Phantom Blood (film)

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ファントム ブラッド) is a 2007 animated film produced by animation Studio A.P.P.P., who previously handled animation of the earlier OVA series. It is an adaptation of the first arc of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga series, Phantom Blood. The film was produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of creator Hirohiko Araki's career as a manga artist and was given a limited theatrical release in Japan starting on February 17, 2007. Since then, the movie has never been seen publically, and has not been released to home video. It is currently considered.

The theme song was "VOODOO KINGDOM", a single by the group SOUL'd OUT.

Manga/Film Differences

 * Dio's inner monologues are not depicted. His motives for bullying Jonathan are never explained.
 * The boxing match, rugby game and Jonathan's first encounter with Erina are omitted.
 * Two extra scenes are added: one where Dio steps on Jonathan's pocket watch and another where Jonathan hurts himself on a needle Dio places in his bed.
 * The concept of the Ripple is not explained clearly. The Ripple's dexterity is also never demonstrated, it is treated as a "fighting energy" used to power up Jonathan's punches.
 * Robert E. O. Speedwagon is omitted.
 * Jonathan's fight with Jack the Ripper is omitted.
 * Dio uses his vampiric power to transform his hideout in Windknight's Lot into a giant castle.
 * Dio does not meet the protagonists in the graveyard; the Dark Knights, Bruford and Tarkus are already waiting for them and are taken out quickly by Jonathan's Ripple Overdrive.
 * The scene where Bruford gives his sword to Jonathan and names it LUCK & PLUCK is omitted.
 * Tonpetty appears by himself. The characters Poco, Dire and Straizo are not featured.
 * Tonpetty's flashback with Zeppeli takes place on a cliff as opposed to a tightrope over the Tibetan temple. Tonpetty reading Zeppeli's future also causes a shockwave that blows away the surrounding clouds.
 * The scene where Zeppeli, Jonathan and Dio clash under the moon takes place after Jonathan defeats the Dark Knights and in proximity of Dio's castle. Dialogue between Dio and Zeppeli, including the famous "bread" line, is omitted.
 * Dio counters Zeppeli's Ripple with his freezing technique and Jonathan intervenes in a scene similar to the manga. Zeppeli is killed in this encounter, however, in a manner not unlike Dire's death. The specifics behind the freezing technique and why it counters Ripple are not explained.
 * Zeppeli's hair does not turn white when he passes his life energy to Jonathan.
 * Jonathan does not light his gloves on fire to counter Dio's freezing technique. He instead overcomes it by "powering up" during their clash.
 * The ship Jonathan and Erina board sails through the Pacific Ocean instead of the Atlantic Ocean. This is an error as Erina is still rescued near the Canary Islands.
 * The baby Elizabeth is omitted from the movie. In the manga, Erina chooses to die with Jonathan but is persuaded after he asks her to save the baby. In the movie, she enters the coffin without Jonathan saying anything.

2004 Tokyo International Pilot
Photographs of a Movie test pilot for Phantom Blood that played at the in 2004. It was two minutes and 30 seconds long, and did not represent the final film. The character designs are different and it features Speedwagon, who is not in the film. The Pilot had also been considered as Lost Media.

Pilot Found
On August 31, 2019 a Youtube User MangoMation uploaded an apparent Teaser stating in the video "After 15 years a piece of jojo history never meant to be public will be unveiled. The 2004 test animation for the Early September 2019".

Come middle of September, MangoMation uploaded a video on September 14, 2019 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood - 2004 Test Pilot the video had a description written by MangoMation:
 * "This was a pilot, doubling as an announcement trailer, for the 2007 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood movie. It was shown at the 2004, and then never seen again. The animation is entirely unique to this pilot, and was not used in the final film. Some scenes and characters, including Robert Speedwagon, are present in the pilot but did not make it into the actual movie due to time constraints".
 * "I found this pilot on an old DVD-RW, with the help of Notelu, who restored and upscaled the pilot: Notelu". Which links to another Youtube User Notelu.
 * "A comparison of the raw file and the restored version of this pilot can be found here: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Pilot". Which links to a restoration comparison.

Trivia

 * Despite the character's own lack of involvement in the movie, the Japanese comedy duo "Speedwagon", comprised of Jun Idota and Kazuhiro Ozawa, were allowed to voice Dario and Wang Chan respectively.
 * During its theatrical release, the prologue cutscene from the PS2 game was played before the movie.
 * There is a terrible rumour that says Araki hates the movie or had copies of the movie burnt.
 * Firstly, Araki hating the Movie started from a poorly circulated rumour online with no source to prove his supposed hatred for it.
 * Secondly him burning copies of the Movie is a ridiculous statement and once again has no source, making it a baseless rumour.
 * On the movie's poster, Jonathan is modeled after Joseph from the cover of Volume 8. Whether or not this was intentional is unknown.
 * Jonathan's jewellery on the movie poster is reference from the Cover of Volume 3.
 * Dio is modeled after two poses from the manga: one from Chapter 13 when he is standing on the broken window ledge, and another from a Chapter 36 panel spread.

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