Jean Pierre Polnareff

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The "Chariot" symbolizes invasion and victory.
—-Jean Pierre Polnareff

Jean Pierre Polnareff (ジャン・ピエール・ポルナレフ, Jan Piēru Porunarefu) is a core ally in Stardust Crusaders. He also occupies a key role in Vento Aureo.

Polnareff goes with Jotaro and Joseph to avenge his sister, who was murdered by a man with two right hands.

In Part V, he helps the allies in their quest to defeat the Boss.

Appearance

Polnareff is a man of above-average height and athletic or muscular build.

With a receded hairline, he wears silvery hair that rises directly above his head, straight, to a height about half that of his head. He has no eyebrows. He also wears earrings in the shape of jaggedly halved (broken) hearts.

Stardust Crusaders

Polnareff wears a fitted sleeveless black top; shoulderless except for one strap running from his chest over his left shoulder.

Vento Aureo

Having lost his eye and his legs below his knees, Polnareff now utilizes a wheelchair and an eyepatch.

Personality

Jean Pierre Polnareff is a boastful but honorable and well-meaning Frenchman.

Polnareff's most defining trait is his honor. His first appearance has him handicap himself on purpose by explaining his ability and fight his opponent Avdol in a terrain more suitable to the latter. Polnareff's honor is such that even under the control of Dio, he refuses to do something as dishonorable as attacking someone from the back. Adopting a chivalrous mindset, Polnareff is reluctant to flee from a fight or use dishonorable tactics, although he can be persuaded. He is in fact somewhat happy to see Chaka challenge him directly. Polnareff is also very eager to avenge his fallen loved ones, for instance traveling the earth to search for the one to have killed his sister Sherry. Polnareff is well-meaning and will also sacrifice a potential romance so his enemies won't harm an innocent woman.

Likewise, Polnareff comes off as arrogant and confrontational. He is very proud of his Silver Chariot, with good reason as he trained hard with it, but his overconfidence unfortunately means that he is poorly suited to fight the cowardly Stand users on his path, as he doesn't expect their moves and leads him into a number of disadvantageous positions, notably against Hol Horse's Emperor or Anubis. Polnareff has trouble seeing his own faults, and thinks of himself as better as he really is, having once noted the carelessness of throwing a lit cigarette butt on the ground, a cigarette he threw and which caused a fire. During his journey, it isn't unusual for Polnareff to argue with his companions or run afoul of various people he meets. He also initially held a poor view of Avdol, as he fled DIO instead of fighting, .and had an argument which severed his relationship with him. Likewise Polnareff attacked Iggy upon their first meeting.

Polnareff is also the least serious member of the group. He is maybe the one who bonds the most with his companions, casually joking with Kakyoin, Joseph and even Jotaro. Being very extrovert, he has no problem expressing joy or sorrow, a trait which led to the other members of the third Joestar Group not to reveal Avdol's recovery to him as they feared he would spill the secret. Polnareff is somewhat easily distracted and repeatedly finds a way to lighten the mood, cracking a joke in sign language with Kakyoin while the submarine they were in was being sunk, being willing to taste a homemade baby food from Joseph and somehow coming to believe in Judgement's power as a genie, asking for becoming a comic book artist greater than Disney. In fact Polnareff references pop culture icons frequently, such as Tom & Jerry, or The Exorcist.

Polnareff fancies himself a ladies' man. A woman's good looks are always enough to distract him from even the most serious subjects, leading to Joseph commenting that Polnareff thinks with his crotch. Indeed, even his infant self was already delighted to bathe with a beautiful woman. Usually a very perceptive fighter, being able to sniff out Devo, Chaka and Alessi, he seems to be unable to think that a woman would ever be evil, like with Nena and Enya. Polnareff is very friendly with the women, giving love advice to Nena and trying to bond with Enya (though it unintentionally enraged her).

As a "sophisticated" man, Polnareff cannot stand filthy places, especially filthy toilets.

Interestingly, Polnareff's best friends during the course of the series are Avdol and Iggy, neither of whom he could stand when they first met. In fact, no character mourns the deaths of his companions like Polnareff does, and no other character is as dedicated to avenging them.

In Vento Aureo, Polnareff has considerably matured and has become a serious and focused individual. His experience allows him to offer very needed counsels in Giorno and the others' fight against Diavolo.

Abilities

File:JPPolnareffcolor.png
Polnareff & Silver Chariot
Main article: Silver Chariot
See also: Chariot Requiem, Mr.President

Polnareff's humanoid Stand is Silver Chariot, one of the fastest of all; utilizing a rapier in a flexible and deadly offense.

In Part V, Polnareff develops Chariot Requiem with the touch of the Arrow; and later becomes sustained by Coco Jumbo's Stand, Mr. President.

