Jojo’s Bizarre Adventureis a wild series that’s been through many incarnations over the years, and now it’s time for the seventh installment,Steel Ball Run, to finally see its turn being animated. While little is known at this early juncture, here’s everything that’s been made publicly available regarding the new season.
Steel Ball Runis the adaptation ofJojo’s seventh part, which ran in manga form from 2004 to 2011. It represents a reboot of theJojo’s Bizarre Adventureuniverse, turning the clock back to the 19th century for an adventure in the Wild West era of the US. The story follows Johnny Joestar, a paraplegic who was once a horse racer.
The Latest Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run News
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Is Announced
On June 08, 2025, which was known as JOJODay, it was finally revealed thatSteel Ball Run’s anime adaptation was in production. A piece of key art depicting Johnny and Gyro Zeppeli on horses, overlooking the desert, was released as part of a teaser that went through various eras ofJojohistory.
At Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 23, 2025, the main staff for the anime adaptation were revealed. Many familiar names, particularly those who worked on theGolden Windanime, were returning to the project, including series directors Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi. As with previous parts, the animation studio is David Productions.
It was also announced at Anime Expo that the next news onJojo’s Bizarre Adventure:Steel Ball Runwould be revealed in a livestream on June 23, 2025.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Trailer
Only One Teaser Has Been Revealed So Far
When the series was announced on June 24, 2025, this brief teaser was released. It revisits the years and settings of previousJojo’s Bizarre Adventurestories and heroes, before going backwards in time to 1890, revealing the time period ofSteel Ball Run. The teaser ends with a first look at key art for the upcoming series.
The Story and Setting of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Steel Ball Run Tells a Riveting Tale of Adventure and Redemption
Steel Ball Run is set in the year 1890, beginning in the western United States. A race across the country, known as the Steel Ball Run, is announced, drawing competitors from around the world for its massive prize. Among those interested is Gyro Zeppeli, a man who has mastered a mysterious force called Spin.
Johnny Joestar encounters Zeppeli and is exposed to his Spin power, which enables the paraplegic Johnny to walk again. After that, Johnny follows Gyro around, attempting to get him to teach the art of Spin. They end up embarking on the Steel Ball Run together, dealing with threats from other contestants as they race across the country.
However, as the race goes on, it becomes clear that there’s an ulterior motive for the Steel Ball Run, and the supernatural powers (Stands) that many of the racers exhibit cause the race to turn deadly. Can Johnny and Gyro complete the race and survive?
The Characters of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Steel Ball Run Includes Some of the Franchise’s Best Characters
The lead protagonist ofSteel Ball Runis Johnny Joestar, an alternate version ofPhantom Blood’s Jonathan Joestar. Johnny lives in the American Southwest, and was once a talented horse rider before an accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Johnny becomes a miserable man, wallowing in self-pity until meeting Gyro.
The relationship between Johnny and Gyro really makes up the core ofSteel Ball Run.
The relationship between Johnny and Gyroreally makes up the core ofSteel Ball Run. The buddy element between the two setsSteel Ball Runapart from otherJojoinstallments, which usually feature larger ensemble casts. As such, a lot rests on having the audience invested in these two companions.
Gyro himself is a man from a fallen noble house in Italy who happens to be a master of an ancient technique known as Spin. While he can be rude and quick to violence, Gyro is also the kind of man who entertains himself with ridiculous comedic bits. He keeps his reasons for competing in the Steel Ball Run secret.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Has No Known Release Date
The Series Has Not Been Given a Release Window
At present, there is no publicly known release date, or even a release window, forSteel Ball Run. It likely won’t debut until 2026 at the earliest, and is more likely to be mid- to late 2026.Steel Ball Runis quite long, so it will probably be some time before the entire series has been animated.
Based on the rate of previous adaptations,Steel Ball Runis likely to need more than 50 episodes to tell the entire story, making it the longestJojoanime series to date. This is partially due toSteel Ball Runhaving mostly run monthly, rather than weekly, resulting in longer chapters.
Keep checking back for the latest news and information about theJojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Runanime as it’s released.
