Check out Shaybs video here!
https://youtu.be/DEhMTtG37HM

Like a few other commenters have pointed out, the main issue isn't the artwork itself (looks phenomenal, honestly); it's more the fact that they are cutting some of the rougher plot details, such as Lucy's age or Tim's portrayal. I really believe those details add nuance to the storytelling and moral complexity in the characterization. I get that they want to appeal to younger audiences who 'shouldn't' be exposed to these things, but it really undermines the story's message when details like these are cut. The manga itself was intended for mature audiences regardless; it's okay to soften the blow for audience purposes, but wholly removing them isn't a good idea in my opinion.

I think it’s too early to judge the part 7 adaptations’ cut content until the part is completely finished. I feel like many things may be getting rearranged to allow for a better flow in the anime experience. David Productions has done a great job in the past of adding extra when it’s necessary and cutting back when it doesn’t flow properly. Seeing the love and dedication that went into the opening gives me a lot of hope and understanding that David Productions truly feels the weight of what adapting Steel Ball Run really means. The outro on the other hand brings some worries back…

Edit: I also feel the artstyle for part 7 is incredible but I’m also a huge fan of part 5, 6 and 3’s artstyle. To me part 7’s artstyle is approaching a perfected version of part 5’s artstyle if that makes sense

The 1993 and 2000 Jojo OVAs are still sone remarkable work! Particularly when you compare the final battle between Jotaro and Dio how much tension genuinely exists there.

great refresh pull while I edit, would love to give my takes like this

No other studio would of done a better job than David pro. Its a labour of love for them.

The tradition of EDs has been broken...

This was a great watch. Most light hearted way I've seen anyone discuss JoJo's. If you're taking more guests anytime soon I'd be super up for that.

Y’know, this discussion made me realize that a lot of the issues with the JoJo anime’s style are the same as those that X-Men: The Animated Series had.  Overly dedicated to replicating the look of the comics, heavy use of line and shadow that move inconsistently frame to frame, and an overall stiffness to character movement.

I’m aware I’m majorly in the minority here but I really liked the slow beginning of part 7. It felt like Araki was introducing a new world. Part 7 anime is faster, but without the extra attention to weird quirks and extra dialogue it doesn’t feel like steel ball run. It feels like any other jojo part.

I feel like half the commenters either didn’t watch the video or did not care for any of the extremely valid points made 💀

I felt like the more angular, less line heavy designs of episode 2 captures the elegance you mention in Araki's art that you say is missing in the first episode. It reminds me more of Araki's style later in SBR, and the first episode reminds me more of the beginning. The art being more consistent in this episode too adds a ton to the appeal. Stone Ocean got very little redraws in the BR, and even tho I loved episode 1 and appreciate how well they bought an event as complicated as the first stage to animation, I really hope that DP could actually do animation corrections for part 7. An extended premiere of material as complex as stage 1 couldn't have had the best production schedule, so I bet that there are things the team wishes they could go back to.

Even tho I also am worried about the more explicitly political or social commentary being swept aside in the adaptation as other people are, I definitely agree that the way they streamlined volume 1 made for a great, accessible 45ish minute premiere. There are so many elements and characters established in this portion of the story that an extended episode or debut of multiple episodes is kind of the only option they had if they wanted to introduce people to the action bits of this story and get them hype. I adore the first stage of the manga since there were no stand abilities involved yet Araki was able to create exhilarating, wacky spectacle out of mostly horse riding, making me wonder how great the action will be later on as supernatural takes center stage as usual. Seeing that spectacle bought to life in animation felt like reading this section all over again, because now instead of seeing how well a mangaka can hook me with horse racing, I'm seeing how the anime staff can. That appeal works in part with how brisk and efficient the script is in this episode.

I really hope the elements they haven't done yet are just being reallocated. But from a visual standpoint, and in terms of adapting the beating heart of the part, Johnny and Gyro's journeys, I'm not too worried.

Honestly, your opinion on the excessive use of unnecessary line art makes me want to try designing JoJo in a clearer line art for animation, with the hatching and cross hatching (and many other approaches) being the shading of the characters, rather than being a line itself.
Also, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE CHEEK LINE, Araki made it as an edge defining shading (like around the nose), not an actual line, it has its function yet the anime never seem to understand that. Yes, they might add shadows to separate front and side profile, but when it comes to the actual 3D form, the cheek line goes all over the place.

Ooooohhhh I would've loooved to hear more of this . Great stuff

3:04 that’s a thing I really like about the first few episodes of Part 5, because the animation detail and sense of momentum are really good.

I think your point about the facial animation and excessive line work is really good to call out, and it really messed up part 5 by trying to stick to an overembellished-only-works-as-stills style (Machida's, I think?)  with an excessive amount of fiddly linework. Because the designs are too complicated we get poor fidelity in reproduction causing absolute havoc in the character's bodily anatomy and clothing folds that we're still seeing to this day in promotional artwork since P4. They're kind of at sunk cost fallacy with the designs at this point, but it feels very much like they are sacrificing so many other things for it. I'm glad to hear someone else saying it, because I've been saying it for a while: the janky art style is becoming a detriment rather than a benefit. Not to sound like an ingrate bc I'm not sure other studios would have gotten as far as david pro did, either, and jojo is now a known thing instead of a cult manga.

I feel like Part 5 managed to have a lot of detail to its designs and still have better animation than Part 4 overall. Part 4 began struggling towards the end, which is interesting as that's when the designs started getting closer to Araki's art style. Part 4 does have a lot of great editing though, some of its cuts being quite creative.

Very thoughtful discussion, you guys clearly know your stuff

I’m also super pleased with episode 2 vs some character/face choices in episode 1, I think if the bulk of the anime looks like episode 2 or continues to improve in its vein, we’re in for something special—even in episode 1 and as you all mention, there were lots of great decisions too

love seeing these great, mature critiques ! i agree with quite a lot especially the struggle with consistency in the adaptation

PART 5 is the best looking one