Steel Ball Run

Slow Dancer

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“
Choosing that horse was correct. Old horses have experience in this kind of race.
”

Slow Dancer (スロー・ダンサー, Surō Dansā) is a primary ally featured in the seventh part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Steel Ball Run. It is a horse belonging to Johnny Joestar, who rides it for the entirety of the Steel Ball Run race.

Appearance

Slow Dancer is an 11-year-old Appaloosa. It has a light coat and mane with several dark spots scattered across its hindquarters and back. While being ridden by Johnny, it is adorned with a bridle and reins. Johnny's jockey number, 939, is displayed on its side.

Color Schemes

The series is known for alternating colors between media, the information presented below may or may not be canon.
Colored MangaAll-Star BattleEyes of Heaven
Coat
(Grey coat, dark grey spots, light brown hair)
Coat
(Cream white coat, black spots, cream white hair)
Coat
(Cream white coat, black spots, cream white hair)

Personality

Slow Dancer was described as an untamable horse with a twisted personality that cannot be easily handled. When Johnny first attempts to saddle it, Slow Dancer reacts with unpredictability and almost tramples him to death. However, by the start of the race, Slow Dancer warms up to Johnny and shows affection by gently licking his face when he's injured. This allows Johnny to finally mount it once he realizes how to use the Spin.[2]

Despite being much older than the horses of the other participants in the race, Slow Dancer is shown to be quite experienced; fearlessly navigating through rough terrain, thick forests, and downhill areas without fault, all while keeping its legs in good condition and breathing steady.[3] Throughout the race, Slow Dancer remains loyal to Johnny and only grows in experience as each stage passes.

Abilities

Although not ideal for the race, Gyro insists that Slow Dancer is the correct horse for Johnny Joestar.[2] He also states that choosing an older horse is better due to the horse's experience, as opposed to the younger horses that hold much power but charge into danger without an afterthought.[4] Johnny Joestar has been described as a genius jockey, being one of the favorites of the Steel Ball Run race. His skill allows him to ride across many types of terrain, and challenge even fellow genius jockey Diego Brando. Johnny possesses great knowledge of his horse Slow Dancer, notably its abilities and limits, being able to gauge what Slow Dancer will be capable of at any moment.

Golden Spin

The Golden Spin is an advanced and perfected form of the Spin, accessible only to true masters of the technique. It revolves around the use of the Golden Rectangle, a geometric shape whose proportions reflect the golden ratio (approximately 1.618, or 16:9). When divided recursively into a square and a smaller Golden Rectangle, the result traces a Golden Spiral, enabling Johnny to produce a perfect rotation that generates infinite energy.[5] Johnny learns how to make Slow Dancer run with that form after hearing Gyro's advice.[6]

Spin Using a Horse(馬を使った回転 Uma o Tsukatta Kaiten) Link to this sectionLink to this section
Debut: Steel Ball Run Chapter 72: Ticket to Ride, Part 2 (Mentioned)
Mentioned only

Steel Ball Run Chapter 80: D4C, Part 13 -Love Train- (1st Full Debut)

A superior version of the Golden Spin which involves riding on horseback. Unlocking the Golden Spin on horseback grants mastery over an infinite amount of energy. Therefore, several miraculous feats are possible. First and foremost is that its wielder spontaneously develops a Stand or evolves it should they already have one. After Slow Dancer collapses, Johnny uses a Steel Ball on Slow Dancer's leg, making it kick him with the energy of the Golden Spin. Thus, Johnny is imbued with the energy of the Golden Spin and by spinning his nails at the same time, could reproduce the same infinite Spin he would have by riding his horse. This allows him to evolve Tusk to its final form, Tusk ACT4.[7]

Although powerful, the horseback Golden Spin is incredibly complicated to set up. One must not only have a healthy horse, but also have the expertise to feel when it runs at its natural pace. Any interference during the horse mounting, like bumping into an obstacle or the horse being attacked, will completely interrupt the process.[7]


