頭がいかれてるので英語版の感想も書いてみました。
I finished watching the 3rd story arc, Stardust Crusaders.
In December 2021 (!?)
Well I’m Japanese, and a fan of JoJo’s 6th story arc Stone Ocean (comic).
I’ve been reading it when it serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump early 2000′.
Then finally this story arc became an anime. Of course I watched it on Netflix already.
Now I already watched the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd story arc of JoJo anime before I even realize it.
I was only know about Stone Ocean, but I’m learning JoJo world right now from very start.
Anyway I’m so into JoJo anime right now.
My super excited mind order me to write translated review, when I finished writing original Japanese review. So I did it.
I don’t know what I’m doing but hope someone enjoy it. ORAAA!!!
I made a table of contents because it became long.
Red contents includes SPOILERS!!!
Review
Stardust Crusaders was a long journey.
JoJo anime SEASON 1 includes the 1st and the 2nd story arc (of original comics).
And SEASON 2 = the 3rd story arc.
Stories are not divided by seasons. It’s divided by every story arc.
The 1st story arc is Phantom Blood.
The story of Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando. All 9 episodes.
I’ll refer it as PB(1) in this blog.
The 2nd story arc is Battle Tendency.
The story of Jonathan’s grandson Joseph Joestar and Piller Men. All 17 episodes.
I’ll refer it as BT (2)
The 3rd story arc is Stardust Crusaders.
The story of Jotaro Kujo and resurrected DIO. A “Stand” appeared for the first time in this part. All 48 episodes.
I’ll refer it as SC (3)
So, SC (3) is the longest of these three stories.
It was satisfyng to watch. They traveling from Japan to Egypt to defeat DIO! What a journey.
The resurrection of DIO causes strange things to the Joestars.
That strange things also happen to Jotaro’s mother Holly.
She would die if someone didn’t defeat DIO and eliminate that dark influences.
To save his mother, Jotaro heads to Egypt, where DIO is.
These are the outline of story.
SC (3) was great too like PB(1) and BT(2).
Sad. It’s not as much as BT(2), but I almost crying again. Please stop.
I feel like the story depth and density is less than the previous story arc.
Because it was simply long and including not so serious episodes (like full of jokes).
However, characters are well written and dug into by that story amount.
Impression increased because of it… well, sadness increased too but, I was moved.
AND first appearance of STAND! Many interesting Stands was so much fun.
Hamon also appeared. (Hamon = supernatural power appeared in PB(1) and BT(2))
But I think SC(3) will be the last appearance of Hamon.
Reason is, Hamon is not a indispensable power in Stand fight.
Hamon has a same energy as sunlight which a weakness of peoples who turned into the vampires by Stone Mask.
So Hamon is essential to defeat the vampires.
But Stand masters are not always the vampires and Stands cannot defeated by anything but Stands.
Hamon is not essential anymore.
I know it’s difficult to expand story with just Hamon but, little bit sad.
Come to think of it, Joseph Joestar defeat the opponent with his intelligence not only his Hamon power.
So maybe Hamon was limited power compared to Stands even at BT(2) (if Stands appeared in BT(2)).
I think it was the exciting part of BT(2) but anyway.
However, even if Hamon didn’t appear in the after story arc, I can be sane. I can wipe my tear.
Because Jonathan’s last-minute explosive power, Joseph’s calmness and wisdom, and the will of other people who participated in the fight are inherited.
I THINK SO! I WANT TO BELIEVE!
I don’t like the story about pedigree or DNA, so maybe people think you can’t enjoy JoJo!!! but I think JoJo is not just a story only about DNA. So it’s interesting and amazing.
I can’t read any Shonen Manga (like Shonen Jump comics) If I reject all story including DNA elements. So what is the other elements of this story except DNA? That’s important for me when I read manga or watch anime.
And I like JoJo for sure.
In JoJo, even if the character doesn’t have descendants, somethings left by that character has appeared (SPEEDWAGON I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!! THANK YOU ALWAYS SPEEDWAGON FOUNDATION!!!)
I don’t know about comics because I don’t read all of it, but in anime version, I think JoJo respects characters relations, not only ties of blood.
The design of Jotaro’s belt is the one I’m most curious about.
It’s not a elaborate pattern so maybe it’s not what I’m thinking… I think I’m going to do Hamon Clacker Volley to my roomwalls if there’s any information that it’s not what I thought.
No way, Hirohiko Araki will not draw by such a coincidence.
Beside, Jotaro uses same belt in both SC(3) and the 4th story arc.
No one wears the same belt as when you were a student for no reason!!! Isn’t it!??!?
