | A New World ④ | Gathering Clouds, Part 4 |
| 094 (846) | A New World ⑤ | The World of the Stars and Stripes |
| 095 (847) | Where Happiness Lies | The World of the Stars and Stripes - OUTRO |
| Part 7: End | ||
-
Volume 1 (Total Volume 81) -
Volume 2 (Total Volume 82) -
Volume 3 (Total Volume 83) -
Volume 4 (Total Volume 84) -
Volume 5 (Total Volume 85) -
Volume 6 (Total Volume 86) -
Volume 7 (Total Volume 87) -
Volume 8 (Total Volume 88) -
Volume 9 (Total Volume 89) -
Volume 10 (Total Volume 90) -
Volume 11 (Total Volume 91) -
Volume 12 (Total Volume 92) -
Volume 13 (Total Volume 93) -
Volume 14 (Total Volume 94) -
Volume 15 (Total Volume 95) -
Volume 16 (Total Volume 96) -
Volume 17 (Total Volume 97) -
Volume 18 (Total Volume 98) -
Volume 19 (Total Volume 99) -
Volume 20 (Total Volume 100) -
Volume 21 (Total Volume 101) -
Volume 22 (Total Volume 102) -
Volume 23 (Total Volume 103) -
Volume 24 (Total Volume 104)
Regarding the Anime Adaptation
Since the "Stone Ocean" anime concluded, whether SBR can be animated and when it will be animated has become a hot topic of constant speculation among many viewers.
Some viewers believe that based on the interval between the anime adaptations of each JOJO part, theoretically, news of an official anime announcement should be seen in the near future. At the same time, there are also many
Many fans believe that "an anime adaptation will definitely happen, it's just a matter of time"; meanwhile, many fans believe that the difficulty of adapting SBR into an anime is indeed too great, with reasons often including but not limited to the following:
- The anime adaptation of SBR is like a "hot potato." The high acclaim of the original work dictates that the quality of the anime must also be high. To reach a certain level of quality, a large amount of funding, manpower, resources, and technical conditions are required, especially when drawing horse racing scenes. If the quality is poor and the audience doesn't buy it, it will ruin its reputation.[2]；
- David Production only purchased the animation rights for Parts 1-6 and has not purchased the rights for Parts 7-9.[3]；
- Settings such as the "U.S. Government" and "Saint's Corpse" involve political and religious factors in Western countries, making it difficult to pass censorship in those regions.[4]；
- In the entire JoJo series, the domestic sales of the SBR manga in Japan are the second lowest, only higher than "Phantom Blood", and the revenue after the anime adaptation might not break even.[5]。
Due to the indefinite delay of the anime adaptation, many JoJo fans at home and abroad have started creating their own SBR-related fan works, including high-quality productions like the fan-made OP "Holy Steel" and others. Such works are often praised by viewers as "fan-made works putting the official ones to shame"," "The pressure is on David Production now," "If David Production doesn't release the anime soon, the fans will finish it themselves," and so on. Someone even posted an "anime adaptation poster" on April Fool's Day 2024.
| Fake anime adaptation poster |
|---|
|
|
On December 13, 2024, Warner Bros. Japan announced that they would hold "JOJODAY" event in Tokyo on April 12, 2025, with the theme "Connecting the 'Past' and the 'Future'," sparking many speculations about the announcement of the SBR anime adaptation.
As expected, at the end of the event, the official PV for the SBR anime production decision was shown, finally settling the long-pending topic of the SBR anime adaptation.
On September 23, 2025, the teaser PV for the SBR anime was released, confirming that the anime will continue to be funded by Netflix and produced by David Production, to be broadcast exclusively worldwide via the Netflix platform in 2026. The voice actors for Johnny, Gyro, Steel, Lucy, and Diego were also revealed.
However, this teaser PV and other leaked information have made many viewers feel uneasy:
- Like the previous work "Stone Ocean," this project is funded by Netflix and produced by David Production. However, due to production quality issues, the overall reputation of the "Stone Ocean" anime was far inferior to the adaptations of the first five parts. If this work is produced with the same or even lower production standards as the "Stone Ocean" anime, it will inevitably cause widespread controversy, and some scenes revealed in the teaser PV have made many viewers feel that their fears are starting to come true;
- The anime character designs for Johnny, Gyro, and other characters feel strange to many viewers in terms of color schemes, appearance, and anatomy;
- Because the voice acting for characters like Johnny in JOJO game adaptations such as ASB and EOH was so excellent, many viewers are worried about the voice acting performance when the voice actors for this work were revealed to be different from the familiar ones in ASB and other works, especially since Diego isDIO's parallel world counterpart, no longer using the most classicTakehito Koyasuas the CV, but instead choosingKaito Ishikawa, which many viewers found unacceptable;
- ……
Soon after, viewers who were disappointed and pessimistic about this news sparked a new wave of fan creations, including but not limited to using traditional methods/AI technology to redraw character designs and re-dub characters. Among them, some people parodied the SBR race as an "Egg Grabbing Contest" based on the "cheap animation" feel of the teaser PV, creating a series of "egg grabbing" memes for various characters that spread widely within the fan community.
On December 20, the official PV for the SBR anime was released, revealing the voice actors for Sandman and Pocoloco, and confirming that the first episode, a 47-minute special edition, would air on March 19, 2026. The release of this PV improved most viewers' opinions of the SBR anime, with many remarking that David Production had gone "from negative to zero, but as for where the negative numbers came from, don't ask", but at the same time, some speculated that this was a compromise marketing strategy, where David Production "deliberately released a bad PV earlier to lower expectations, and then released a relatively higher-quality PV now to make it acceptable to most people."
Notes and External Links
- ↑ Ultra Jump
- ↑ The content described in such claims is the most critical reason hindering the SBR anime adaptation, but many viewers have proposed seemingly feasible solutions to these claims, such as "using 3D-to-2D rendering" or "using AI assistance."
- ↑ This claim is widely circulated, but its source is unknown, and whether David Production only purchased the animation rights for Parts 1-6 remains a mystery. In addition, there are claims that "David Production would rather produce the anime for Parts 8 and 9 than Part 7," but these have also not been confirmed.
- ↑ However, in fact, many Western works themselves contain allusions to political and religious factors.
- ↑ Phantom Blood has a total sales of 4 million, and Steel Ball Run has a total sales of 7.5 million.