Stand Tarot Card

Silver Chariot presents itself as a warrior in a silver armor, like a true knight. Polnareff's knighthood shows itself by the way he treats his friends: honor and loyalty. His Stand represents the Tarot Card "The Chariot", which symbolizes invasion and victory, and is entirely based in close-combat terms. When Polnareff first appears he invades the Joestar group's space, challenging them in the middle of their conversation. Even though Polnareff is usually careless, he was shown capable of obtaining victory on his own, proving his worth by defeating his enemies alone in multiple occasions. The Chariot also can be interpreted as resolving a conflict within yourself and finding the necessary balance to accomplish your ambitions, represented by Polnareff's lack of balance with his emotions while trying to avenge his sister.

Synopsis

History

Polnareff was born with his Stand, though does not realize it until some time later. His mother died when he was still young, leaving him a very lonely kid. This aggravated when, three years before events of Part 3, his sister was ambushed, raped, and murdered by J. Geil, sparking Polnareff's desire for revenge. Subsequently, Polnareff trains constantly with his Stand to avenge his sister and kill J. Geil.[4][5] His Stand powers attracted DIO, who lured him with Jonathan's Stand and brainwashed him afterward.

Stardust Crusaders (1986-1988)

Silver Chariot

Under DIO's influence, Polnareff attacked the Joestar party in Hong Kong. He was confronted by Avdol and defeated after some difficulty. While Polnareff conceded his defeat, Jotaro sensed DIO's cells in the man's forehead and removed the implant. Afterwards, Polnareff joined the Joestar group in their quest to destroy DIO, with his ultimate goal being to find his sister's murderer.

The Devil

During the journey Polnareff is often careless, falling victim to his enemies multiple times. In one of these moments he was attacked by Devo, but managed to take care of the enemy.

Emperor and Hanged Man

He got his shot at J. Geil, his sister's murderer, and successfully avenged her death. Unfortunately, during the battle with J. Geil and his partner Hol Horse, Avdol was seemingly killed, saving Polnareff's life. Avdol's death weighed very heavily on him.

Empress

At one point, Polnareff became attracted to Nena, believing her to be a woman tricked by Hol Horse, until Joseph managed to defeat her Stand.

Wheel of Fortune

Polnareff almost crashes his car when decieved by ZZ.

Justice

He becomes friends with Enya the Hag, unaware that she was pretending to be friendly to avenge her son J. Geil, until she attacked him with Justice.

Lovers

Polnareff was of great help against Steely Dan, helping Kakyoin into freeing Joseph of The Lovers control.

Death 13

Polnareff was later almost killed by Mannish Boy's Death Thirteen, but was saved by Kakyoin at the last moment.

Judgement

He also was tricked by Cameo's Stand Judgment into wishing for his sister Sherry and Avdol back to life. These clones attacked Polnareff as clay golems, but the real Avdol reappeared and saved him, having survived Hol Horse's attack after all.

High Priestess

After the defeat of Midler he, as a womanizer, decides to take a look at her, but laments after noticing that her teeth were knocked out.

Genesis of Universe, Ch. 1

(The Genesis of Universe: Chapter 1: One-Way Trip from Desert to Hell)
(The italicized information below derives from a Light Novel not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.)
Polnareff was the one to defeat Michal, the wielder of the mirage-creator Stand Dark Mirage. When he finally discovered her location he was afraid of hurting the woman because of his policy of not hurting women, even if it's an enemy. To not hurt Michal, Polnareff ended the battle with a single blow with the back of Silver Chariot's sword, knocking her out.

'God Khnum' Oingo and 'God Tohth' Boingo

Polnareff unintentionally helped the group against Oingo's orange-shaped bomb plan. He kept asking Oingo to do things only Jotaro knew, making the enemy nervous with the possibility of them finding out his real identity.

'God Anubis'

After fighting the controlled Chaka and Khan, Polnareff was possessed by Anubis, once again falling under DIO's control, but was freed by Jotaro a second time.

'God Sethan' Alessi

In Luxor, he is turned into his younger days by Alessi and his Stand Sethan but still manages to outshine him.

D'Arby the Gambler

Polnareff challenges Daniel J. D'Arby to a guessing game and bets his soul, but loses thanks to Daniel's cat and is saved by Jotaro once again.

Hol Horse and Boingo

Polnareff once again fell victim of Hol Horse, who held him at gun-point and followed Tohth's weird predictions before they backfired at him.

Genesis of Universe, Ch. 2

(The Genesis of Universe: Chapter 2: The Gravestone of Red-Hot Sand)
(The italicized information below derives from a Light Novel not written by Araki. As such, it may or may not be considered canon.)
Polnareff is defeated by The Scribe Ani, who belives him to be dead and leaves his body alone. Polnareff returns to help his friends against the enemy, successfully damaging his Stand Ptah by cooperating with Joseph.

