Netflix has acquired the global streaming rights for the highly anticipated anime adaptation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run. This marks a significant development for fans worldwide, as the series, considered by many to be one of the manga’s strongest arcs, will be readily accessible upon its release. While an official release date for the anime has yet to be confirmed, anticipation is high following its production announcement by Warner Bros. Japan earlier this year.
Production Details and Creative Team
The anime adaptation of Steel Ball Run is being helmed by David Production, the studio responsible for animating all previous installments of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. This ensures a consistent visual style and dedication to Hirohiko Araki’s unique aesthetic. The creative team includes familiar names from past JoJo adaptations: Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi are directing the anime, with Toshiyuki Kato serving as series director. Yasuko Kobayashi is returning to oversee the series scripts, and Daisuke Tsumagari is handling character designs. Yūgo Kanno is composing the music, and Yoshikazu Iwanami is the sound director.
Warner Bros. Japan officially announced the anime adaptation on April 12, 2025, during the JOJODAY event, where a promotional teaser and key visuals for the main characters were revealed.
What is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run?
Steel Ball Run is the seventh main story arc of Hirohiko Araki’s iconic JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga. Originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2004 before moving to Ultra Jump in 2005, this part is unique as it introduces a new universe, separate from the continuity of the preceding six parts. Many fans regard it as a masterpiece within the franchise.
Plot Overview
Set in the United States in 1890, Steel Ball Run centers around a perilous cross-country horse race spanning from San Diego to New York City, offering a grand prize of fifty million dollars. The story primarily follows Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic former jockey seeking to regain the use of his legs, and Gyro Zeppeli, a disgraced Neapolitan executioner with a mysterious ability known as “Spin.” Johnny enters the titular Steel Ball Run race after a chance encounter with Gyro, whose steel balls temporarily restore his mobility. As they compete, they uncover a hidden agenda behind the race orchestrated by its sponsor, leading them into bizarre and dangerous encounters with other Stand users.
Key Characters
- Johnny Joestar: The seventh “JoJo” protagonist, a former jockey from Kentucky who became paralyzed. He enters the Steel Ball Run to understand and utilize Gyro’s Spin ability, hoping to regain the use of his legs. He develops the Stand, Tusk, which evolves throughout the story.
- Gyro Zeppeli: A skilled former executioner from Naples who possesses the mysterious “Spin” technique, which he uses with steel balls. He is a mentor and companion to Johnny Joestar.
- Diego Brando: A rival jockey, sharing a name with a character from earlier parts but existing in this new continuity. He is a formidable opponent in the race.
Netflix’s History with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Netflix has a strong history of streaming JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure content. The platform currently streams the first five seasons of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Animation and the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan OVA internationally. Most notably, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, the sixth part of the series, premiered worldwide exclusively on Netflix in December 2021, with subsequent batches of episodes released in September 2022 and December 2022. This partnership established Netflix as a key global distributor for the franchise’s anime adaptations.
While a specific release date for Steel Ball Run on Netflix is still pending, fans can expect more information to be revealed during a global livestream event scheduled for September 23, which will be streamed on Warner Bros. Japan’s official YouTube channel for anime. The previous Stone Ocean release strategy saw episodes released in batches, and while some fans hope for a weekly release akin to earlier parts, the exact schedule for Steel Ball Run remains to be seen. Speculation suggests a release in 2026 or later, given the early production stages.
