Throughout JoJo's Bizarre Adventure publication history, there have been numerous adaptations, one-shots, spin-offs and light novels based in the universe of JoJo. Purple Haze Feedback, and Rey infinito for example, focus on the adventures of Pannacotta Fugo and Lisa Lisa respectively. There are no official rules regarding the canonicity of these works, so the Wiki doesn't take a stance way or the other. If it wasn't by written by Araki, and doesn't contradict elements of his work, it may or may not be canon.
When speaking of the works written by Araki himself, there are two continuities and a few spin-offs written by Araki himself that are considered canon by the wiki.
Original Continuity
The original continuity is the original world within the setting of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. It encompasses Parts 1-6 and a number of spin-offs. It tracks the original Joestar Family's many periulous adventures, the legacy of DIO and the ancient supernatural arrows. Many themes of the original continuity deal with fate, power and the supernatural.
Following Diamond is Unbreakable specifically, Araki wrote a number of on-going one-shots revolving around the character Kishibe Rohan named Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. Alongside Deadman's Questions starring the ghost of Yoshikage Kira.
Araki has directly contributed to a number of works based on the original continuity, for advice, art or simply to overlook the development of the project.
Second Continuity
The second continuity is an alternate world within the setting of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. It encompasses Steel Ball Run, JoJolion, and The JOJOLands. There are a number of names, events, roles, personalities, and relationships appearing in Steel Ball Run and JoJolion similar to those in the original timeline.
Hirohiko Araki indicates in the All-Star Battle guidebook that Diamond is Unbreakable and JoJolion are parallel worlds not linked in time or space, and that their respective characters will never meet each other in the manga, including both Josukes and Rohan.[1]
Non-Canon (?)
In many pages on the wiki, there will be warnings about the canoncity of events described in works outside of the manga and Araki's own words. They will look like this and be specific to whatever it is being warned about.
Pucci hates bugs!
Adaptations
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has been adapted a few times into film, Anime and video-games. Considering the nature of these projects, they don't affect the timeline or events illustrated and written by Araki in the manga itself. They are simply adaptations with no bearing on the original author's intent, and they may or may not be considered canon.
The Anime takes some liberties when depicting the characters, story and even the series of events. For example, Fugo's backstory is described differently in Purple Haze Feedback and the TV airing; the manga doesn't portray it in-detail, so when it comes to expanding his origins all is fair-game and both of these were origins were approved by Araki himself. It is a matter of interpretation and either is completely acceptable.
Light Novels, Spin-Offs & One-Shots
As mentioned before, there have been quite a few works following respective characters. There are too many to list but generally, the wiki doesn't consider them wholly canon even if they don't contradict anything written by Araki. They may or not may not be canon.
Following this rule, there are quite a few works by Araki that follow their own canon; Rohan at the Louvre, Kishibe Rohan Meets Gucci, and Jolyne, Fly High with GUCCI. All three of these were collaborations and are completely disconnected from the original continuity. The three describe different backstories for characters, place characters who have never met before in the same setting and are just promotional material.
JORGE JOESTAR
Though there are reccuring events, characters and abilities similar to the narratives of Parts 1-7, JORGE JOESTAR is very much its own thing. It encompasses a universe-hopping adventure that is loosely based on JoJo's and is basically non-canon to everything else in the series.
Despite its infamous nature, JORGE is still an official novel tied to JoJo's.
What About Colors?
As stated by Araki, JoJo has no canon colors; Jotaro doesn't have dark hair and Crazy Diamond isn't salmon pink. When it comes to color design, it's completely up to the author, or artist to breath drama into whatever they're trying to depict. The Anime portrays this design philosophy in its color shifts.
Inconsistencies
Naturally following JoJo's long, on-going serilization, there have been a number of inconsistencies within the timeline or retcons within the narrative. This wiki will aim to use the most recent information when describing these elements. If a character's age changes, or if their iconic hat disappears, the wiki will detail this while maintaining the most recent information as the accurate one.
Trivia
- Araki conceived the idea of the alternate universe present in Parts 7-9 towards the end of Stone Ocean's serialization, likening the concept of a series returning to its roots to the Italian Renaissance.[2]
References
- ↑ All-Star Battle Guidebook Interview
- ↑ SO Volume 11 (Bunko Edition) Afterword
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