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 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's 20th anniversary, as well as the 25th anniversary of Hirohiko Araki's career as a manga artist. It was given a limited theatrical release in Japan starting on February 17, 2007. The film's home video release was delayed due to controversy surrounding the studio's previous adaptation and has since then been considered.

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.
 * This is questionable as Jack is on a model sheet & some promotional material, though he may of been an "extra" Zombie.
 * 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*
 * Instead, Zeppeli pickups a "sword" after this fight to use it in the fight with Dio.
 * 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.
 * The specifics behind the freezing technique and why it counters Ripple are not explained.
 * Zeppeli dies to Dio's freezing techniques where he creates an ice pillar/spike out of the ground, and not flash-frozen like Dire was in the Manga.
 * It should be noted that the Rose on Zeppeli's jacket (seen in promo art) was flung into Dio's face in a similar fashion like Dire did in the manga to Dio.
 * 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
A test pilot doubling as an announcement trailer for the film was shown at the 2004. The animation and character designs are entirely unique to the trailer and were not used in the final product. Some scenes and characters, including Robert Speedwagon, were present but did not make it into the actual film.

Much like the film, the pilot had been considered until September 14, 2019, when a Youtube User named MangoMation uploaded it to his channel with the description: "I found this pilot on an old DVD-RW, with the help of Notelu, who restored and upscaled the pilot: Notelu's Channel. 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.

Phantom Blood PS2 Event
This event was held on September 13, 2006 to promote the upcoming Phantom Blood PS2 game that was set to release on October 26, 2006.

Hirohiko Araki, Junichi Hayama, Hikaru Midorikawa, Jun Itoda, and Kazuhiro Ozawa attended this event, where it was revealed that the movie was currently being worked on. Hikaru Midorikawa, the voice actor of Dio Brando in the PS2 game, reprised his role in the movie. The comedy duo named Speedwagon, comprised of Jun Itoda and Kazuhiro Ozawa, voiced Wang Chan and Dario Brando respectively.

Those who were present at this event were given a sneak peek of a 47 second trailer as to what the movie was expected to look like. This exact trailer came on a bonus disc for those who pre-ordered the PS2 Phantom Blood game.

Two unused/rare posters were displayed in the hallways of this event, which weren't used for the final movie except in promotional material.

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.
 * However, model sheets have been found that could mean that the prologue scene had been fully animated.
 * The ending credits song was "VOODOO KINGDOM", a single by the group SOUL'd OUT
 * There have been unproven rumors regarding Araki's opinions on the film since its release;
 * Hirohiko Araki "hating" the movie started from a poorly circulated rumour online long before the 16 Minute Workprint surfaced.
 * Him wanting the movie "burnt" stemmed from another defunct rumour with no source to prove his claim.
 * 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 referenced 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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