JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Biggest Changes Between The Manga And Anime

Summary

David Production used decades of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga foresight to add scenes that tighten continuity and boost emotion.
Some added iconic moments include: Part 2’s epilogue, Part 3’s photograph scene and Yoshikage Kira’s cameos throughout Part 4.
Some manga beats were cut or rushed, notably Jolyne’s prison scenes and Jonathan’s interesting childhood memories.

While *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure* is currently a hugely popular anime, it’s worth remembering that it first appeared on television in 2011. The original manga by Hirohiko Araki actually started publishing over twenty-five years earlier, in 1986. This gave the animation studio, David Production, a unique advantage – they could adapt each part of the story knowing what would happen later on.

The animation is working out great! The first six parts have undergone significant improvements, making the experience much smoother and more cohesive. The *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure* anime is widely considered a fantastic adaptation, and it differs noticeably from the *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure* manga, with these changes being the most impactful throughout the series.

Jonathan Joestar’s Childhood

Part 1 Had A Bigger Focus On Jonathan’s Early Years

Part 1: PhantomBlood

The conflict between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando drives the first part of the series, *Phantom Blood*. However, the anime seemed to rush through their childhood, quickly moving towards their final battle as adults. This unfortunately meant cutting out many potentially engaging scenes.

The first part of *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*, originally titled *Phantom Blood*, dedicated more time to showing Jonathan Joestar’s childhood. This helped to create a more relatable and well-rounded character. Examples include scenes of him enjoying simple pleasures like smoking a pipe and eating chocolate, as well as a flashback showing how he met his dog, Danny. The anime adaptation also toned down the graphic depiction of Danny’s death, which was considerably more violent in the original manga.

Extended Part 2 Epilogue

The Anime Showed What Happened To The Cast After The Ending

Part 2: Battle Tendency

The finale of *Battle Tendency* is incredibly memorable because it reveals what happened to key characters between Parts 2 and 3. We see Erina peacefully pass away with family, Smokey pursue a career in politics by running for mayor, and Stroheim heroically charge into battle before his death. There’s even a quick glimpse of Jotaro Kujo, hinting at his arrival in the next part of the story.

This epilogue provides a satisfying conclusion to the first two parts of *JoJo*, but it’s largely an addition created for the anime. The manga’s ending to Part 2 feels rushed, simply *telling* us what happens to the characters later on instead of *showing* it. Plus, Jotaro’s appearance is entirely new – the *Battle Tendency* anime came out long after the *Stardust Crusaders* manga was finished.

The Stardust Crusaders Photograph

One Of The Most Iconic Part 3 Moments Wasn’t Even In The Manga

Part 3: Stardust Crusaders

Stardust Crusaders is the installment of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure that launched the series to international popularity. It’s a thrilling adventure that takes place all over the world, featuring memorable characters and a unique power system called Stands. A small but important scene occurs soon after the group reaches Egypt: they decide to pose for a group photo as a memento.

That iconic photo became deeply associated with *Stardust Crusaders*, and its emotional impact was heightened by the deaths of Avdol, Iggy, and Kakyoin. Surprisingly, this scene and the photo itself weren’t originally in the *Stardust Crusaders* manga. It first appeared in *Vento Aureo*, where Jotaro has a framed copy in his office during a phone call with Koichi. The animation studio, David Production, cleverly decided to add this memorable scene to the *Part 3* anime to establish the photo’s origin, years before they even began adapting *Part 5*.

Yoshikage Kira’s Subtle Cameos

The Main Villain Of Part 4 Was Hiding In The Background All Along

Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable

The first part of *Diamond is Unbreakable* was enjoyable, though it lacked a clear overall story, presenting a new enemy each chapter. Everything shifted when the true villain of Part 4, the serial killer Yoshikage Kira who possesses a Stand, was finally introduced.

David Production, benefiting from adapting the manga years after its completion, added several new, short scenes featuring Kira before his official introduction. The most famous is at the season’s start, showing a shadowy figure cooking breakfast alongside a severed hand while listening to the radio. We also see him casually walking around Morioh throughout the series, a detail that aligns with his goal of appearing as an ordinary citizen.

The Anime Added New Scenes Of La Squadra Esecuzioni

The Most Beloved Villain Group In The Series Had Their Time To Shine

Part 5: Vento Aureo

Fans of the *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure* series, particularly those who enjoyed *Golden Wind*, have always loved the assassination team called La Squadra Esecuzioni. This is understandable, as each member boasts a unique personality, memorable appearance, and a powerful Stand ability – all despite being relatively minor villains who appear only once.

Fans had long hoped to learn more about the group La Squadra and their relationships before their battle with Team Bucciarati, and the 2018 anime adaptation of *Golden Wind* finally gave them that. The anime added scenes – like La Squadra meeting at a restaurant and searching for information about the boss at Trish’s house – that developed these compelling villains, who didn’t have much interaction with each other in the original manga.

Scenes Of Jolyne In Prison Were Cut From The Anime

Jolyne’s Arrival At Green Dolphin Street Was Much More Interesting In The Manga

Part 6: Stone Ocean

The initial episodes of the *Stone Ocean* anime sparked a lot of debate among fans. This wasn’t just because of how Netflix released them, but also because the adaptation skipped or sped through crucial scenes showing Jolyne Cujoh’s experiences when she first arrived at Green Dolphin Street Prison. These scenes were important for developing her character and giving viewers a good understanding of where the story takes place.

In the manga, Jolyne’s arrival at prison was a more extended, engaging, and humorous sequence filled with memorable moments that the anime unfortunately left out. These included more interaction with Hermes, a more detailed physical exam, and a scene where she was intrigued by a fellow inmate who was transgender. The anime also omitted a popular manga panel known as “Tray Jolyne,” which many fans were disappointed to see cut.

2025-09-14 18:35