You won me over in the first 5 seconds

"God took the wrong son" God, that quote just hits the feels

Don't forget poor Diego, whose father didn't even want a world with him

Valentine's father taught him the ancient secret of how to *DOCTORS HATE HIM* Lose belly fat and replace it with muscle in just *ONE MONTH*

Gyro was empowered by the presence of his father. Valentine was empowered by the absence of his father. Johnny was harmed by the presence of his father. And oh right, Diego was harmed by the absence of his father (not that that guy probably would have done much good by being present). It's the full set!

*Imagine voting for a guy named Funny Valentine*

Steel ball run gotta be taught in schools

Honestly, the part near the end where George cheered on Johnny made me break down into tears.

You could totally do a "role of motherhood in JoJolion" video lol. Joshu and Kaato, Yasuho and her mom, Gappy and Holly, Tsurugi and Mitsuba.

Redemption is personally one that I see as the overarching theme as I love how it's portrayed in part 7

This should’ve been uploaded on Father’s Day

Funny Valentine's greatest failing is his belief in a single, great man being able to save the world, or at least, *his* world. His father gave his life for his country, and saved his entire regiment. Valentine takes this idea of saving America through his, and only his, actions to the extreme. He ignores the damage that would be done both to the US by having no misfortune, the moral degradation, lack of growth and eventual arrogance that would fester under the surface, and what would happen to every other nation on Earth. Valentine fundamentally cannot understand that his actions, the actions of *1 good man* , will not save the world. He is unable to see that, once he is dead, he will not be able to prop up America through his own morality. Valentine's own arrogance is one unrecognised, even by himself. He claims to be selfless, yet refuses to ever truly die or give up. He believes that only his vision is the correct one. He believes that he can save the world, the way he believes his father did. But he can't, because his father never saved the world, his father was never a selfless paragon. His father was human - which is what Valentine is ultimately afraid of, being wrong, being imperfect, and being *human* .

daddy issues

When George showed up with the boots and broke down in front of Johnny I got teary eyed

I think my only criticism is that you say it lacks a central theme, but the whole story is about self-actualization/motivation. Gyro doesn't help Johnny until he rides the horse for himself, and even when he's supposed to be teaching, he's really tricking Johnny into figuring things out for himself. Valentine's napkin speech is also a pretty explicit endorsement of this, along with Lucy's first foray into espionage (I guess Tim helps her out of that one, but I feel like her initiative counts). Also, apparently Hey Ya doesn't actually do anything, it just puts Poco Loco in the right state of mind to go big or go home, meaning that everything he did was his own ability. Also, if you want even more layers to Valentine's fatherless upbringing, you could point out that in passing on D4C and his memories to alternate Valentines, he becomes his own father.

Steal Ball Run? Don’t you mean Metal Sphere Sprint

Ah, so Papa Zeppeli is one of THOSE parents, the "I'm not mad, just disappointed" type

I find Johnny uncomfortably relatable. I really do wonder about the end where his father shows up at the finish line seemingly accepting of Johnny (or at least this accomplishment). It's sweet at the moment in Johnny's eyes, but I only imagine that it fucks with his head even more. Part 8 spoilers: Johnny sounds like a good husband and father, even though he does some misguided things for his wife's wellbeing that backfires onto his son. His sacrifice to cure his son kind of gives a bittersweet conclusion to his character arc since for all his selfish tendencies, Johnny's greatest strength and weakness was his ability to take responsibility for his failures and mistakes.

While Johnny's father believed that God took the wrong son, God Himself through the Holy Corpse *chooses* Johnny, recognizing his worth and potential and giving him a Stand. Like a father, He hasn't determined Johnny's path, but has given him the ability to grow and evolve into a path of his own (Tusk's ACTs). Then, after Johnny defeats Valentine, a monolith built by artificial fatherhood, George appears at the end of the race, finally accepting him as a real father should. Johnny's reward for exhibiting the true value of a real father's influence. And that's reason #386 why Steel Ball Run is the best manga of all time Also in Part 8 we see that Johnny himself becomes the very embodiment of this sacred fatherhood, risking and ultimately sacrificing everything for his son (cough like a certain saint cough), in a bittersweet epilogue to his journey in SBR.

