The moment JoJo fans have waited nearly two decades for is finally almost here. When Netflix dropped the first episode of Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure back in March 2026, it was a historic moment for the franchise — the arrival of Part 7, the arc many consider Araki’s masterpiece. But that single episode was only the appetizer. Now the main course is officially on the table: the second and third cours of Steel Ball Run (11 episodes total) begin streaming weekly starting September 25, 2026.
Yes, you read that right. Just over three weeks from now, the world’s most anticipated anime race — a transcontinental horse race from San Diego to New York with a $50 million prize — kicks back into high gear. And if the manga is anything to go by, the internet is about to experience a collective meltdown unlike anything since Jujutsu Kaisen’s Season 4 teased Sukuna’s return. Brace yourselves, because this is going to be the biggest anime event of the fall.
What Even Is Steel Ball Run? (And Why Everyone Is Freaking Out)
Here’s the thing about Steel Ball Run: it’s technically a new universe and a reboot of sorts for the franchise. Set in 1890 America, it ditches the familiar Joestar bloodline continuity and introduces a completely fresh cast — but make no mistake, this is pure, undiluted JoJo in every way that matters.
The story follows Johnny Joestar, a once-famous jockey now paralyzed from the waist down after a mysterious incident. Desperate and broken, he enters the Steel Ball Run not for the glory or the cash, but for a chance to walk again — specifically by mastering the mysterious “Spin” technique of a flamboyant Neapolitan horseman named Gyro Zeppeli.
What starts as a survival-driven obsession fast becomes one of the most iconic partnerships in anime history. Johnny and Gyro’s brotherhood — equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and hype-as-hell — is the emotional engine that powers the entire race. And behind them, lurking in the shadows of the finish line, waits one of the greatest villains ever written in shonen: Funny Valentine.
The Villain That Breaks Everything: Funny Valentine and D4C
Real JoJo fans know the drill: every part saves the best for its antagonist. But Funny Valentine is on another level entirely. The 23rd President of the United States, Valentine is a patriotic, charismatic, terrifyingly pragmatic leader who enters the race with an agenda far grander than a cash prize.
His Stand, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (D4C), is arguably the single most broken ability in the entire JoJo multiverse — the power to hop between parallel dimensions. Almost every fan theory floating around the internet right now is laser-focused on how far David Production will push the D4C reveal, and what the animation studio’s rendition of Valentine’s bizarre Dimension Hop will look like in motion.
Expect the second half of Steel Ball Run to deliver the kind of escalating insanity that made Part 5’s Golden Wind finale and Part 6’s Stone Ocean so legendary. If the staff behind this season has anything close to the ambition of the source material, we’re in for some of the most jaw-dropping animation of the decade.
Why David Production Needed Time to Cook
There’s a reason Netflix and David Production dropped that first “Stage” back in March and then made fans wait months for the rest. Steel Ball Run is a massive undertaking. The horse-race premise alone demands an insane amount of dynamic, motion-heavy animation — galloping horses, sun-scorched desert chases, gun-slinging standoffs — none of which is easy to animate at the studio’s impeccable standard.
Studio director team of Yasuhiro Kimura, Hideya Takahashi, and series director Toshiyuki Kato are the same crew behind Golden Wind, which means expectations are astronomically high. For those keeping track, the visual quality they brought to Giorno’s adventure was already elite — and Steel Ball Run is a far more ambitious canvas. Fans of high-octane action anime like the Chainsaw Man Reze film are going to find a LOT to love here.
Johnny Joestar: The JoJo for a New Generation
Let’s talk protagonists, because Johnny is a fascinating shift for the franchise. Unlike Jotaro’s stoic cool or Giorno’s unshakeable resolve, Johnny starts the story as a genuinely broken, selfish, angry man. He’s a paraplegic former celebrity who’s lost everything, and his initial motivation for entering the race is almost petty.
The character growth he undergoes across Steel Ball Run is widely considered one of the best character arcs Araki has ever written — and with the second and third cours covering the emotional core of the story, this is where Johnny’s journey gets real. New viewers coming in cold will find his messy, human desperation a lot more relatable than a perfect powerhouse hero. And fans who know what’s coming? They’re already sharpening their tissues.
Theories, Predictions, and What to Expect From September 25
Here’s where the fun really begins. The internet has been buzzing with Steel Ball Run theories ever since that March premiere, and they’re about to go into overdrive. A few of the biggest talking points fans are speculating on right now:
- The pacing debate: 11 episodes covering a huge chunk of the manga. Will it feel rushed, or will the studio nail the rhythm the way they did in Stone Ocean‘s second batch?
- Lucy Steel’s crucial role: Many fans believe the unassuming Lucy Steel is secretly the most important player in the entire race. Her storyline with Valentine is a sleeper hit waiting to explode.
- The return of the “Gyro Factor”: Gyro Zeppeli is essentially the deuteragonist of the entire part, and his mastery of the Spin is going to get some incredible animated showcases.
- Where the season will end: Will the 25th-September drop carry us to the climactic finale, or will we be left on yet another brutal cliffhanger waiting for a fourth cours? That’s the question driving fan forums absolutely insane right now.
How to Watch and Why This Matters
If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t jumped on the JoJo train yet, Steel Ball Run is genuinely a fantastic entry point. The fresh setting, the new cast, and the standalone story mean you don’t need six seasons of prior lore to enjoy it — although hardcore fans will catch layers of callbacks sprinkled throughout.
It’s also worth remembering that this is peak anime streaming season. With Netflix’s massive slate of anime announcements and the anime world already losing its collective mind over current hits, Steel Ball Run dropping weekly is poised to dominate conversations from September into the winter.
Mark your calendars. Clear your schedules. September 25, 2026 is the day the Steel Ball Run truly begins — and the anime community is about to be split wide open by the most bizarre race ever put to screen.
So, the big question: Are you team Johnny and Gyro’s brotherhood, or are you secretly rooting for Funny Valentine’s dimension-hopping chaos? And more importantly — how many tissues have you prepped for this season? Drop your predictions below!
