Team GNI
Part 7 Adaptation Confirmed, Sending Indian Fans into a Frenzy
MUMBAI — India’s anime community, already buzzing with a packed Spring 2025 lineup, received electrifying news on April 12: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s iconic manga, is officially getting an anime adaptation. Announced at the JOJODAY STAGE event in Tokyo, the reveal has sparked a wave of excitement among the country’s 53 million anime fans, who have long awaited the chance to see Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli race across the screen.
Warner Bros. Japan and David Production, the studio behind the franchise’s previous adaptations, confirmed the project with a teaser trailer showcasing the 1890s American frontier, where Steel Ball Run’s transcontinental horse race unfolds. The story follows Johnny, a paraplegic ex-jockey, and Gyro, a master of the mystical Spin technique, as they compete for a $50 million prize, uncovering a sinister conspiracy along the way. Unlike earlier parts, Part 7 launches a new continuity, blending JoJo’s signature Stand battles with a Western flair that fans call the series’ peak. “It’s Araki at his boldest,” said Anil Sharma, a 24-year-old manga collector from Bengaluru. “The manga’s art and fights are unreal—David Production better nail this.”
The announcement, streamed live on Crunchyroll and accessible in India, featured character art for Johnny and Gyro, hinting at the vibrant animation to come. While no release date was shared, industry insiders speculate a 2026 premiere, given production timelines for Stone Ocean, Part 6, which wrapped in 2022. Posts on X erupted with joy, amassing over 300,000 mentions of #SteelBallRun within hours, with Indian fans sharing memes of Gyro’s “Nyo-ho!” catchphrase. “I’ve waited years for this,” tweeted Priya Menon, a Delhi-based cosplayer. “Johnny’s story is so raw—it’s going to hit hard.”
India’s anime market, valued at ₹500 crore, has embraced JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure through streaming and merchandise, with Stardust Crusaders and Golden Wind ranking among Crunchyroll’s top-watched series here. Steel Ball Run’s mature themes and complex characters could draw an even wider audience, especially as Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs become standard. “JoJo’s mix of style and substance resonates with young Indians,” said Dr. Kiran Desai, a pop culture scholar at Mumbai University. “Part 7’s fresh timeline makes it a perfect entry point.”
Challenges loom, though. Animating Steel Ball Run’s detailed art and dynamic horse races will test David Production’s resources, and fans demand perfection for a manga often hailed as one of the greatest. Connectivity issues in rural India could also limit streaming access. Still, with a mobile game teased at JOJODAY and Viz Media’s English manga release set for May 27, the JoJo hype is unstoppable. As fans await more details, one thing’s clear: the Steel Ball Run is ready to blaze a trail on Indian screens.
Source: Warner Bros. Japan Press Release, Crunchyroll Event Coverage, Lumikai India Gaming Report 2025, Interviews with Dr. Kiran Desai and Local Fans, Times of India Entertainment Desk