Diego also has daddy issues too, if I recall correctly. His father abandoned him and thus led him to become so pessimistic about everything. I don't have enough evidence off the top of my head because they might be wrong.

The way I see it Steel Ball Run has a more heavy emphasis on growth and overcoming ones self to be a better person. Your video helped me understand a different way of looking at the character's history due to each of their upbringing (or lack thereof) which shaped them into who they where at the start of the story. One more thing I would've liked to see would be Diego's childhood and how it made him the ruthless yet more tragic antagonist he became in the race, thanks again for the insight!

Looking at this back the words of Funny and George have a high magnitude of emotion.. "I searched in endless dimensions, i never found my dad alive" "God took the wrong son" Such a contrast and emotion behind these phrases. The ironical thing is that the first one was said by the villain and the second by the protagonist's dad..

"ENABLED and empowered by their father" then theres johny lmao

Diego also became who he was because the whole world including his father threw his mother and him away.

The themes I found in SBR are: Growth, Fatherhood, Redemption and Faith

Wait. I just realised something. Is the fat Valentine at the start of the part Valentine from a different universe, and by the time we meet him at the end as the major villain, it's a completely different Valentine and that's why he's skinny now. That has played on my mind for years

I always had a hard time loving SBR as it was ruined for me by the annoying fanbase spamming and boasting here and there how good/flawless and perfect SBR is and hating on Part 6 and other parts. I've came about your video with a skeptic approach which wore off instantly by how amazingly grounded and genuine your vid is. No overexaggeration or unbacked praise a good and direct video. You kinda made me love SBR a bit more again just like when I finished it. To further on continue and your Video and extend on it; I really think Araki couldn't totally dwelve into Fatherhood's Theme as Shonen was restraining him to keep it focused around the main character but later on as he choses to drifts away from the Shonen Standards (From Part 6 on forth). He started to dig out more about this relationship, a prototype of it is the Jotaro & Jolyne one especially as it is a prequel of the 3 Examples you have stated in your video (with this one being the absent Father Figure). She repelled her father and everything related to him but as she witnessed him being "killed" by Pucci she started using this same "Absent Father Figure" as a purpose for her own growth only to be relucantly saved by him and thus gained final growth being backed now by Jotaro. I really think Araki would have loved to dwelve more on these relationship for example for Giorno & Dio or more other characters as stated by him about Avdol : "If I had made a story centered around Avdol, I probably would have explored his relationship with his father, his upbringing, and his family. I'm pretty sure it'd become a mature story that wouldn't really fit in Shonen Jump." -Hirohiko Araki JoJonium Volume 13

Yoo your italian pronounciation is perfect. I'm loving your videos

You could do a whole video about how Lucy Steel is perpetually controlled by men and father figures, from Mountain Tim to Valentine to her own dad to Jesus!

Hopefully Araki comes full circle with motherhood in Jojolion

You should do a whole video about Johnny.

What about Diego's father?

Well I'm still finishing Steel Ball Run, but I think one of its main themes is selfishness. Or lack thereof. It's kind of the force that sets everything in motion. I love Johnny, so I base a lot of my interpretations on his way of acting, but SBR shows a lot of other characters that find the strength to fight because of a profoundly selfish wish. And sometime that isn't a bad thing. A lot of fans say Johnny was the "villain" because Valentine wanted to help his country but, as you already partially hinted in this video, his goal isn't just. He deliberately decided that killing a few people to achieve it was a sacrifice that had to be made (but *his* life was never on the line). Plus he wanted to direct the bad things to the rest of the world, because it didn't matter as long as it wasn't *his* country). And I also find it ironic that Johnny, who spent the whole part stressing how he only cared about regaining the ability to walk, was the one who made some of the most genuinely selfless actions, like giving all the Holy Corpse parts he had for a half bottle of wine to save Gyro (I'm still emotional about that) or refusing to negotiate with Valentine even if that could mean he could see Gyro again (assuming he was saying the truth). And well of course Gyro is the clearest example of selflessness.

