Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures Steel Ball Run official poster Netflix
On March 19, Netflix released the first episode of Part 7 of the anime “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures,” and I am furious.
“Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures” is arguably the most anticipated anime release of the year, so fans (myself included) were ecstatic to watch new episodes each Sunday for weeks to follow.
While the first episode was spectacular, what followed has left me and many fans writhing in anger.
Shortly after part 7’s release, the schedule for next week’s anime releases went up–but with one glaring error: Episode 2 was nowhere to be seen.
Fans immediately questioned the whereabouts of the Episode only to be met with radio silence from Netflix.
With no word, fans began to discuss theories and culminate their outrage together.
Following a few days of confusion and anguish, Netflix released a trailer for the second episode of Part 7.
At the end of that trailer, they announced that Episode 2 would come… sometime in 2026.
Fans were understandably angered by the vague release date.
While most anime release weekly, it’s not uncommon for episodes to be released in batches.
This is what happened for Part 6 of the series, titled “Stone Ocean.”
Separating Part 6 into three different batches, they released episodes 1-12, 13-24 and 25-38 spanning exactly a year in total.
This strategy is popular among anime that opt out of weekly releases, but very few anime have ever released a single episode with no word on the release of the next.
Since the trailer, every TikTok related to anime or post by Netflix has been flooded with comments questioning where the rest of the part is, demanding answers.
A majority of these comments are joined by a GIF featuring the main character of Part 7, Johnny Joestar (Shogo Sakata/Daman Mills), meshed with an image of the late Chicago rapper, King Von.
Regardless of the topic of the video or creator posting it, this GIF has been used to express fan’s frustration with Netflix, pressure them into releasing news, and demonstrate the care this fanbase holds for this series.
The reaction has reached astronomical heights, but there was still no answer from Netflix for days to follow.
This is only the latest example of streaming services expressing a clear lack of interest in the work they put out.
Delays similar to this one, quickly slapped-together creations with insipid plots and an overall focus on quantity over quality have resulted in the current fragmented state of the digital entertainment industry.
Really thinking about it, I cannot name any notable Netflix original creation outside of “Stranger Things” in recent years, and even that had a sloppy ending leaving many fans disappointed.
Each streaming service has only a handful of top quality works which they use to maintain relevancy and advertise themselves, many of which were released years prior.
Other series not as notable often fall into a hole they are unable to claw out of, only being held up by the cult-following for the series, until they are inevitably cancelled or delayed.
Past works seen on these services have been some of the most impactful content in recent years: “Stranger Things”, “Ted Lasso”, “The Mandalorian”, and countless more have had a global reach shaping multiple individuals’ identities.
These aren’t simply entertainment. They are used to communicate vital themes to the viewer, connecting them to their world and shaping the morals of many.
We must urge these streaming services to prioritize the quality of their works.
The reaction of fans following the discourse for Part 7 is a view of the lengths we need to go to get our voices heard by these organizations, and their attempts have worked.
On April 6, as I was writing this article, Netflix Anime posted on X to thank their fans and highlight the “passion and enthusiasm” they’ve shown.
Capping off the post with a more concrete release date, they announced the next stage of part 7 would begin in Fall of 2026, with episodes releasing weekly.
While the wait is long, fans have since rejoiced over the success of their unofficial social media campaign, and are now culminating their excitement instead of anger.
Voices are meant to be heard and this situation is a prime example of this.
If we don’t express the importance of high-quality works being created with diligence, they will only continue to release half-baked excuses of content, butchering highly coveted series for the sole purpose of garnering attention.
“Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures: Steel Ball Run” is streaming now on Netflix, and Episode 2 will release in fall of 2026.
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