JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Episode 21
Summary
The short history of the hotel JoJo and Lisa Lisa find themselves in is presented: it was once a luxurious establishment before falling into ruin when its owner died. Kars eventually turned it into a temporary lair.
Whilst following Wamuu's trail of blood, Joseph and Lisa Lisa encounter another Vampire named Wired Beck. Beck is confident but Lisa Lisa instantly destroys him with her Ripple-infused scarf. Before continuing on, JoJo states he will not take the antidote he received until he has beaten Wamuu as a promise to Caesar.
JoJo and Lisa Lisa proceed to a dark chamber where Wamuu is waiting for them. Joseph wants to attack but Lisa Lisa then detects the 100 hidden Vampires in the room, impressing Wamuu with her skill. Kars reveals himself and orders the Vampires to attack, even denying Wamuu his chance to fight JoJo. However, Lisa Lisa manages to hold off their attack with a bluff saying that if both she and JoJo are killed, a time bomb will destroy the Red Stone of Aja. Thus, she proposes that JoJo fights against Wamuu whilst she fights against Kars with the stone on the line.
Wamuu and Kars arrange a place for the battle at midnight at the Skeleton Heel Stone near the foot of Piz Bernina, keeping Lisa Lisa as insurance to make sure JoJo brings the stone. After bringing Messina back with him, JoJo searches Lisa Lisa's luggage and finds a picture of Erina, Speedwagon and Straizo from fifty years ago, becoming curious as to why Lisa Lisa would have it. Upon meeting at the arena, Lisa Lisa reveals that she was the baby that Erina rescued from the ship that fateful day, further explaining how she was raised by Straizo, who was the one who taught her about the Ripple and gave her the stone. As JoJo and Wamuu's battle is revealed to be a chariot race using vampire horses, JoJo puts on Caesar's bandana and prepares to battle.
Appearances
Manga/Anime Differences
- In the manga, Wired Beck uses his ability to grow many spikes all over his body. In the anime, there are much fewer spikes.
- There is a scene after Kars and Wamuu leave the room, where Joseph forces one of the vampires to bite his own tongue. This was not present in the anime.
- In the manga, Wamuu dresses into his traditional outfit just after stopping the vampire horses. In the anime, he is already seen wearing it upon Joseph's arrival.
- In the manga, after Wamuu chooses the area for their duel and Joseph protests that they're not favorable, a vampire from the ceiling insults Joseph, making Joseph want him to come down. This short scene is cut from the anime.
Commentary
The fight against Wired Beck had to be done before the opening credits but the editor, Kiyoshi Hirose, thought it was cruel for the character (laughs). His voice actor, Satoshi Tsuruoka, did give some energic acting and gave Wired Beck some depth. Honestly, the episode could have ended here after the first half. Structurally speaking, it would have worked (laughs). It's all we needed for the chariot race.
I find the pre-opening shots on the hotel's interior particularly well done. It's the visual director and background designer, Yasufumi Soejima, who personally managed the contemplative backgrounds devoid of characters.