everyone has already said this but i’m not even 1 sec into the video and i already agree and love it

In Part 7 Gyro acts as a fatherly figure that Johnny never had by teaching him the ways of the world in a tough love kind of way while in Part 5 Bruno acted as a motherly figure to Giorno by giving him unconditional love that Giorno never received from his mother

0:00 you're goddamn right

“God took the wrong son” God took the wrong dad, actually-

Fantastic video, I freaking loved it

SBR is a mixture of different parts and I love how it focuses on other characters plus the main protagonist. I also love how it shows Gyro as the main focus than slowly switches to Johnny.

Dude,waited soooooo long for a video and it's a masterpiece Neat af

I personally think its more about family in general. Essentially all of the main characters had something happen or done related to their family that gives them the reasons for what they are doing. This even goes as far in many of the more popular side characters.

Would have been interesting to hear your take Diego's lack of father and instead only having a mother.

I feel like it's no coincidence that Jojolion follows up on the themes of family by exploring motherhood LOL

-God took the wrong son -Johnny thinks the death of his brother was his fault -He gets desabled and can't do what he loved -Then veryone left him -Shoots himself ...Johnny is the most depressing Jojo...

2:31 I want more of that sexy italian pronounciation.

You know the talk between funny Valentine and Johnny was the scene that really cemented this for me to the best part there is

You’re my dad Boogiewoogiewoogie

Very good video, made me remind of the definition of parental messages of humanistic psychology, the resources that our parents give to us in order to confront our lives, either possitive o negative. P.D.: I also think that the themes on steel ball run are the best ones of the series.

when your father wishes you dead and you end up killing the president of the US, searching the mummy of Jesus and fighting dinosaurs using magical powers

*Ah yes, my favorite SBR character is the blonde long haired one!*

You can even see the effect of fatherhood in Diego and Lucy.

Incredible analysis, you could find what I never couldn't, what was lacking in Valentine's actions that lead to his defeat. I just didn't understand completely the end of the video, "humanity wins at the cost of everyone's misery". Someone get it?

8:29 How did you know I was going to include that in a future video?

4:40 CHUNKY VALENTINE

This was such an amazing and intriguing video I was drawn closely to! I just finished steel ball run and this analysis tickled me just right! Thanks!!

I was wondering when someone would make a video on this. Thank you! Incredible work.

One of the many reasons why Part 7 is my favorite Part

This is very good, Oceanman😊😊😊😊

5:00 this is gold

When I read the “god you took the wrong son” page, I honestly had to stop reading for the damn day It was just devastating even for a reader to see

Gyros dad took Marcus Aurelius' Meditations to its most extreme conclusion?

I actually think Vento Aureo can also be viewed as a commentary on the idea of Faith, but that's just my interpretation.

There are pictures of Valentines father in the manga, his face is obscured and he's bloody usually, but we do see him. He's in Ball Breaker part 5

Also Gyro acts like a dad to Johnny.

I don't know if anyone already told you but pater is Latin, not Greek Just a little correction but great video as usual

I would argue that Golden Wind has more than just one theme, it’s just that one theme is more central than others.

“God took the wrong son.” Damm that hits hard.

This video was great, I'm excited to see more of your videos in the future.

Man can i just say when you touched on fatherhood witj the zeppelis that was freaking beautiful what the hell LOL

For your brilliant psycho-analysis of SBR I give you The Freud prize for psychology. It is shaped like a cigar, just a cigar

"Steel Ball Run is *amazing* " *well, isn't that obvious?*

watching this banger again on father's day, thanks btw!

