@@brainofjtd idk, Dio's got charisma and all, but his final form fashion in Crusaders looks like he fell down a garbage container by Spirit of Halloween.
@@dubitataugustinus Nah, he's dripped out. A lot of the elements he wears are based on medieval arabic clothing, which fits the setting of Egypt and he's just so drippy c'mon
@@dubitataugustinus Nah the banana suit is epic I will die on this hill (thanks). Honestly I love most insane JoJo fits, except a few like the Kraftwerk guy and the dude who used survivor, but overall I like when Araki goes in super weird directions, it’s so much more interesting than just some clothes. Which is why I always feel offended when people call Kira the drippiest villain when he’s just wearing a suit. Literally every other villain design is doing much more to be iconic and unique, and yeah DIO and Diavolo are my favorite villain designs, even though Pucci comes close, even if it is just for his wacky hair and overall color pallette
Shoutout to Araki for blatantly stating in an interview the importance of beautiful men in jojos. And when the interviewer asked "beautiful men? There are women, too, right?" And araki doubled down and said "Yes, there are but drawing beautiful men was always the main focus". What a legend
pretty sure those subtitles were a joke, as in its fake. not sure tho if it was that interview or not. i just remember some people memeing araki interviews by making fake subtitles
That interview bit is at the end of the video, ask a Japanese student and they will confirm the subtitles are correct. You can clearly hear him repeatedly mention "utsukushi otoko-tachi", meaning beautiful/gorgeous men.
The fact that Diavolo wears purple studded pants, an extremely revealing lace shirt, lipstick and long, pink, polka-dotted hair, and yet still manages to be one the the coolest and most intimidating villains in the series is just SO JoJo
Exactly, I know this video was focused on Men, but I was really hoping the gender subversion of Part 6 would be mentioned lol Most of the women are pretty damn muscular and incredibly capable (not common in Shounen manga) and most of the men featured are fruity as fuck, Anasui even having pink hair
they're not all that masculine or jacked; toned and butch at most, tbh. they're still awesome because they're strong (both writing wise and power wise) female protagonists in these trying times, lol
It’s kinda funny because part of it is Araki always wanted to draw skinny guys, in the 80’s he was just really insecure about his ability to draw proportions so he just made everyone comically buff
@@jesusmejia3417 I do not know about the insercurity thing but in one of the interviews from the physical release of Phantom Blood (I think it was Vol. 1) he said, that he would have liked to make Jonathan skinny but he felt like he had to be ripped, since most Shonen Jump protagonists were buff at that time and Jonathan had to fight Dio.
@@blokvader8283 it’s because part 4 is from his perspective, so all of his role models look way taller than him to visually symbolize how much he looks up to them
@@wren_. it's not really from his perspective, still third person like the other parts for the majority of it. It's only his perspective at the start iirc
All the dudes in JoJo are running around with like 4-5% body fat. That's close to the bare minimum for survival. If they were real life people, JoJo characters would be sleeping like 12 hours a day and tired just from walking up the stairs. As much as people like to talk about unrealistic female body standards, the fact that a JoJo character can be said to not "look like a body builder" shows how warped our understanding of male bodies is.
@@WoodEe-zq6qvoh deadass body fat percentage is big and most JoJo characters would be at body fat percentage people would only carry temporarily for competition.
@@WoodEe-zq6qvI coincidentally had a conversation with a friend about this earlier today, who told me that when he was younger, he used to go on one of those “character workout” websites where fitness trainers analyze different characters’ physical builds and come up with workouts that target getting as close to their body type in reality as possible. My friend told me that he got in the best shape of his life by following the Polnareff workout for a while when he was younger-apparently it was extremely intense. He characterized it as the “revenge workout”… as in, it made sense for Polnareff’s character to be so furiously motivated by vengeance that he’d hike up steep inclines for hours just to get in better shape and prepare to avenge his sister. But you had to be crazy to try it if you weren’t motivated by a vendetta. 😅
@@WoodEe-zq6qv That's because the majority of people don't workout, so they really don't understand anything about muscle growth and bodyfat percentage.