History

Background

Slow Dancer was a farm horse that was sold to Johnny by a horse seller before the Steel Ball Run race begun. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down and struggling to control the horse, Johnny is determined to ride it.[2]

Steel Ball Run

The Start of the Race

After finishing his preparations for the race, Gyro sees Johnny being dragged to the ground by Slow Dancer. Johnny had been up all night trying to get on his horse. The other racers watching say that he was sold a dobbin, an old horse, and was injured the night before when a piece of wood went through his right leg. They add that he has been threatening to commit suicide if anyone tries to stop him from getting on the horse. The racers notice that he could be trampled to death, and rush out to save Johnny. When they ask Gyro if he agrees with them, Gyro simply says that he'll never be able to ride his horse like that, but would be beyond human if he does.

Johnny learns how to mount Slow Dancer by rolling up its neck.

As all the racers line up at the starting line, the racers notice Slow Dancer walking toward it, still dragging Johnny behind, bloodied, unconscious, and with his hand still firmly on the stirrup. The horse licks Johnny as he begins to get up. Gyro tells Johnny that he chose his horse well since older horses have more experience and are less likely to strain their legs in dangerous territory. He adds that if Johnny has the will to get on the horse, he should do so. A switch suddenly flicks in Johnny's mind as Gyro walks away. Johnny asks his horse to lick his face again, and as the horse bends its head down to lick him once more, its neck lifts Johnny up and onto its back.[2]

Approaching the end of the first stage, Johnny tells Slow Dancer that he's running well. Despite how much he's sweating, his legs are in perfect condition and his breathing is good. As he finishes talking to Slow Dancer, he looks behind him, and, to his surprise, sees Diego pulling close to him. Johnny realizes that Diego has pulled ahead using an air pressure shield, a technique in which Diego rides behind Slow Dancer using the blocked wind to avoid fatigue from the air pressure.[3] Realizing Diego's plan, Johnny sabotages Diego's attempt to pass everyone else by intentionally shifting Slow Dancer's weight downward, positioning it lower to the ground to deliberately kick up rocks toward Diego behind him.[8] After the first stage ends, Johnny meets Gyro again and Gyro teaches him the basics of the Spin and gifts him a spinning bottle cork. Johnny uses the cork on Slow Dancer to make it instinctively curl its front leg to help Johnny get off his horse.[1] From that point on, Slow Dancer keeps acting as Johnny's faithful steed throughout the Steel Ball Run.

During the Steel Ball Run

As a horse, Slow Dancer primarily serves as a mount for Johnny in completing the Steel Ball Run race. According to Johnny, he and Slow Dancer travel an average of 50 to 70 kilometers per day. They take care to rest in the shade during the hottest part of the day to preserve the horses' stamina and allow them to sleep standing up. They also avoid traveling at night to prevent encounters with venomous animals or accidents involving poisonous plants. At night, Johnny brushes Slow Dancer for several hours to keep it clean and disease-free, and massages its muscles.[9]

Fortunately for Slow Dancer, it is largely uninvolved in Johnny's battles, as Johnny often confronts his enemies dismounted or is knocked off during the fight, allowing the horse to escape unharmed. Despite this, Slow Dancer plays a significant role in several battles.

Tusk

During the second stage, as Johnny and Gyro approach Monument Valley, Pork Pie Hat Kid attacks using his Stand, Wired, which allows him to project hooks from the underside of falling vulture feathers. Using this ability, he captures Gyro, Valkyrie, and Slow Dancer in quick succession, leaving Johnny stranded in the middle of a plain.[10][11] Johnny awakens his Stand, Tusk, and slowly makes his way toward Pork Pie Hat Kid, camouflaging himself along the way. To locate Johnny, Pork Pie Hat Kid releases Slow Dancer, which instinctively returns to its master. This gives away Johnny's approximate location, prompting Pork Pie Hat Kid to set the area ablaze.[12] However, Johnny and Gyro ultimately defeat him.

