In the recent conclusion of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, the JJBA Universe was not only figuratively turned on its head, but literally. There are a few methods a series can be rebooted or drastically altered; Fullmetal Alcehmist: Brotherhood and Fruits Basket revised their anime adaptations with the manga source material and Naruto was followed by a sequel of the show, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure went down a completely different route by rebooting the entire universe the series is contained in to push the series in a new direction.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has always been a series of eccentric and peculiar plots, powers and storylines, bending the very fabric of reality as if it were a day-to-day occurrence. From the very beginning, with the conflict between Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando in Phantom Blood, there has been a running theme of good versus evil explored through the Joestar family bloodline in constant warfare with DIO, or those who follow his evil ways. This cycle of conflict and violence was destined to engulf those involved for the rest of time. However, should time end, so would the continuous conflict.
JJBA Reboots the Series in Spectacular Fashion
The method in which JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure was rebooted was performed in a manner that only JJBA could pull off. Enrico Pucci, loyal servant of the late DIO, succeeded in killing Jolyne Cujoh, Jotaro Kujo and their allies, except Emporio Alniño, and completed in accelerating space-time to the point of the universe imploding and being reborn. However, due to Enrico and Emporio’s survival in the new universe, the strife between the Joestars and DIO continued. It was not until Emporio was able to defeat and kill Enrico that a third Universe was born through the acceleration of time.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure not only brought the universe to its final breath and sparked the life of another to reboot its series, it did so a second time to truly cleanse the series of the infamous Joestar and Dio blood feud. By the creation of two universes in quick succession, all those who served the power-hungry DIO are no longer in existence, and the Joestar family are now able to finally live in peace, as implied by Jolyne’s name change to Irene, no longer requiring her to be a JoJo.
What This Means For Steel Ball Run
Now that the concept of different universes has been established in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, it allows the direction of the anime to go wherever, whenever, and however it pleases. With Part Seven, Steel Ball Run, on the horizon, the space-time and universe it takes place in can be completely random and haveno effect whatsoever on the first six parts, or what comes after it. There is an opportunity to start fresh, incorporate ideas that work and discard those that have been overused within full narrative continuity thanks for the wide spectrum of options for the series.
Rebooting a series is not always a rehashing of old ideas or a remaking of a beloved franchise. A reboot can occur in-universe for the benefit of progressing a story to new and extraordinary heights. Such a bold move was not only perfect for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, it was made enjoyable, refreshing, and satisfying to see such a conclusion to a beloved ongoing plot. If any series could pull of a multiple universe recreation story, it's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.