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Why Johnny Joestar Never Needed to Walk

OrdinaryUnits

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Steel Ball Run is a narrative unlike any other. Most protagonists start their journey at Zero. They are healthy, normal people waiting for a call to adventure. But Johnny Joestar? Johnny starts at Negative.

In this deep dive into Steel Ball Run, we analyze the psychology of one of Araki's most complex protagonists. Steel Ball Run is more than a horse race across the United States, it is a spiritual roadmap of healing. By looking at the evolution of Johnny's Stand, Tusk, we uncover how each "Act" represents a necessary step in overcoming trauma—from the chaotic desperation of Act 1 to the infinite gratitude of Act 4.

Johnny thought he needed to walk to be happy. He was wrong. This is the story of how he learned to stand, without even using his legs.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro: The Paralysis of the Soul
02:23 - Act 0: Will (Dark Determination)
04:43 - Act 1: Belief (Choosing a Path)
07:28 - Act 2: Appreciation (The Golden Ratio)
10:51 - Intermission: Loss and Gain (Sugar Mountain)
12:35 - Act 3: Forgiveness (The Civil War)
16:44 - Act 4: Love (The Detour)
22:06 - Conclusion: From Negative to Zero

ART & FOOTAGE: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run by Hirohiko Araki JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run Trailers

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#SteelBallRun #JoJo #JohnnyJoestar #VideoEssay #AnimeAnalysis #JJBA #Araki

20 Comments

@ordinaryunits4341 Creator 9 months ago Pinned

Hey everybody! I hope you enjoyed this video on Johnny Joestar as much as I enjoyed making it. It took a lot of time and effort, but I think it was well worth it. So what do you think? Do you agree with my reading of Johnny Joestar's development? Also which character's/arcs from Steel Ball Run or JoJo's do you want me to cover next time?

@slip488 9 months ago

Honestly, im glad Araki didn't make johnny some morally right guy by the end of the part. Going from having it all to less than nothing and back to zero is powerful because zero means choice. Johnny ending at zero means he isn’t redeemed or condemned, but finally free because with nothing owed to his past and no moral destiny guiding him, every step forward becomes a genuine choice he alone is responsible for. Johnny can move forward, not absolved no cosmic reward and no moral halo. That's what makes the message that much more inspiring. Progress is messy and redemption isn't guaranteed, but the growth that comes from the journey helps you live with it. Araki making him remain complicated is what makes johnny joestar painfully human. awesome video C:

@0Joostan0 9 months ago

Was so desperate to walk that he failed to realize he had to stop running.

@iqramcandra652 9 months ago

I love how Araki put the actual stand concept which is stand is the manifestation of souls, and soul itself intertwined with growth of a person, and it is depicted here.

@ericknorskr8568 6 months ago

"jesus christ then speaks directly to johhny."

I love this so much.

@sebneedstherapy 8 months ago

Gyro entered the race to save a boy's life, but he ended up giving new life to someone entirely different. An 'executioner' doing the opposite of what he's supposed to do, that's what makes him so unique as a Jobro, not only his personality and quirks, but also the "Tragedy" and "Walking Contradiction" that he is. Arigato, Gyro.

@games-wz7sz 9 months ago

I love high voltage because it shows johnny that he isn't truly alone. His goal was met, Diego did not get the corspe's power. And Johnny didn't need to be the one to stop him. His friends inspired by his actions and will finished diego off and saved him not because johnny wasn't capable of winning. But because Johnny's win, didn't have to be won alone.

@THEGREATMAX 9 months ago

Couple things here. Johnny shooting himself is a multilayered reference. It's a reference to part 3, where we're first introduced to Stands, and it also represents a death and rebirth.

@AveryD-s4y 9 months ago

From negative to zero, from zero to infinity.

@otterfire4712 9 months ago

Something that goes unappreciated here is Civil War was about taking on the guilt. Through much of the fight, Johnny was attacking external targets with Tusk, but not making much progress until he got water to save himself and the others trapped. When it came to Danny, he couldn't just hit Danny, the revelation was after hearing Jesus Christ that Johnny himself was at fault for much of his problems, him pointing Tusk at himself is admitting that and it opened up a new possibility and a way to take down the enemy stand user.

@lilyparejo2165 4 months ago

You forgot about the bug bite fetish, thats more important then the negative to zero

@Silly_Yuuki 8 months ago

because horse is faster than legs

@animegirl4692 9 months ago

Yes because at the end, he didn’t care that much that he could walk again the only thing that he truly lost the most was gyro. (My part: I feel like Johnny just needed someone to be with him while he was paralyzed.) He lost everything, his brother his father his family his fame his and girlfriend, especially his fame so quickly..ofc he want to ride horses again and get his fame but he show us that he could get on the horse again at the very start (with the spin of course) and through out the race/story gyro somewhat replaced that role for him but to me Im glad Johnny could walk again because at the end of the day he lost something more than his legs..also Im glad that Johnny isnt a hero or a villain in the story, he just has his own goal that he want get back and he will stop for nothing to get it

@Scourge-f6g 9 months ago

3:23 he was about to say it, he laughed, I have no proof but I have no doubts either

@Necokeniii 9 months ago

What I liked about Johnny was how he went from a self-centered loser with money to someone who overcame their fears and insecurities to become who he was always meant to be. Part 7 is one of my favorite parts of jojo, I read it like 3-5 times and it's still SOOO GOOOD

@m4dness39 8 months ago

What I find interesting about Johnny is that all of his healing process could be achieved for the fact that even from the start of the steel ball run, although he was selfish, he didn’t think he was righteous, nor a good person. He always thought that he didn’t deserve good things, because his desires were not noble. We could see this in the conversation he has with Valentine, where he firmly believed that the president was much of a hero figure, because of his intentions, than he ever was. The difference between the two is that, the joestar progressively started working on making up for his mistakes, or accepting himself. Not only that but, as the story progresses even when he was after the corpse, he didn’t use extreme methods, like sacrificing his friend to obtain the it. However, perhaps because of Valentine’s life, the America leader never thought he was wrong, even for a second, and that’s why he couldn’t be changed the same way the other was. Maybe not only him but also other competitors as well.

Despite that, as you said, you could be humble to recognize your errors, but loving yourself, acknowledging that you have a value, and healing as a person is no easy task. However, all you have to do first, is recognizing where the problem is at.

@Tsm132 8 months ago

this is funny but, every time johnny is on scene in steel ball run, you can see some big landscape panels, in said panels when johnny uses his nails, the golden spiral can be found on screen, araki is a wild story maker

@Tacocatpotatofish 8 months ago

8:31 god I can’t wait for this image to be adapted.

@gabrieldevoogel6225 6 months ago

14:01 as a non Christian i do love how Araki still has a Fundamental understanding of Jesus as fictitious character, which he is as far as mythology goes, BELIEF is separate, and i wont claim belief is false due to fictional elements, but my point is: Jesus isn’t against violence because its wrong: he is against INSTIGATING violence, which is why he didn’t fight back, as the son of god he technically always held the power, and therefor would be the responsibility party should he fight, but johnny isnt, he is a regular man, a cripple even, HE is the type of weak and disenfranchised he was meant to advocate for, so of course when Johnny does need to fight to live, Jesus doesn’t say “kill them all” but he also doesn’t tell him to make peace, he tells him not to shoot if his heart wavers, tells him that it is OK to make either choice, but they have a root, lack of intent to face his guilt, or FULL intent to face it, and himself, which is what Christianity is meant to do, help you face your “sins” of any kind and become a better stronger you because of it, from a thematic standpoint this is just fucking excellent, and proves why SBR is the Masterpiece of the franchise