Scary Monsters

Diego and Dr. Ferdinand transform an entire village into dinosaurs, but Slow Dancer and Valkyrie manage to evade the creatures and return to their masters.[13]

Silent Way

Johnny and Gyro are dismounted on the shores of the Mississippi River. Slow Dancer and Valkyrie are somehow able to cross the river on their own.[14]

The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain

Johnny and Gyro are given millions of dollars' worth of valuables, which they must spend by the end of the day. As part of this effort, they pay to have farriers fit their horses with new horseshoes and purchase fancy riding equipment, totaling $805.25.[15]

Civil War

Johnny and Gyro follow Hot Pants into a garbage dump, leaving their horses outside. They are attacked by the Stand Civil War, which weaponizes past abandoned objects and people. As Slow Dancer is nearby, Johnny manages to crawl back to it and pierce a water canteen, splashing himself with water to counter the Stand's effect.[16]

D4C

Slow Dancer kicks Johnny, transferring the Spin's energy to him

During Johnny's confrontation with Funny Valentine, following Gyro's death, Johnny charges at the President. Valentine hides in the waters of the approaching Atlantic Ocean and ambushes him, slashing Slow Dancer's neck and causing it to collapse. Johnny then uses a Steel Ball on Slow Dancer, triggering a reflexive kick that launches Johnny into the air while transferring the energy of the Golden Spin to him. This awakens Tusk ACT4, enabling Johnny to defeat Valentine.[7]

After Valentine is sent to a parallel world, he returns to negotiate with Johnny. As a gesture of goodwill, he gives Johnny the alternate Hot Pants's Cream Starter. Johnny uses it to heal Slow Dancer.[17]

High Voltage

Slow Dancer carries Johnny through New York as he battles Parallel World Diego. Johnny is eventually unhorsed after Diego tricks him into absorbing the infinite spin of Tusk ACT4. When Johnny tries to remount, the spin prevents him from getting back on Slow Dancer.[18] He is ultimately saved by Steven Steel.[19]

JoJolion

Slow Dancer's fate after the conclusion of the Steel Ball Run race is unknown. In a flashback in JoJolion, Johnny and Rina Higashikata are seen riding a horse that appears to be Slow Dancer, although it is not explicitly confirmed to be the same horse.[20]

Chapters / Episodes

Manga Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance
Part 7Part 8

Video Games

Slow Dancer makes an appearance in All-Star Battle on PlayStation 3, Eyes of Heaven on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and All-Star Battle R on various consoles. In all three games, it is a technical playable character through Johnny, who uses the "Mounted" gameplay style. While mounted, Johnny can move quickly, and Slow Dancer attacks either with its head or legs. Johnny can only use his Great Heat Attack while mounted on Slow Dancer, but inputting the commands while unmounted will automatically summon Slow Dancer.

Gallery

MangaVideo GamesOther

References

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 Steel Ball Run Chapter 12: 1st Stage: Disqualified from Victory
  2. ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start
  3. ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 Steel Ball Run Chapter 10: The Final Stretch: 2,000 Meters Left
  4. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 4: September 25, 1890 - 3 Hours to Start p.22
  5. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 43: Silent Way, Part 4
  6. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 80: D4C, Part 13 -Love Train-
  7. ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 7.2 Steel Ball Run Chapter 85: Ball Breaker, Part 3
  8. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 11: The Final Stretch: 1,000 Meters Left
  9. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 55: The Victor's Qualifications
  10. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 25: Tusk, Part 1
  11. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 26: Tusk, Part 2
  12. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 27: Tusk, Part 3
  13. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 31: Scary Monsters, Part 4
  14. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 44: Silent Way, Part 5
  15. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 46: The Promised Land: Sugar Mountain, Part 2
  16. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 57: Civil War, Part 2
  17. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 88: Break My Heart, Break Your Heart, Part 1
  18. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 94: The World of Stars and Stripes
  19. ↑ Steel Ball Run Chapter 95: The World of Stars and Stripes - Outro
  20. ↑ JoJolion Chapter 21: "Shakedown Road", Part 4 p.21

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