Following Jojo as an artist is incredibly educative because you get the opportunity to follow how an artist 's inspirations and interests have shifted throughout the years by observing the changes in the art style.
One of the weirdest/greatest things in Jojo in regards to its relationship to gender is Bruno Bucciarati. He is the strongest fighter out of the Golden Wind gang, the undisputed leader, and also a complete mama bear. His femininity is tied directly to his capabilities all without questioning his gender. I genuinely can’t think of any other character like him.
Alongside that, I’ve heard that Araki originally wanted to make Giorno a girl. That would make sense since his power, giving life, is similar to the idea of giving birth.
@@Marrianno Yeah, I feel like Giorno’s entire concept would feel awful-like, oddly misogynistic-if he was female. It always rubbed me the wrong way that the editor who mentioned that in the interview that info comes from speculated that Giorno’s ability to create life comes from the dummied-out idea of the protagonist potentially having been a girl… as though the singular association one should have with the concept of femininity is “birthing children”. Ew. That would honestly be a super creepy concept for a teenage girl character, especially combined with the fact that Giorno has a sexualized design that would NOT translate well as a female character. That giant boobie window he’s got would have a completely different feeling for a teenage girl, seriously… especially if you combine that with “the ability to give birth”. You need only look at some genderbent fanart to see how depressing that would have been. As it stands Giorno has a really cool lowkey “creator god” or “male fertility god” feeling which feels really fresh and unique, and although he is sexualized it’s not intrusive at all-it just fits his vibe. I feel the same way about Bruno; his tender hidden nature is an excellent and memorable trait for a male character, but it would probably feel like a tiresome stereotype or bad writing if it were a female character in that same story role.
This is such a good video essay, thank you for making this- the last segment where you explain how every character in Jojos lives in their own definition of beauty and without judgement/criticism was something I’d never considered before and was so wonderful to view the series under that light
Just wanted to point out that while it isn't often that characters are insulted on looks, if you use Josuke as an example. It is like a huge personality trait that he owes his style to a man from the past who saved his life. So he flies into an uncontrollable rage when people insult his hair specifically. Anytime someone makes fun of his appearance they get absolutely railed by Crazy Diamond. After watching your video, especially the part at 19:18 it made me think of this. So thank you for teaching me new things while also inspiring me to think up new Jojo theories.
really nice video, but one mistake really jumped out to me as someone who watched this fandom misunderstand araki's body of work for years; araki has never _designed_ for gucci, he is not a fashion designer. his collaboration with gucci was him drawing two promotional comics of his characters (one with rohan and one with jolyne) wearing clothing from the at-the-time new gucci collection, designed by whoever was the creative director at gucci at the time.
What's interesting is that in the manga during the very beginning of Part 4, all the characters were drawn so goddamn muscular you could say they were buffer than Part 3 characters. Early Josuke had a brick for hair and an axe for a jaw. It's very interesting to see how Araki toned down this style in exchange for the more chill and relaxed characters later on. Also you didn't mention Anasui which not only Is a huge miss opportunity but also makes the little simp in my heart sad.
I find it a bit funny that you say "at no point in the series was anyone ever criticized for their style" while showing a clip of Rohan who made fun of Josuke's hair and got beat to shit for it 😂 goes to show how important it is in the Jojo universe not to judge people for what they wear/how they present. I haven't been as deep into Jojo as I was like 2 years ago at my peak Jojo phase but this definitely brought back some of the love I have for this wonderful series! Super love the humor and insightful analysis! Immediate subscribe! Thank you for your hard work!
