Overview of Censorship in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has gained immense popularity in Japan and around the globe, thanks to its vivid storytelling and dynamic animation by David Production. However, many fans express frustration over the excessive censorship that affects various pivotal moments throughout the series. To fully appreciate Hirohiko Araki’s artistic vision, viewers are encouraged to seek out Blu-Ray versions of the anime, as the standard adaptations can often dilute the intended impact of key scenes.
Major Points of Censorship
- The censorship during Jotaro’s smoking scenes often detracts from significant moments.
- Joseph’s finger-breaking scene is unnecessarily dulled down, impacting its thrilling nature.
- The humor in the Italian food episode from Diamond is Unbreakable is less clear due to heavy censorship.
Jotaro’s Smoking Scenes: A Constant Issue
In the story arc of Stardust Crusaders, one of the most notable censorship instances involves Jotaro Kujo and his frequent smoking. The decision to obscure Jotaro’s face with shadows when he lights up is a poor workaround for his underage status. This frequent covering diminishes the intensity of his confrontations, particularly during the high-stakes poker battle against D’Arby the Gambler, leading many fans to prefer the uncensored Blu-Ray releases.
Kira’s Severed Hands: Censorship That Confuses
In Diamond is Unbreakable, the character Kira’s obsession with severed hands is both chilling and intriguing. However, the images of these hands are often obscured by censorship, with blacked-out stumps distracting from the intended horror. Such attempts at censorship only raise questions about the efficacy of these edits and detract from narrative clarity.
Joseph’s Introduction: A Dampened Epic Moment
Joseph Joestar’s entrance in Battle Tendency is one of the most celebrated scenes. However, the censorship of the brutal incident where he breaks a policeman’s finger fails to do justice to the excitement of the moment. The hasty cut reduces the scene’s impact, an unfortunate choice given Joseph’s bravery and charisma throughout the series.
The Italian Food Episode: Comedy Lost in Censorship
The comedic episode “Let’s Go Eat Some Italian Food” in Diamond is Unbreakable is an excellent example of how censorship can ruin the narrative. Tonio’s Stand showcases unique abilities that remain muddled in the heavily censored version. Critical moments involving Okuyasu’s physical transformation become difficult to understand, forcing viewers to rely heavily on dialogue to fill in the gaps, thereby lessening their enjoyment.
Stroheim’s Censored Salute: Understandable Yet Clumsy
Located in the Battle Tendency arc, Stroheim’s Nazi salute raises questions of appropriateness and execution. While it is sensible to censor such references due to their historical implications, the method used feels contrived and takes away from the narrative’s context.
Tower of Gray: Confusing Attacks
In the fight against Tower of Gray, the nature of the Stand’s assaults becomes unclear due to the censorship obscuring pivotal scenes. This leads to confusion among viewers who are left guessing what precisely is happening until characters explicitly state the Stand’s actions, indicating a severe lack of visual storytelling.
Sherry’s Reanimated Corpse: A Lack of Brutality
Polnareff’s emotional journey culminates in a confrontation with his sister’s reanimated corpse in Stardust Crusaders. The brutal nature of Sherry’s actions is significantly downplayed in the anime, resulting in a loss of emotional weight and unsettling horror that exists in the manga.
Censorship of Kakyoin’s Dislocated Jaw: A Contradictory Choice
The infamous scene involving the Imposter Kakyoin in Stardust Crusaders showcases a dislocated jaw, yet this moment is heavily censored without justification. This choice stands out as particularly puzzling, as more graphic and intense scenes faced fewer restrictions, highlighting inconsistencies within the series’ censorship practices.
For those looking to experience the series without the distraction of censorship, acquiring Blu-Ray versions is highly recommended. The unfiltered content allows fans to fully appreciate Hirohiko Araki’s storytelling and artistic vision.
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