Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the first anime that has really transcended all cultural boundaries. Being a solid block of pop culture in Japan since it began it’s manga serialization in the late 1980’s. When the animated series aired in 2012 and was released on Crunchyroll, an enormous wave of fans came into the community. Jojo has become a keystone of anime culture across the globe. It’s popularity is so vast that the creator of the manga, Hirohiko Araki, has done collaborations with brands like Vans, Supreme, and even Gucci to make Jojo themed products. But, even though the fandom is as big as it’s ever been, there is fear that the next part of the series will not be animated. But Why?

Now this review is going to focus on Part 5 of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. It revolves around Giorno Giovanna. A fifteen year old kid living on the streets of Italy who makes a living off of hustling tourists. With the help of an ability he was born with called a Stand, a manifestation of someones fighting spirit(here is a more in-depth explanation), he survives the streets of Naples. One day he comes across a man named Bruno with an ability like his, and after fighting one another they realize that they have the same ideals and goals and life. Giorno joins Bruno’s gang in order to become the top Gang-Star of the city and wipe drugs off the streets permanently. This is the basis of the first few episodes, but The Daily Fandom goes very well in depth with the characters and plot of the show if you are interested.

Now, I know that sounds pretty strange, but honestly the who show is pretty insane. It certainly lives up to it’s title. I believe that it is the strange nature of the show that has really given it notoriety. It’s a roller coaster ride to experience. One episode they are fighting a man in a mirror. The next one of the gang members tongues comes to life and tries to kill him. And what is likely the most famous clip from this season, the gang doing a dance on a boat while torturing a man’s unzipped head. Part 5 has no doubt become one of, if not the, most popular out of the parts animated. It has attracted the most new fans to the show while at the same time turning off older fans. People worry that this strange fluctuation of participation for this part will mean that the series will not be animated past the next part.

Overall, I love Part 5! I am not the biggest fan of the other seasons despite my boyfriend sitting me down and making me watch them all, but I think they are all equally strange and interesting to watch. If not for the story than for the unique happenings that they characters get into. Like watching a Nazi turn himself into a cyborg to kill a vampire, where else could you think to observe something like that? Part 5 is definitely tamer in its execution of the bizarre, but it is worth just as much a watch as its preceding parts. And I do not have any fear that the series will be discontinued. The line of Jojo’s will continue on for generations to come.