Much like my game collection, there’s a whole backlog of
recommendations from people for anime I’ve yet to get around to checking out, Hajime
no Ippo, Ajin: Demi-Human, Getter Robo, and Outlaw Star to name but a few, I’ve
literally only just watched Cowboy Bebop much to people’s surprise, and another
suggestion I get a lot is Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, it’s one of those series
I’m aware of but our paths have never crossed, that is until the season one
blu-ray release plopped onto my doormat.
Initially set in 1880’s England, we’re introduced to
Jonathan (JoJo), the smartly-dressed, tall and athletic heir of the wealthy
Joestar family, and his adopted brother Dio, equal in height and build, Dio is
intent on becoming the sole heir to the family fortune and rigorously torments JoJo
on a daily basis, after a physical fight between the pair that sees JoJo emerge
as the victor, Dio decides to bide his time and befriend JoJo as an alternative
strategy, that is until the discovery of some strange abilities held within a
mysterious stone mask give Dio fiendish new ideas for besting his rival.
Testing the mask on a beggar, Dio discovers it transforms
its wearer into vampires, and sets about using it on himself, he attacks Jonathon
and the Joestar household, hospitalising JoJo and leaving their home burnt to
the ground, our recuperating hero is approached by a charismatic Italian baron
by the name of William Zeppeli, aware of the vampires presence and JoJo’s
situation, he offers to train JoJo in the way of Hamon, an energy similar to
sunlight which can be focused using breathing techniques and martial arts,
together they take the fight to Dio and his subordinates in a hope to bring his
tyranny to an end.
This all takes place over nine episodes, the following
seventeen episodes then switch to New York fifty years later, the plot now
focusing on Joseph Joestar, grandson of Jonathon, who is also tall and
well-built, naturally adept at using Hamon, and a clever, yet light-hearted
trickster, but when an old family friend is murdered, Joseph takes it on
himself to investigate and winds up wrapped up in a plot involving Nazis, more
vampires, and super-human beings intent on dominating the world by harnessing
the powers contained within a mystical red jewel, once they find it of course.
The stories generally aren’t anything new, ancient
organisations bent on domination through a McGuffin that will grant them new
strength, abilities and life etc., but it’s how they’re told and the characters
within them that raises JJBA to the cult status it holds, we’re introduced to
the Joestar bloodline, destined to clash against world-threatening foes, not
only that, the friends they meet along the way, likeminded individuals, often
with similar or new powers and always the preposition to go into great detail
about themselves, their skills and their plans.
The lack of subtlety here is astounding, everyone announces
everything so blatantly that you’d be forgiven for wondering why this show
works, but it does, much like the characters we’re watching, we’re baited into
believing an attack has failed, a plan is thwarted, or a battle is lost, until
somehow adversity is overcome in the most miraculous of ways, usually then
explained by the character or the narrator, much to the dismay of the person on
the receiving end, the constant joyride the show takes us on barely lets up,
only slowing momentarily for the more heartfelt scenes.
The shear breakneck spectacle of the story itself wouldn’t
be half as effective if it weren’t also backed up by garish and flamboyant
visuals, the animation itself isn’t anything special, but the style with which
everything is presented more than makes up for this, from the characters
themselves to the locations, everyone and everything has such a unique look to
it that makes JJBA instantly recognisable, the outfits worn and colour pallet
used throughout are of the age that each arc is meant to be set in, but it’s
all a hyper-real representation of such, giving it an almost timeless quality.
The over the top mixture of pastels and neon, edged with
thick black outlines is not just restricted to the clothes or scenery either, Japanese
katakana characters appearing on screen at times, much like in the manga,
adding emphasis to situations or sound effects, “ゴゴゴゴ” for example indicating a person
who’s presence is menacing, or “ドチャーッ”, bolstering the devastation being wrought by a particular
attack, a comparison that springs to mind is the “Pow!!”, “Sock!!” and “Bam!!” onomatopoeia
of the 1966 Batman series, another show using its roots for greater effect.
Topping all of this off, like the proverbial cherry, is the audio track, a suitably unique aural offering which whilst including the usual anime-esque effects, musical cues and opening, the closing to season one has gone on to become synonymous as an internet meme with its “To Be Continued” climax featuring the 1971 progressive rock song "Roundabout” by rock band Yes, having seen the memes first and not actually knowing of their origin meant that at the end of each episode of JJBA, I couldn’t help but find myself laughing.
Equally as amusing is the English language dub, I know it’s
generally considered a cardinal sin among otaku to watch an anime in dub-form,
but I was feeling lazy and preferring to concentrate on the visuals than
reading any subs, and I’m thoroughly glad I did, the dub is brilliant, the
acting is so over the top, and the attempted English and German accents by the
all-American cast are hilarious, any other series and this would be to its
detriment, but here it all works perfectly.
The combination of these elements in JoJo’s Bizarre
Adventure almost gives it the feel of a music video, right down to characters
being named after bands or musicians, Dio, Speedwagon, Suzi Q and even AC/DC,
obviously much of an inspiration for series creator Hirohiko Araki, other
influences including classic 80’s Schwarzenegger and Stallone films, renaissance
art, Kendo, and even horror films, JJBA throws all these forms together, twists
them on their heads, and launches them back at us in delicious 24 minute
morsels.
Here we have a show that really lives up to its name, a bizarre
tale of family, friendship, betrayal, supernatural powers and vampires, the
series retains the style of its origins perfectly, and is genuinely
entertaining and fun, but I can see why it divides so many people, between the
ridiculous characters and set pieces, the lack of any subtlety to anything or
anyone, and the shear weirdness we’re presented with, it’s basically the anime
equivalent of Marmite, I really enjoy it and would happily consume as much I
can get in my face, but it’s definitely not to everyone’s tastes.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Season 1 is out now on DVD and Blu-ray