Scary Monster Diego is by far my most favorite Dio

wow I just finished part 7 and all 3 main characters have daddy issues. totally didnt notice that, nicesu

0:46 im pretty sure the themes your looking for is Horses Jesus and America

All the journey they go through with this theme makes that scene in high voltage with johnny's father acknowledging his mistakes, giving johnny the last push he needed, one of the most heartfelt scenes in the manga

Love this. Amazing insight

I like to think that during Steel Ball Run, Gyro assumed the role of fatherhood with Johnny, as he always remembers his own father's lessons while he looks Johnny growing. At the end, Gyro went to America to save random boy's life, and that's actually what happens with Johnny

Fatherhood is really important for humankind, it shapes a person, not in its own picture but to be anyone that she/he wants to be, to be ready to face the challenges coming towards her/him. Even if they aren't present you can still feel them within you providing guidance and reassurance .Cherish the time you spend with them, at least try to make them happy cause they have done that. At the end only memories remains...

Gets done with conclusion then hears slow and quiet ocean man

I just want to congratulate you for the italian names pronunciations, they're perfect!

Damn, Gregorio been practicing social-distancing since the 19th century

I'm glad you touched on Johnny and Gyro, I hear endless praise for SBR, but 99% of the time all I hear is how awesome the villain Funny Valentine is. And the memes.

It's about the journey, not the destination

I love the animation of jojo so much I don’t want to read manga. But I want to check out part 7

What about mother's like Holly, Bruno, Tomoko

This is actually such a good theme especially when you realize the 4th example of Jesus being in the story and God being the one true “Father” and johnnys final words being that we should pray it shows importance of the relationship we have with our own fathers and with god this manga is beautiful

One of the main themes i found in steel ball run was that of Fairness or unfairness, specially with Love train Deluxe and how Valentine wanted to use that power

wtf you blow up my head with this video, you are so good continue with the good job bro

Im really anxious for the stone ocean anime

In my opinion JoJos part 7 has a very nihilistic tone that differs allot from the previous parts. It's one of my favorite parts because I really was not expecting JoJos to take that route.

This is a excellent explanation of the story, and I just realized I have been Jojoed all this years. :(

I think this is one of the first videos I've seen that actually explains Valentine's character together with the blatant failures he commits (as in, the way he imposes his views) and how that lead to his demise. He's an amazing character but will never be like a true "hero", like many like to claim.

2:33 D A D D Y Z E P P E L I

Nice to have you back

Y know, when you look back, Gyro was also the father Johnny never really had. He taught him things, while also learning from johnny, he cared and respected him, cared for him, practically was pretty much a dad we never really knew

I just wish the other parts were as serious as SBR I feel like SBR perfectly nailed the balance of humor/comedy and tension/seriousness and it never or just barely was off while in the other parts I often felt annoyed by the humor in wrong situations but that's just me

Part 7 > Every Other Part

And Steven Steel is more of a father than a husbands to Lucy.

*Spoilers well duh* Honestly looking back on it, all of steel ball run is just one big philosophy textbook. Like every character is just one big philosophy quandary. Also really liked how you remembered that damn test Johnny gave Valantine. I feel like so many people forgot about that part. Who knows maybe it's just memes and shitposts but I hate when people say Johnny is selfish and Valantine is a good person. The Johnny being selfish thing really gets my goat because we see in the sugar mountain ark that Johnny is willing to give up the corps parts (and any prospects of walking again) to save Gyro. That test was there to prove if Valantine actually meant what he said about doing what he did for the greater good, but the gun proves that Valantine is just full of hot air and would most likely just abuse the power for personal gain. While I'm at it, it ties back to the sugar mountain ark where Johnny gave up his legs for Gyro, and then has to give up on ever seeing Gyro again to protect the world from Valantine's BS. Sooo yeah Steel Ball Run is complicated and beautiful.