SC Episode 24

High Priestess, Part 2 (その2) is the twenty-fourth episode of Stardust Crusaders and the fiftieth episode of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime. It covers Chapter 181 through the first two pages of Chapter 183 of the manga. It was also the end of first arc of the Stardust Crusaders Anime.

Summary
After finding some scuba equipment, Joseph gives a quick lesson before the group prepares to exit the submarine. However, they discover High Priestess has already caught on to them by disguising itself as Polnareff's regulator, with Joseph and Kakyoin narrowly managing to save him from certain death. The group manages to exit the submarine safely and start swimming across some rocks, only to discover it is High Priestess disguising itself as the sea bed, sucking them inside its mouth.

As the Stand's user, Midler, gloats from the surface, the group tries to play to Midler's femininity, but this only serves to anger her further, leading her to try to crush Jotaro between High Priestess' teeth. However, Jotaro manages to break the teeth with Star Platinum and they all break free from High Priestess' mouth, escaping to the surface, where Midler is incapacitated (and disfigured) as a result of Jotaro's attack. Having finally arrived Egypt, Jotaro and Joseph assure Suzi Q of their safety before joining the others in their pursuit of DIO. Meanwhile, as DIO makes his own move, killing several members of the Speedwagon Foundation, a helicopter is seen carrying an unusual passenger.

Manga/Anime Differences

 * An extra scene is included where a Speedwagon Foundation worker spies on a gathering of nine of DIO's assassins. However, Geb quickly decapitates him.
 * Much like the previous episode, several scenes featuring Suzi Q were added.

Commentary
"The scenes in diving gear take up more than half of this episode, but these devices are really difficult to draw. Jotaro and Avdol were particularly tricky because of the accessories they already wear normally. We didn't know what was where anymore. The only silver lining: their obstructed mouths do not require lips synchronization.

This is a new underwater episode after the 6th against Dark Blue Moon. Although the aquatic environment had given us a lot of problems again, it was a pleasure to make the sign language scene between Kakyoin and Ponareff. I love seeing them in sync like this, they are really well tuned.

Since this is the last fight, we had wished to make everyone participate. Every character is given his little action scene. The scene where High Priestess attacks by transforming into a harpoon was drawn by Katayama, the action scene animation director, up to the key drawings, for a beautiful result.

There's the scene where High Priestess becomes red - seen from the inside of the mouth and not the cheeks - we went from a pink as a reaction to the flattery to an angry red. I hope that this effect will have its little impact.

When the group finally steps on Egyptian soil, they stand on the beach, facing the sea. There is a shot on the water surface, rather discrete, but it was the only way which asked the most work because of the transparence effect.

The scene where Jotaro tosses a starfish stuck on him wasn't in the original storyboard, but we added it in the process of animation. It was an idea of the director Mr. Kato. It's maybe at this moment that Jotaro takes an interest in underwater fauna, to then dedicate his life to research and even a Ph.d. At least you can picture it like this! (laughs)

The last scenes are all original. The review of the enemy Stands until then, Dio in his mansion, a phone call to Suzie Q... Everything here allows us to wrap up the journey and really give a last episode feel."

- Naokatsu Tsuda, Blu-Ray limited edition commentaries

Trivia

 * The opening contains several sound effects during the scenes.
 * Iggy's appearance is foreshadowed, as a howl can be heard when the lone 6th shooting star appears on the screen.