(But maybe. Sometimes Araki do inconsistent things like DIO come out of THE coffin which Elina already used… Maybe it was just a belt with same design for no reason!!???!!?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)
Anyway.
The Joestar family’s cursed connection is the axis and interesting part, but the characters around it are also very attractive.
It’s one of the reasons I like JoJo.
Amazing opening songs again
The first half of SC(3) opening song is “STAND PROUD”.
The second half of it is “ジョジョ その血の記憶 ～end of THE WORLD～”.
(Ending song is “LAST TRAIN HOME” from beginning to end.)
I like “STAND PROUD” after all.
At first I thought I don’t like “ジョジョ その血の記憶 ～end of THE WORLD～” but I gradually fell in love with it.
Especially, I have to say that the additional effects was… wow… COOL.
It’s also good that this song sung together by three singers (Hiroaki Tommy Tominaga, Coda, Jin Hashimoto) who singing former opening songs.
(I think ORAORA in this song would’ve been more cooler with these three… but hey, maybe Jotaro voice actor Daisuke Ono’s ORA is too cool.)
Why his voice is so damn good? Why are you doing the voice of Nendo, Ono-D??? I like you.
Ending song has good illustrated scenes. Joseph is really cool. I also like the background picturing their journey and a scenery of Egypt.
In history, Egypt when Jotaro and his group traveled was around the time when Sadat was assassinated and Mubarak became president, and it was one step before the Gulf War broke out in 1990, so there is no big incident there I think?
But I enjoyed a ruins and cityscape of modern Egypt pictured alltogether. It was exciting because I like Egypt.
Biggest reason I like “STAND PROUD” the most is, this song has scenes of Jonathan, Joseph, Jotaro. Creators of this anime adopting history of JoJo protagonists.
Moreover, Joseph using that bandana.
I’ve been thinking from the first time I saw this opening, that’s the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!(calm tf down…)
These are the official audio videos.
Review (SPOILERS)
In the SC(3), I cheered Joseph the most.
I don’t know why but when I realized it, I really loved Joseph.
Even though he’s old now, but I was waiting for Joseph beats the opponents in his cool way. I was waiting for so long!
Though, the prominent battle was only the battle againt the Empress. I think.
Even in the battle against the Bastet (Mariah), he won with that wisdom.
He pretend he can’t win but moment after that he beats the oppenent completely was super Joseph ish.
But in that Bastet episode Joseph was not the only conspicuous person. He fought together with Avdol.
Joseph also showed a good combination with Jotaro in the battle against Terence D’Arby but, that battle was Jotaro’s mostly.
As a story that depicts the changing generations, it may be normal to descrive Joseph declines, but Jotaro grows up instead.
But I was still like “Joseph!!! Joseph please! Pleaaaaaaaase!!!!!” little bit when I watching it.
Jotaro has more physical strength than Joseph is very natural thing but it would be great if I could watch Joseph’s intellectual fights more.
Also, Joseph’s Stand was the only one that doesn’t have a humanoid form in the group and his ability was quite limited.
I felt from the beginning, OH NO he is completely restricted. I cried a little…
At the climax, I was like
Let Joseph have the credit for!!! He saved the world before!!!!! What is that f***ing tiny dagger, you f***ing bastards!!!!!
However, well, I calm myself.
If the ending was not like that, maybe I was dead.
I was sad because of these reasons, but at the end I cried inside my heart because Hamon gave Joseph time to live.
As I said earlier, the main ability changes to Stand from Hamon at SC(3).
But at the end of SC(3), Hamon power connected from Will A. Zeppeli, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Caesar, and to the Joseph gave him time. I felt like that.
(Hey don’t forget Loggins)
That was really good part. Withought the double ability of Hermit Purple and Hamon, Joseph could have had a hole in his torso.
But Joseph, are you relly okay!?!???!????
I finished watching like that.
Really? Old man are you okay????????
Ah if I writing about Avdol, Kakyoin, Polnareff and Iggy it will be insanely long. Well I try my best to select my words.
I can’t forget the relation of Polnareff and Iggy and the last scene of Kakyoin.
Polnareff call Iggy like fucking dog all the time but when Iggy disappeared, mostly he is the first one who searching for. Like “Where is that fucking dog.”
I thought, they are really good friends huh? So… don’t make me sad!!!
I often thought Polnareff you are stupid… but he’s really a good guy.
He sacrifice his youth for the revenge of his sister and maybe thrown away everything else but his mind is not crooked.
He is a good guy who can recompense people’s heart.
Iggy is a dog but doesn’t listen to people’s order. I felt he is a very unusual character.
