Summary
The battles in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure showcase the power of humans themselves, not the aid of gods or machines – Araki values this independence. The stands in JoJo reflect the user's inner strength, not that of supernatural beings – highlighting the theme of celebrating human ability. JoJo's unique focus on melee combat and character abilities sets it apart from series that rely on technology or supernatural elements.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is characterized by magical creatures called Stands. These Stands are shared by both heroes and villains and have appeared in the series since the third installment, Stardust Crusaders. These creatures are used in a variety of ways, mainly to aid their owners as they fight enemies and fight for their lives with other Stand users. These battles are fought using the Stands and the characters' own powers, instead of characters that rely on machines or the supernatural.
This quote by Hirohiko Araki is from an Anime News Network interview. beautifully sums up the theme of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He explained that his story inspired him to believe that “humanity is wonderful,” because the characters fight using only their own strength and physical abilities, rather than using “machines and gods.”
I believe that humans can grow by overcoming obstacles through the strength of the spirit and the power of humanity, and I believe that this is “an affirmation that humanity is wonderful”. In ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’, there are battles and stories involving various elements. However, in the end, humans overcome without relying on machines and gods to decide their own fate. Drawing such humans is my ‘affirmation that humanity is wonderful’. – Hirohiko Araki, Anime News Network
While many characters use Stands, they are more like physical manifestations of the character's powers, not supernatural beings, and for the most part, whatever happens in the story is a direct result of human actions and efforts. Essentially, JoJo is a story about Man “determines his own destiny” as Araki said..
Araki creates fighting characters without “Machines and Gods”
This quality of independence from technology and the supernatural sets JJBA apart from other series.
Araki's characters are based on themselves, without the use of machinery or supernatural influence. This quality makes the series truly unique compared to other anime that focus on humans fighting with the help of technology or the supernatural. These other shows are all great in their own right, but JoJo definitely benefits from this human element that makes the story feel more relatable and connected to the real world in some ways. It's much more impactful and touching when humans achieve greatness on their own terms, not through the aid of supernatural, supernatural beings or monstrous machines.
Stands may seem like supernatural or magical creatures, but in reality they are very different from those creatures. Stands represent “life energy” or inner strength of the characterrather than drawing their power from a god or some form of technology. This fact proves why Stands are simply another extension of the User’s inherent power, rather than a form of external assistance, like some characters in other anime series call upon. Araki’s comment about “machines and divine entities” can be applied to many other popular anime series that incorporate these elements into their plots, with great success.
JoJo's battles are usually close-quarters and rely on the person's own abilities.
This is different from series like Neon Genesis Evangelion, which rely on robots or supernatural/divine powers.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a great example of the other series Araki mentioned, combines supernatural elements with mankind's technological advances. The heroes' greatest enemies are Angels, and humans fight giant mecha robots called Evas. Both gods and machines are brought into the story, and the series' most intense battles take place between the otherworldly and man-made machines. Evangelion is a fantastic and award-winning series in its own right, and it benefits from these compelling elements, but the way the characters fight and the tools they use are markedly different from the story Araki created in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Many of the battles in JoJo are highly physical close combat encounters. Melee combat is a hallmark of the series.allowing characters to unleash their own personal power and punches. Notable examples of close-range Stands include Kira Yoshikage's Killer Queen, Dio Brando's The World, Jotaro Kujo's Star Platinum, Enrico Pucci's Made In Heaven, and Fugo Pannacotta's Purple Haze. These Stands require the user to get within attack range, taking away their ability to attack from a distance. This makes battles more personal and dependent on the individual's own abilities.
The pavilion reflects Araki's deep appreciation for humanity and the possibilities of human beings themselves.
These creatures highlight the individual strength of man and his inability to stand on his own.
Araki emphasized a point. His appreciation for humanity is the source of the series' power.and that is certainly reflected in the characters he creates and the battles he writes. The impressive power of Stands is certainly present in the story and gets its own prominent moments in brutal battles. However, these Stands are not completely independent or divinely controlled machines. Even the energy sources in the series have to be carefully guided and controlled by humans, because without humans, a Stand cannot act on its own. Most characters also take any damage done to their Stands, further tying them together.
Stand is probably The most fascinating and creative power source in any anime because Stands are closely linked to their Users. Without the original User, no Stand would exist. Furthermore, if a human dies, their Stand dies as well. This makes them different from other supernatural beings that aid heroes and villains in other anime, as these other beings can stand on their own and exist separately from their users. In JoJo's, human life is ultimately emphasized as the most complete thing, and Stands are merely useful tools that further reflect the abilities and skills of humans in battle.
The diversity present in the booth further demonstrates Araki's admiration for humanity.
No two stands are exactly alike and each stand reflects the user well.
All Stands are unique and distinct, aesthetically and stylistically matching the user's fashion and personality. It's often easy to choose which Stand belongs to which character, as they always perfectly reflect their respective Users. The diversity of Stands further proves Araki's point in the interview that “humanity is beautiful”. The way he designs each Stand differently and makes them fit the User's personality and preferences shows how much he values humanity. By choosing to focus on humans, with this creative twist on the Stand, Araki has created JoJo's Bizarre Adventure personal and special, illuminating the power of humanity.
Source: Hirohiko Araki, Anime News Network
