Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Flamboyant but violent anime about family that fights evil.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
Parents say the show features significant levels of violence and strong language, with varying opinions on its appropriateness for different age groups, generally suggesting it's suitable for tweens and teens who can handle gore and mature themes. While some reviews praise the characters and storylines, many caution against its graphic content, indicating it may not be suitable for younger children.
- violence concerns
- strong language
- parental discretion
- age suitability
- character strengths
Summarized with AI
Based on 70 kid reviews
Kids say it's an exceptional show that blends vivid storytelling with intense action, often highlighting its unique characters and music. However, many also caution that it contains mature themes, including significant violence, nudity, and language, making it unsuitable for children under 14 and recommending viewer discretion for younger audiences.
- masterpiece storytelling
- intense action
- mature themes
- viewer discretion
- unique characters
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on the same-named manga, JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE is a multipart anime series that chronicles the adventures of the Joestar family. The tale begins in late 19th century Victorian England, when Jonathan Joestar, aka "JoJo" (voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu in the original version and Johnny Yong Bosch in the English dub), battles his foster brother, Dio Brando (Takehito Koyasu/Patrick Seitz), a vampire with plans to take over the world. Jonathan's fight continues with his son Joseph (young: Tomokazu Sugita/Benjamin Diskin; old: Unshō Ishizuka/Richard Epcar) into the mid-1980s, when Dio resurfaces and awakens a new power called "Stands" that gives users diverse superpowers. Joseph and his rebellious grandson Jotoro Kujo (Daisuke Ono/Matthew Mercer) adjust to their Stands and unite other Stand users in a showdown against Dio. Even after Dio is gone, his influence remains, and future Joestar descendants bear the burden of keeping that influence at bay.
Is It Any Good?
What begins as a straightforward tale of sibling rivalry quickly explodes into a supernatural smorgasbord unlike any other. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a multigenerational story that follows descendants of Joestars (all of whom are named a variation of JoJo) as they use their ever-evolving magic powers to fight evil. Their archenemy, a larger-than-life vampire with far-reaching powers who's named Dio Brando, is often the root of the problems impacting the trajectory of their family's legacy. The narrative spans nine individual story arcs that stretch from the 1880s to the 2000s in the manga, which this anime series closely follows. Each part has countless plotlines that are (you guessed it!) very bizarre. The superpowers don't seem to have consistent rules, but they're visually exciting. Unfortunately, because the rules are so loose, battles quickly turn into convoluted, dialogue-heavy spats in which each character explains how they're using their power to outsmart the other. It's a series of reveals that almost never makes logical sense.
But that's just part of the fun of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. There's also the gender-defying character design. The series is a cosplayer's dream, with many distinctive outfits inspired by music and fashion. And characters aren't just well-dressed—they're well-defined, which makes JoJo's a fanfiction writer's dream, too. Add in lots of Western pop culture references, some comedy, and many thrilling fight scenes, and you've found the combination that makes JoJo's Bizarre Adventure uniquely entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and anime in general. What is it about these stories that attracts so many viewers from all over the world? How are these stories adapted to be understood by people from different cultures?
What does JoJo's Bizarre Adventure suggest about the way that our ancestors' actions impact what we do in the present? What does it tell us about the possibility of altering these paths?
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is known for defying gender conventions through its characters. How does each JoJo uphold and/or defy traditional concepts of masculinity? How does Jolyne, the first female JoJo, do the same for femininity? Do they fit with your own ideas about gender?
How do the JoJos and their friends demonstrate courage, perseverance, and compassion? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 4, 2012
- Cast : David Vincent , Daisuke Ono , Matthew Mercer
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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