Steel Ball Run Translator Criticizes Netflix, Says JoJo Fans Deserve Better

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Despite a lot of excitement surrounding its release, the new anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run is getting off to a disappointing start. While the first episode was well-received by both critics and fans, Netflix announced it won’t be releasing new episodes weekly or in complete sets, unlike the previous series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. This decision, similar to a previously unpopular choice, is already causing frustration among viewers and could harm the anime’s popularity.

It appears Netflix plans to release Steel Ball Run in parts, dividing the series according to the nine Stages of the race. While it’s not yet confirmed if all nine parts will be released separately, fans are clearly unhappy with this approach. In fact, the official French translator for the manga even voiced concerns on X, urging Netflix to reconsider this batch release strategy.

French Steel Ball Run Translator Anthony Prezman Believes JoJo Fans Deserve Better

On March 28, 2026, the French translator for the Steel Ball Run manga used a long post on X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Netflix’s decision to release the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime all at once instead of releasing episodes weekly. He explained that this approach is a mistake, comparing it to a situation with a French manga publisher, Glénat. Glénat had altered the way manga was read to resemble Western comics, but when a competitor, Kana, started publishing manga in the original format fans preferred, Glénat lost significant ground.

During a discussion with Netflix, Prezman shared a story to illustrate that sticking to a release strategy despite strong fan feedback often doesn’t work out well. He then urged Netflix to release episodes of Steel Ball Run weekly instead of all at once. Prezman, as an official translator for the manga, believes that releasing episodes too slowly will hurt the story’s impact and suspense. His opinion is particularly valuable, and it’s hoped that Netflix will take his suggestion into account and change how they release Steel Ball Run.

Steel Ball Run’s Story is Too Good to Waste on Batches

Netflix learned with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean that releasing all episodes at once can hurt a show’s impact. While Stone Ocean had some of the best action, unique abilities, and memorable scenes in the entire JoJo’s series, it didn’t become a cultural phenomenon like the first five parts. This was likely because Netflix released all episodes simultaneously, eliminating the weekly conversations and excitement that the series used to generate.

Many fans consider Steel Ball Run to be the strongest part of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga, praising its compelling story, exciting fights, and memorable characters. When the first episode was released, some hoped Netflix would return to releasing episodes weekly, as they used to. However, the continued use of batch releases is likely a mistake. This approach caused many great moments in Stone Ocean to go unnoticed, and the same will probably happen with Steel Ball Run.

Releasing episodes in batches, based on story arcs, is an interesting idea, but the strength of Steel Ball Run comes from its consistent, chapter-by-chapter pacing. This natural flow builds tension and character development, and that will likely be lost with batch releases. While it’s probably too late for Netflix to change course, they should really consider the advice of Prezman and release the remaining episodes weekly. Batch releases haven’t benefited JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fans in the past, and there’s no reason to think they will now.

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2026-03-29 06:08