‘Steel Ball Run’ Anime Opening Theme Released as Fans Await New Episodes

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
JoJos Bizarre Adventure STEEL BALL RUN
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The premiere of ‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘ back in March ignited significant online discussions. What was meant to be a triumphant continuation of Hirohiko Araki’s cherished manga turned into a lesson in managing fan expectations, with the series working hard to regain the goodwill of its audience in the months that followed.

Now, as the anime gears up for its much-anticipated return, Warner Bros. Japan has unveiled the opening theme for the upcoming second and third stages. This gives fans their first glimpse of what to expect when new episodes start streaming this week. The new opening video features the theme song “Spin,” performed by the Japanese rock band Kroi, and has been released alongside a newly illustrated cover for the digital single.

The backlash from March was largely due to the show’s unconventional rollout, which presented the “1st Stage” as a single 47-minute episode instead of a traditional multi-episode arc. This unexpected format caught many fans off guard, leading to widespread confusion and frustration. Netflix later clarified that the series would follow a split-cour format, making this week’s arrival of the second and third stages a crucial moment for the adaptation’s momentum.

Kroi, the band behind “Spin,” is no stranger to high-profile anime collaborations, having previously performed opening themes for ‘Sakamoto Days’ and ‘Liar Game.’ They announced their involvement with ‘Steel Ball Run’ during the final stop of their “JUNGLE” tour at Zepp Haneda in Tokyo, where they performed the track live before its official digital release.

In discussing their creative process, Kroi shared that they dedicated significant time to musically encapsulate the essence of ‘Steel Ball Run’s’ expansive horse race across North America. “Building on soundscapes reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and The Ventures, evoking the spirit of classic Westerns, we crafted this song by blending together the many musical influences we’ve embraced over the years, including funk, soul, and hip-hop,” the band stated through the official JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure portal site. They also noted their previous exploration of similar Western-inspired soundscapes in earlier tracks like “Funky GUNSLINGER,” making them a fitting choice for this project.

‘Steel Ball Run’ is the seventh part of Araki’s long-running ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ manga and is widely considered one of the strongest arcs in the franchise. Set in the late nineteenth century, it follows paraplegic former jockey Johnny Joestar and the enigmatic outlaw Gyro Zeppeli as they compete in a brutal, prize-driven horse race across America, all while uncovering dangerous conspiracies lurking beneath the surface.

The anime brings back key talent from previous installments. Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi, who co-directed ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind,’ are at the helm of the new adaptation at david production. Toshiyuki Kato serves as series director, having previously worked on ‘Stone Ocean.’ Yasuko Kobayashi returns to oversee the scripts, while Daisuke Tsumagari, also from ‘Golden Wind,’ handles character designs, and composer Yūgo Kanno returns to score the series.

The second and third stages of ‘Steel Ball Run’ are set to begin streaming on Netflix starting September 25, with new episodes released weekly every Friday. Together, these two stages will comprise 11 episodes, offering fans a more traditional viewing experience compared to the single feature-length premiere that characterized the show’s rocky debut earlier this year.

With a new opening theme, a returning creative team, and a more conventional release format, ‘Steel Ball Run’ seems well-positioned to regain momentum as it enters its next major phase. Whether this will be enough to fully win back fans who were disappointed by the show’s unconventional start remains to be seen, but the excitement leading up to Friday’s premiere indicates that plenty of goodwill is still in play.

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