Loyalty is the image of a dog but Iggy is not loyal to anybody but prouldly live himself and caring the person he recognize as a friends.
That nobility is so cool.
Kakyoin was found to be a gamer on the way, and he was a lonely person since he was little. I can’t help myself to feel attached to him, stop…
He said he had no regrets, but I wanted him to have a happy life.
Avdol is an Egyptian character and I was super excited.
Then, he… what are you doing Avdol!!!!! You are such a cool guy but why are you always like that!!!
His past was not revealed much but I was happy to see the Egyptian characters stand out.
About DIO. (SPOILERS)
I’m sure that I really hate DIO ().
He is the one who could be the best in the world as villain, though.
THE WORLD.
He’s not just evil, he is also have a human mind. That’s the depth of DIO…
While saying every single insult to Joestar family, he admitted Jonathan as equal person and he is cautious about Jonathan’s descendants after all.
Partly, it caused by his physical connection to them but he conscious of them.
Maybe it is a sign that he want to deny that Joestar families are big existence to him and that’s the reason why he continuingly saying something like these guys are just nutrients, I’m on top!!!!!
He still couldn’t quit and abandon his human mind. That’s interesting part of DIO I think.
He also seems particular about winning in human way, while he is saying that I would do anything to win.
Such as trying to show how greater THE WORLD is.
It’s easier to just kill them all without compete on same human level. If he is really the god like existence. Isn’t it?
I feel like maybe DIO could have win if he didn’t waste the time for saying “I’m waaay better than you!!!!!!!!”.
If he attack Jotaro like he did to Kakyoin.
Then Jotaro wouldn’t have had time to power up and might have lost.
It is a proof that he was coutious about the Joestar family…
Of course not only DIO’s missteps, but also Jotaro’s various strategies were effective.
It’s the Hirohiko Araki’s skill I think. To show these development of story as because of DIO’s arrogant personality which can’t abandon human mind. Not because of author’s convenience to liven up the climax.
An accumulated story of PD(1) and BT(2) make it possible. Ah, the feelings…
Well I hate DIO anyway ().
I think he is attractive as a character.
But you don’t have to appear anymore DIO! Please don’t. I’m so enough to see people hurt because of DIO.
Conclusion
At the end, I thought is was sad that SC(3) was over.
Many good points more than makes up for its number of dirty (literally dirty) scenes!!! lol
My favorite episodes (battles) are battle against Empress, Justice, Geb, D’Arby the Gambler, and Pet Shop.
Enya the Hag made me laugh a lot even if she is a villain. She is hilarious.
I won’t mention it as an episodes, but of course the climax was good.
I haven’t talked about Jotaro so far. What am I doing. He is the protagonist.
I like Jotaro of course!!! I laughed that his smoking scene was all censored (because he’s minor).
Jotaro is not kind to men, women, or anyone lol. But it’s only on the surface.
Including such personality, he was too cool. Why is he so cool? As a teenager???
I love his hard-boiled personality.
I thought it would be impossible for Jotaro to work as an ordinary office worker, so I was relieved when I found out he really become a marine biologist later (^ω^)
I wonder there is no such problem even someone watch SC(3) only, but I think the final battle’s impression will change depending on an information of PB(1) and BT(2).
So if someone wants to start watching JoJo, I will recommend to start from PB(1).
Last but not least, Unsho Ishizuka, who played Old Joseph in SC(3) was passed away in 2018. I’m sad.
Old Joseph was so good. Thank you so much Unsho-san…
That’s one of the hard part to watch JoJo anime right now. It’s sad to hear the lines of deceased voice actors.
But the JoJo voice casts are really amazing and splendid. I really appreciated to them.
I watched Diamond Is Unbreakable (4th story arc) episode 1 immediately because maybe I would stop watching for a while if I took a break.
I was surprised, Jotaro, you are thin.
So what happens in next story arc?
The arrow I saw in the opening song of Stone Ocean (6th story arc) appeared, so I wonder DU(4) is a key story of the JoJo series as well?
Anyway I’m thinking WHAT ARE YOU DOING JOSEPH. BEFORE YOU GO TO EGYPT. Apologize to Suzi, old man.
I saw it so many times in the youtube comment section, so I already knew about, but I miss the CGI openings.
Anyway I’ll continue to watch it. Bacause there are Jotaro.
From the beginning I intended to watch continuingly after season 1, but Joseph was one of the reason I kept watching SC(3).
Maybe I fell into the strategy again. BUT I’LL WATCH.
(Are you really going to watch all five story arc before the year is out!!? I have 71 episodes (27 hours) to watch!!!!!)
