Steel Ball Run Anime Launches Weekly on Netflix

The anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run began streaming exclusively worldwide on Netflix on September 25, 2026. New episodes are released weekly every Friday at 1 a.m. PDT / 5 p.m. JST. The series comprises a 47-minute first episode followed by 11 more weekly episodes, with the finale scheduled for December 4 if the schedule proceeds without interruption.

Production team and studio

Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi are directing the anime at David Production, the studio responsible for every previous JoJo adaptation. Yasuko Kobayashi is handling the series composition, with Toshiyuki Katou serving as series director. Character design and chief animation direction is by Daisuke Tsumagari, while Yugo Kanno returns to compose the music.

Voice cast and character details

The Japanese voice cast for new characters includes Fumiyoshi Shioya as L. A. Boom Boom, Yoshiki Nakajima as Andre Boom Boom, and Jirou Saitou as Benjamin Boom Boom. The English dub cast, revealed at Anime Expo 2026, features Daman Mills as Johnny Joestar and Kaiji Tang as Gyro Zeppeli. English voice actors for characters Funny Valentine, Mountain Tim, and Hot Pants have not yet been announced.

Story background and franchise context

Hirohiko Araki originally launched Steel Ball Run in Weekly Shounen Jump in January 2004 as an unrelated story. It was transferred to Ultra Jump in April 2005 and became an official part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, set in an alternate timeline. The story is set in 1890 America and follows a 3,700-mile cross-country race from San Diego to New York, with a $50 million prize. Johnny Joestar is a paralyzed former jockey who teams with the mysterious outlaw Gyro Zeppeli. The current anime arc pushes them into a roughly 750-mile desert crossing known as the 'Devil’s Palm'.

The franchise began with Phantom Blood in 1986. Parts two through six ran in Weekly Shounen Jump until 2003. The eighth part, JoJolion, ended in 2021, and the ninth part, The JoJoLands, debuted in 2023. Shueisha published the Steel Ball Run manga in 24 volumes between May 2004 and June 2011, later recompiling it into 16 volumes.

Promotion and reception

Promotion included a first trailer in February 2026 and a second at Anime Expo 2026 on July 3, which previewed the Devil’s Palm arc and new characters. The official X account announced the supporting cast with the post: "'Steel Ball Run: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken' Announces Supporting Cast". The first episode, titled '1st STAGE', was released on March 19, 2026. Despite only one episode being widely available initially, the series quickly became one of the highest-rated anime in history on platforms like MyAnimeList. Streaming requires a Netflix subscription, with plans in the US starting at $8.99 per month with ads, or at least $19.99 for an ad-free tier.

If the schedule faces no interruptions, the last episode of Steel Ball Run should arrive on December 4, 2026.