JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Anime Director Faces Challenges in Animating Horses for Steel Ball Run

What's Happening?

The director of the upcoming anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, Toshiyuki Kato, has highlighted the difficulties in animating horses for the series. During a panel at Anime Expo 2025, Kato expressed concerns about the complexity of animating the race-heavy manga, particularly the horse race that spans from San Diego to New York in an alternate 1890 America. The manga features extensive scenes involving horses, including battles and detailed anatomical depictions, which pose significant challenges for smooth animation. The Steel Ball Run manga, which ran from 2004 to 2011, marks a pivotal shift in the JoJo saga, introducing a rebooted continuity. The anime adaptation, produced by David Production, was confirmed in April 2025, indicating active development.

Why It's Important?

The adaptation of Steel Ball Run is significant for fans of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, as it represents a major installment in the series with a unique narrative structure centered around a cross-country horse race. The challenges in animating horses are crucial because they affect the visual fidelity and storytelling of the anime, which is known for its intricate and dynamic action sequences. Successfully overcoming these challenges could set a new standard for animation quality in the industry, potentially influencing future adaptations of complex manga series. The anime's development also reflects the growing demand for high-quality adaptations of popular manga, impacting the entertainment industry and fan communities.

What's Next?

As the anime adaptation progresses, fans can anticipate updates on the production timeline and potential release dates. The animation team may explore innovative techniques to address the challenges of animating horses, possibly setting new benchmarks in animation technology. Stakeholders, including fans and industry professionals, will be watching closely to see how these challenges are managed, which could influence future projects and collaborations within the anime industry.