I think its just an art style change - the earliest chapters of Part 4 looked like Part 3, so Jotaro looked as shredded as ever. But as Araki's art changes with the part, Jotaro slims down. Flashbacks to part 3 in parts 5 and 6 draw him in the then current artstyle, too
Hi! Jotaro is Joseph’s grandson, not nephew at 5:28. Joseph’s daughter is Holly, and Holly is Jotaro’s mother. Holly sets the entire adventure in motion by being affected by Dio’s Stand curse, and it’s why Jotaro and Joseph run off to defeat Dio! I think it’s also worth mentioning that Araki will also take clothing and pose inspiration from models, whether male or female. For example, Albacchio’s coat with the criss cross over the open chest is a direct reference to a female Chanel look, and Tiziano and Squalo (the dudes at 18:47) have their looks directly inspired by female looks (I think also by Chanel?). I’m surprised you didn’t mention too much about Part 6 Stone Ocean where, even though its a female protagonist, there’s also Jotaro’s new look along with a new character Anasui, who although has a masculine body, has a very androgynous look (also DIO is in it, though no longer plays as big as a role, but by golly you HAVE to look at pictures or clips of him if you haven’t. He actually looks young and his features softer than from Part 3 yet he’s still beautiful). I love this since Araki puts no barrier between what should be considered beautiful between a man and woman and will unapologetically use inspiration from either side for his characters.
love the video! great analysis :D i'd say you understand masculinity more than you think you do, lol. though, a Joestar that you didn't speak much on is one whomst I love; Cujoh Jolyne, she's super manly and cool! she carries a masculinity that doesn't portray femininity as weak, rather, we see her be feminine when it suits her, but she's also not afraid to be masculine. however, whether she's acting more masculine or feminine, either way, she's strong and beautiful, just like the first 5 JoJos.
as a trans guy, i've always felt extremely sad that society will make any effort put into your looks automatically "feminine", like men couldn't look pretty or beautiful, and i always tended to shut down my desire to just!! dress good!! be comfortable with my own expression!! simply because if i did that i wouldn't be seen as a man. because no man is ever interested in fashion. i think in a way, jojo's has helped me see that there's no correct way to be masculine, or to be a man. araki has always explored the beauty of the male body and it's been so eye-opening to me. masculinity shouldn't be limiting, it should be a tool to express yourself
I'm genderfluid afab and I also really struggle to this to day sometimes just to put on some clothes that I want to wear when I just *don't* want to be perceived femininely, so I can relate to your experience in a way.😪🫂 Which is crazy (/pos) because JOJOs has also helped me to come to terms that I shouldn't dress a certain way and limit myself in my own self expression, so it is always so nice and heartwarming when I hear others speak about their similar experiences. Thank you so much for sharing yours! Hope you have a good week bro🫂
JJBA will always have a special place in my heart as not only it entertains me for many years, connects me with my family but also send a very strong, important and healthy message to men. it helps my brother a lot as he used to follow societal expectation for men and suffers from it. After being introduced to JJBA by our dad. his view on masculinity changes forever. now he doesn’t afraid to put some lip balm, paint his nails with ridiculous colors, or even apply make up. 😁
I am so glad to hear JOJOs has helped others to feel more comfortable with themselves and in expressing themselves! It has helped me a lot too, so I am always so happy to hear other men talking about their healing journey with JOJOs💪 power to you and your bro
@@nanathedelta8561 Like Jesus H. Christ. You people feel like thin ice, I say one wrong thing and you precious little things might unsubscribe from life. Have a nice life, weirdos
🎉 loved your video ! Because also I love JJBA SO MUCH ! A world where fashion and violence combine and just the sheer creativity explodes on every level !
I really enjoyed your conclusion about how we really can have the best of both worlds, or a variety of masculinity being represented. It gets easy to box in what "being a man" is so leaving it open, and claiming we can have both macho men and in the same breath someone who is emotionally vulnerable speaks to that. There is no one-size fit all definition.
