Fans celebrate Steel Ball Run trailer but voice concerns over Netflix release and adaptation choices
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run anime, slated for a 2026 worldwide release, is already sparking debate among fans. While the Warner Bros. Japan livestream unveiling a teaser trailer, cast, and David Production’s return as the producing studio was met with excitement, much of the conversation now centres on release format, character designs, and censorship concerns surrounding the adaptation of one of Hirohiko Araki’s most acclaimed works.
The event opened with the first promotional trailer, showing the 19th-century American setting and the transcontinental horse race central to the story. The main voice cast was also introduced: Shogo Sakata as Johnny Joestar, Yohei Azakami as Gyro Zeppeli, Kaito Ishikawa as Diego Brando, Rie Takahashi as Lucy Steel, and Kenta Miyake as Steven Steel.
David Production, which adapted all previous parts of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure since 2012, will return as the studio for Steel Ball Run. Confirmed staff include Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi as directors, Toshiyuki Kato as series director, Yasuko Kobayashi for series structure, Daisuke Tsumagari as character designer, Yugo Kanno as composer, and Yoshikazu Iwanami as sound director.
Steel Ball Run ran from January 2004 to April 2011, starting in Weekly Shōnen Jump before moving to Ultra Jump, a seinen magazine. The shift allowed Hirohiko Araki to focus on more mature themes, deeper character development, and darker storylines. The manga was collected into 24 volumes and is widely regarded as one of Araki’s best works.
The story is set in 1890s America and follows the Steel Ball Run race, a transcontinental competition from San Diego to New York. Participants from around the world compete for the race’s prize while pursuing hidden motives involving power, ambition, and survival. Combining supernatural battles, Western-inspired settings, and psychological drama, the series is regarded as a turning point in the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure saga.
On September 11, 2025, Netflix announced that it acquired the global streaming rights for the anime. The reveal was made via the official @anime_jojo account on X (formerly Twitter) during Netflix’s 10th anniversary celebration in Japan. This means Steel Ball Run will be available to stream worldwide upon release.
During the official livestream, fan reactions ranged from excitement to practical concerns. One viewer said, ‘I’m just happy to see that Steel Ball Run is coming out. I had been waiting since it was first published.’ Others welcomed the 2026 release window, noting it would give David Production more time to refine the series, while the trailer itself drew praise as ‘so good,’ leaving many eager for more.
Character designs also sparked debate, with Lucy’s portrayal drawing mixed reactions, and some fans raising concerns about censorship. Above all, scheduling remained a key issue, with many calling for a traditional weekly release instead of the batch approach used for Stone Ocean.”
With its worldwide release set for 2026, Steel Ball Run is already one of the most anticipated anime adaptations in recent memory. How Netflix handles its rollout and how faithfully David Production adapts Araki’s work will likely define its reception among long-time JoJo fans.
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