Steel Ball Run Director Teases Even Wilder Turns as JoJo Fridays Return
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Steel Ball Run director Yasuhiro Kimura discusses the hybrid animation techniques and upcoming narrative twists for the next stages of the Netflix adaptation.
The much anticipated return of JoJo Fridays is officially underway, and director Yasuhiro Kimura is promising that the wildest elements of Steel Ball Run are still ahead. In a recent interview with Polygon, Kimura discussed the creative process behind bringing Hirohiko Araki’s legendary manga to Netflix through a blend of traditional 2D artistry and modern 3D pipeline techniques. Animating the grueling cross-continental horse race required a hybrid approach, using 3D skeletal assets topped with hand-drawn, expressive movement to avoid stiffness while maintaining production speed.
Set in the 1890s across North America, Steel Ball Run acts as a creative reset for the sprawling franchise while keeping the core identity intact. The story follows paraplegic ex-jockey Johnny Joestar and the charismatic Gyro Zeppeli as they compete for a massive fifty million dollar prize, only to stumble into a deadly national conspiracy. Following a two-part premiere that condensed the opening volumes, the series shifts to a weekly broadcast format starting September 25.
Kimura noted that while the initial stages centered on the raw competitive energy of the race, upcoming episodes will heavily introduce complex Stand battles and deep character development. The dynamic between Johnny and Gyro will shift as hidden pasts come to light, promising a much stranger journey for viewers. For fans tracking every twist on streaming and social platforms, the return of weekly episodes solidifies the anime as a major communal event for the current seasonal lineup.
Tags: Anime, Netflix, Streaming, Animation, JoJos Bizarre Adventure
Original article: Polygon