I absolutely loved this video and found your analysis of masculinity in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure incredibly insightful! The way you explored how different aspects of the manga challenge traditional stereotypes was really great. However, I couldn't help but notice a missed opportunity to discuss Part 5, where Jojo's characters are women yet still embody the same characteristics and traits typically associated with male protagonists, and also the almost same body type and fashion style? I think adding this perspective could deepen the analysis and provide even more nuance to the exploration of masculinity within the series. Overall, fantastic video, and I'm looking forward to seeing more content like this in the future! 🎩🔥
The one time in JoJo that someone is criticized for their fashion sense/choices is Josuke’s hair, and we all know how that ends… but aside from that, I think it’s a lesson built into the story - Josuke’s hair is extremely important to him, for reasons that a stranger could never know. The idea being that you shouldn’t criticize someone else’s fashion or style choices because you really never know the meaning or story behind them
19:28 not quite true. In part 2, Joseph attempts to infiltrate a nazi lab while disguising himself as a woman, only to fail spectacularly and be mocked and ridiculed by the two guards. Though I will say, even that scene, played for laughs though it may be, still portrays the german soldiers as deeply unlikeable and Joseph's crossdressing as endearing, if a bit goofy.
@@l0sts0ul89 I don't remember the exact japanese dialogue either, but yes I agree that the scene is supposed to be funny. I just meant that the narrative doesn't expect you to "side" with the nazi guards and it's still satisfying to hear them yell OH TACOS! when Joseph uses the ol' hamon bottle cap trick on them
this is a great video. usually people don’t talk extensively about masculine gender expectations and it’s a cool deep dive into how araki averts those expectations. and i love my boy joseph!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this. You highlighted the two things I have loved about every iteration of Jojo's: subversion and juxtaposition. Araki is truly one of a kind.
10:41 This video was already fantastic and really touched upon a lot of what makes Jojo great, but that earned you a subscription, that was hilarious 😂
Jojo's bizarre adventure was instrumental in me having the confidence to come out as transfem ngl, and part 5 especially really influences my fashion (when im not wearing my baggy clothes to obscure my gender)
This video is peak man. I feel that you truly made a great video capturing what made Jojo a great anime and very different from all the other animes. Props to you 👏👏
As a registered Sapphic, I can confirm that Jojo's relationship to femininity has also evolved over the years, and I'm here for it. I'm also here for Jojos in general.
Jojo's and its approach to unconventional masculinity and androgynous fashion was a huge part of the journey I went on unpacking my concept of gender, as a trans man. Something about the way the characters exhibit feminine traits while still being undeniably masculine made it feel like the show was holding my hand while I settled into myself, if that makes sense.
19:33 this aged poorly unfortunately, the new JoJoLands chapter explores the hardships of a trans person because of society. But I guess the original universe doesn't have that
Yeah, that was a tough chapter to get through. a good chapter but a tough one because of how real it got. Still Dragona despite the cruelty of others, still finds the strength to be true to themself. The story, and thus the world, of JoJo's paints the society as ugly and Dragona's determination in the face of that to he beautiful. I think that is the takeaway Araki wants us to have
I think it is still true that stand users don't care about appearances as long as they are true to themselves. To summon a stand, one must summon themselves, so they cannot hide who they are. They radiate themselves.
@@EvyTallWoman Yeah Stands are literally your fighting Spirit personified and its powers and abilites represent who you are or you're desires. Jotaro desoite being a bad boy wanted to save eveyone this Star Platinum was the strongest and fastest gaining Time Stop allowed him to save even more people he can stop time and make it in time. Kinda. Jouske wanted to help and save others jsut like his mentor thus gaining the ability to fix things Hell even someone like.... Lighting McQueens stand represents how he "drags others down with him" something Pucci mentions
@@EvyTallWoman I think, given the contents of Chapter 13 that we can say Dragona’s ability to move around body parts can probably be interpreted as a manifestation of the desire to live authentically true to themselves. Dragona swore to “get stronger” after the bus incident, after Jodio showed through actions just how much he loved his sibling. …I use “them” only mostly because the story hasn’t been terribly specific about Dragona’s gender identity, although it’s very clear they’re some flavor of transfemme even if Jodio and Barbara Ann use “him”. The family all seem to be very clearly loving and supportive of one another, so I wonder if Jodio calling Dragona “bro” despite clearly recognizing and respecting that there’s some gender stuff going on will ever be given an explanation, or if it’s just kind of going to remain a quirk of their interactions.
