Mature (May contain sex, drugs, and extreme graphic violence)
Vintage:
May 9, 1993
Status:
Completed
Summary:
The story of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure centers around the misadventures of the Joestars, a powerful family with English roots; most of its members attract the most particular trials and tribulations when confronting their enemies. Each member of the bloodline has a star shaped birthmark above their left shoulder blade – Dio and his descendants have this distinguishable mark also, as a result from the 'theft' of Jonathan's body and inheriting the Joestar genes as well. The series spans several generations, with each part featuring a descendent of the Joestars as the main protagonist along with a large cast of characters.
It should be noted that despite the series' title, there is no such character named "JoJo". It is actually, in fact, a nickname for the main protagonists of the series due to a unique style of taking the letters "J" and "O" from the first and last names of the protagonist and then put them together, creating "JoJo". Later installments have variations on this, with the Gio in Giorno sounding like a "Jo", or with Josuke where the character representing "suke" can alternatively be read as "Jo".
Two OVA adaptations based on the Stardust Crusaders story arc was produced by Studio A.P.P.P. The original six-episode series was released in 1993, which begins during the middle of the original arc. A seven-episode prequel series was released in 2001, adapting the beginning of the story arc.
Super Techno Arts produced an English adaptation of both, the original series and the prequel series, releasing all thirteen episodes as a six-volume DVD series between 2003 and 2005, with the episodes ordered by its fictional chronology. Due to legal reasons, names which referenced certain bands or singers had to be changed in the English translation.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood, a feature film adaptation of the original story arc of the manga, was released theatrically on February 17, 2007 in Japan. The film was produced to commemorate 25th anniversary of creator Hirohiko Araki's career as a manga artist. The theme song was composed by the Japanese group SOUL'd OUT with their single "Voodoo Kingdom". This film has yet to be released on DVD.
