Netflix released a new key visual for ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ Part 7: ‘Steel Ball Run’, the eighth animated installment in the long-running series. The artwork depicts protagonist Johnny Joestar atop his horse, Slow Dancer, against a vast desert landscape under a dramatic sky. This reveal signals production progress on the Netflix exclusive, set for 2026 release.

David Production returns to animate the adaptation, having helmed Parts 1 through 6 since 2012. The studio’s involvement ensures continuity in the series’ distinctive style, blending hyper-stylized action with Hirohiko Araki’s intricate Stand battles. ‘Steel Ball Run’ marks a narrative reset, occurring in an alternate 1890s America where a cross-country horse race conceals a quest for holy relics.

The story follows Johnny, a former jockey paralyzed from the waist down, who joins the Steel Ball Run race hoping to reclaim his mobility. Accompanied by the enigmatic Gyro Zeppeli, Johnny uncovers the race’s true stakes: 50 million dollars and fragments of a saint’s corpse granting supernatural powers. Araki serialized the manga from 2004 to 2011 across 24 volumes, introducing the Spin technique as a counterpoint to previous Stands.

This adaptation diverges from the manga’s original ‘JoJo’ timeline, rebooting the Joestar lineage in a Western epic. Voice casting remains unannounced, but past seasons featured talents like Junya Enoki as Johnny’s predecessor, Jolyne Cujoh. Production timelines align with David Production’s workflow, following the 2022 conclusion of Part 6: ‘Stone Ocean’.

Araki’s influence extends to character designs, with Johnny’s hat and determination echoing classic cowboy archetypes. The race spans nine stages from San Diego to New York, encountering assassins and rival racers wielding corpse parts. Netflix’s global platform positions the series for broader reach, building on 500 million manga copies sold worldwide.

Fan anticipation stems from the arc’s reputation as Araki’s most ambitious, blending adventure, mystery, and body horror. Previous parts garnered 4.5 billion streams on the service. David Production’s episode count typically spans 12 to 48 per part, suggesting a multi-season commitment.

The visual’s reveal coincides with heightened JoJo visibility, including merchandise lines exceeding $100 million annually. Araki, now 64, oversees creative fidelity from his Lucky Land Communications studio. Shueisha, the manga’s publisher, co-produces under the ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure SBR Production Committee’.

This installment explores themes of redemption and legacy, with Johnny’s arc paralleling earlier Joestars’ struggles. Gyro’s steel balls enable rotational energy attacks, expanding combat mechanics. Netflix’s 2026 slot avoids overlap with other tentpoles, targeting winter premiere.

Araki’s shift to ‘Steel Ball Run’ revitalized the franchise after Part 6, introducing alternate-universe elements. The manga’s 95-chapter run demands faithful pacing, potentially spanning 38 episodes like ‘Golden Wind’. International dubs will follow Japanese release, maintaining multilingual accessibility.

The new visual’s stark colors and dynamic pose capture the arc’s high-stakes tension. Production milestones include completed key animation for early episodes, per industry leaks. As JoJo enters its third decade, ‘Steel Ball Run’ promises to elevate anime’s Western genre fusion.