Steel Ball Run Anime Faces Backlash Over Cut Manga Content

The latest phase of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime on Netflix is hitting a rough patch with the community. Since the second and third stages began streaming on September 25, 2026, viewers have noticed that the adaptation is straying from the source material in ways that feel significant. The current release schedule plans for 11 episodes to arrive weekly, but the response has been mixed so far.

Much of the frustration centers on how the show handles the stories of Pocoloco and Sandman. Longtime readers of Hirohiko Araki’s manga feel that important dialogue and social context were left on the cutting room floor. These elements were essential to understanding the depth of these characters during the transcontinental race, and their absence changes how the story plays out on screen.

While Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli remain the focus of the journey, fans argue that the show misses the mark by rushing through these background details. It remains to be seen if future episodes will adjust the pacing or approach to better honor the original work as the race continues toward the finish line.