7 Ways Steel Ball Run Anime Should Change The Manga

Summary

Give secondary characters more screen time to flesh out their backstories and motivations.
Expand on the relationship between Johnny and Gyro by adapting their interactions and adding new scenes.
Make changes to clarify confusing moments, like Funny Valentine’s sudden design change and D4C’s weird abilities.

At long last, an animated rendition of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” Part 7, titled “Steel Ball Run,” has commenced production. Unsurprisingly, enthusiasts of this iconic anime and manga series are thrilled by this news. “Steel Ball Run” is frequently hailed as the finest segment within the whole collection, and for a valid reason.

Although the original manga of Steel Ball Run is highly acclaimed, it does have a few peculiar writing choices and minor imperfections. With the new anime produced by David Production, there’s an excellent chance to enhance and refine Hirohiko Araki’s brilliant work, ultimately making the story even more compelling. Here are some significant changes that the upcoming animated adaptation of Steel Ball Run should consider implementing.

7. Give Secondary Characters More Screen Time

Add More Scenes With Beloved Characters

To enhance fan satisfaction, David Production could create unique, original scenes for the secondary characters in “Steel Ball Run,” much like they did for “Vento Aureo” in their animated adaptation of “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.” This approach would allow for a deeper exploration and development of the diverse and captivating cast from “Steel Ball Run.

Although Part 7 lacks a clear-cut villain gang similar to La Squadra Esecuzioni, it introduces some remarkable minor adversaries instead. However, these characters, such as Ringo Roadagain, Oyecomova, and Magent Magent, who enjoy significant popularity, were given limited screen time. Characters like Wekapipo or Mountain Tim also require more exposure. The upcoming Steel Ball Run anime offers a potential solution to this issue.

6. More Small Interactions Between Johnny & Gyro

Expand On Their Endearing Relationship

Unlike many other “JoJo” series, the cast in “Steel Ball Run” is relatively compact, comprising primarily of Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli. Occasionally, additional characters join them, but these two serve as the main focus. Remarkably, this arrangement proved effective. It enabled Araki to delve deeply into both protagonists’ personalities, while also crafting engaging and lasting encounters between them.

In the upcoming Steel Ball Run anime, it’s essential not only to replicate every witty exchange between Johnny and Gyro, such as the “Pizza Mozzarella” song, the “Days of the Week” gag, and their deep discussions about personal secrets. The production should also create additional scenes featuring these two characters, which not only engage the audience but also deepen and endear their relationship even further.

5. Explain Funny Valentine’s Design Change

How Did The Main Villain’s Appearance Suddenly Change?

In his storytelling process, Hirohiko Araki often alters the appearances of certain characters. However, the transformation undergone by Funny Valentine, a key character from the series Steel Ball Run, was extraordinary and unexpected. Initially, Funny Valentine was depicted as a short, portly man, serving as the President of the United States and the main adversary. Yet, as the story unfolded in later chapters, he appeared taller, more muscular, with no clear rationale provided for this shift in his physical appearance.

When someone inquired about the unexpected alteration in character appearance, Araki playfully suggested that Valentine had been working out between chapters, which was a humorous comment that didn’t entirely satisfy some fans. A popular speculation is that he actually employed the abilities of his stand, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, to trade bodies with another self from a different reality. To prevent such perplexity, David Production could create a fresh scene showing Funny Valentine executing this swap, or eradicate the quandary by depicting him as muscular from the outset.

4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Should Be Less Confusing

“Who Shot Johnny Joestar?” Is One Of The Weirdest Moments In The Series

The way Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (D4C), or “Who Shot Johnny Joestar?”, is first introduced in the narrative of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is frequently pointed out as one of its most perplexing moments. However, this confusion was absolutely deliberate. Funny Valentine skillfully employed his Stand’s interdimensional abilities to simultaneously shoot Johnny and falsely accuse Diego Brando and Wekapipo.

It appears that the main issue lies in the fact that, even though the story provides an explanation, many readers find this event perplexing. To make matters worse, Araki modified the specific functioning of D4C’s ability at a later point, which added to the overall confusion. Moreover, Diavolo’s Stand, King Crimson, has enigmatic powers that left manga enthusiasts baffled for years, until David Production masterfully clarified it in the Vento Aureo anime. The studio could capitalize on the benefits of animation to provide a clearer understanding of how D4C functions and what Valentine did with it during its initial storyline.

3. Sandman’s Change Should Be Less Drastic

Fix One Of The Most Jarring Heel Turns In The Series

The storyline for Steel Ball Run opens with the character of Sandman, a Native American participant, who surprisingly chooses not to ride a horse in the competition. His significant screen presence early on and noble objective – reacquiring ancestral land – make him seem like a heroic figure. However, as the narrative unfolds, Sandman unexpectedly turns into an adversary, forming an alliance with Diego to challenge Johnny and Gyro.

Indeed, it was quite disconcerting to witness Sandman’s sudden transformation under Funny Valentine’s influence. This unexpected shift in character remains one of Araki’s most intriguing yet puzzling narrative choices. Some devoted fans speculate that perhaps Funny Valentine swapped Sandman with his evil doppelganger from another realm. To alleviate the perplexity and frustration surrounding Steel Ball Run‘s biggest writing quandary, David Production might consider incorporating additional scenes to further develop Sandman’s personality, thereby softening the blow of this abrupt heel turn, while preserving the element of surprise in this captivating plot twist.

2. Make Hot Pants’ Death Less Ambiguous

The Character Deserves A Better Send-Off

Among the memorable characters in Steel Ball Run, Hot Pants plays a significant role. However, her demise, though crucial to the storyline, remains one of the strangest scenes in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. When she joined forces with Diego Brando against Funny Valentine, Hot Pants met an unusual end. She was struck by D4C Love Train, a new ability of Valentine’s, which attracts misfortune towards its victims. Consequently, various insects and a window frame started fusing with her body, causing fatal injuries to her heart and ultimately leading to her falling from a speeding train.

Many viewers may not fully realize that Hot Pants met her end in this particular scene since her death occurs off-camera and is not dwelled upon. This abrupt departure for such a well-loved character feels unfulfilling. To improve it, David Production could clarify her demise and make it less perplexing, while also incorporating some additional scenes from Hot Pants’ viewpoint to depict her thoughts as she falls from the train.

1. Extend The Ending

An Already Solid Ending Can Get Even Better

In the final installment of Steel Ball Run, while it might not be the strongest ending compared to others in the series, it remains compelling and fulfilling. The protagonist, Johnny Joestar, undergoes significant character development, cherishes Gyro Zeppeli’s memory, and embarks on a journey to Naples to honor his friend by returning his body to his family. However, the narrative could have benefited from more insights into Lucy, Pocoloco, and other Steel Ball Run race competitors.

David Production has a history of extending the conclusions of their previous JoJo series animations, such as Stardust Crusaders and Diamond Is Unbreakable, by inserting additional scenes that provide insights into what became of some key and supporting characters. It would be beneficial for the studio to apply this approach again, enriching the already stellar conclusion of Steel Ball Run. This could involve revealing how the citizens of Naples deposed their king, what Pocoloco used his winnings from the race for, the fate of Diego and Hot Pants’ physical remains, and much more.

2025-04-14 11:06