The Spirit of Emptiness, Vanilla Ice

Silver Chariot Skewering Vanilla Ice
During the invasion of DIO's mansion, Polnareff was warned by Avdol that he would need to be careful, because his friends couldn't save him again. Polnareff agrees, but is almost killed by Vanilla Ice and saved at the price of two friends' lives. Both Avdol and Iggy died in the battle against Cream, the latter protecting Polnareff until the end. To avenge them, Polnareff finally defeated Vanilla Ice.

DIO's World

Polnareff becomes the first to confront DIO. Later, he skewers DIO's head as he prepares to sever Jotaro's head.

The Faraway Journey Ends

After DIO's ultimate defeat, Polnareff tearfully parted with Jotaro and Joseph, remembering the three friends who had died on their journey.

Vento Aureo (2001)

Spoilers (Part V) follow!

Before the events of Vento Aureo, Polnareff attempted and failed to assassinate Diavolo. He was tossed off a cliff and sustained critical injuries, including the loss of one of his eyes and the use of his lower legs. Due to his survival, Polnareff was considered to be the biggest threat to Diavolo.

Pronto! On the Line

A confident Polnareff, crippled and in a wheelchair, encountered Buccellati's gang via the internet telling him to visit him in Rome.

A Brief Flashback

Somewhere near the end of Vento Aureo, he encountered Doppio accompanying the dying Buccellati, however not knowing the boy was secretly Diavolo.

They Called Him Diavolo (2)

Polnareff was taken by surprise and tried to get the arrow away from Diavolo.

Before the Arrow

Polnareff was severely injured by King Crimson, but not before using the arrow on his own Stand.

The Requiem Plays Quietly

When his body died, it left Chariot Requiem as an insane Stand without direction. The resulting body switch put his soul inside of Coco Jumbo.

Sleeping Slaves (5)

After all souls were put in the proper body, Polnareff maintained his place inside of Coco Jumbo. He claimed he could do this because of how powerful Coco Jumbo's Stand was, as it allowed his spirit to linger.

It is presumed that Polnareff spends his days in Passione as the consigliere of the new boss Giorno Giovanna.

Video Games

Famicom Jump II (FC)

Polnareff appears as a support character during the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure part of the game. He does not fight, instead he can guide the player to the conditions that need to be done in order to finish that part.

JoJo RPG (SFC)

Polnareff appears on the SNES title as one of the main 6 playable characters along with the other 5 Stardust Crusaders characters. Most of Polnareff's attacks include him using Silver Chariot to attack the enemy.

Cult Jump (GB)

Polnareff appears as one of the ten characters from the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure franchise included in the game.

Heritage for the Future (PS1/DC/Arcade)

Polnareff

Befitting a charge character, Polnareff can string up offensive attacks to form a somewhat unstoppable pattern. His Million Spits has good strength. He also has good Stand combos that can be used to set up attacks for an execution of Special or Super moves. He's a good character for a juggle game. Armor Takeoff is highly damaging and, used with juggle tactics, he can inflict damage easily in comparison to the other characters. However, his combos like most charge characters require a different execution, and his mostly at times might need to start his combos with jump in midair attacks. Get past his difficult execution and with mastery of the Negative Edge technique in most Capcom fighters, and Polnareff's offense can be a force to be reckoned with if he gets the opportunity (especially with his jumping M attack providing good jump-ins). He is also one of the few characters able to remote control his Stand.

Techniques
  • Million Spit: Sliver Chariot stabs forward multiple times. During Stand On, the player can tap the button used to increase hits. Can perform a dark version of this move as Anubis Polnareff.
  • Raydarts: Silver Chariot rushes forward with a stab. Polnareff dashes alongside in unison if the Stand is on. Polnareff also does this move during his basic throw.
  • Shooting Star: Silver Chariot flies up to the wall to cling onto it, then dive stabs at the foe. Polnareff flies alongside in unison if the Stand is on.
  • Piercing Needles Sentence: Silver Chariot slashes forward, then after connecting, stabs the foe three times and then finishes with an upward flick slash; all in one combo of attacks. Can delay/charge up the attack, and can only use if the Stand is active.
  • Armor Takeoff: Silver Chariot slashes upward, then after launching the foe with the initial blow, sheds its armor and assaults it in multiple directions in midair as they fall back down. Level 1 Super.
  • Last Shot: Silver Chariot fires its rapier's blade in the style of a dart that bounces around the screen at high speeds. Button combo used depends on the trajectory at which the dart flies and bounces from, and can hit multiple times. Level 1 Super.
  • Silver Chariot Requiem: Silver Chariot gets shot in the head by an arrow, and briefly transforms into its Requiem version. After the light emitted from the Stand fully engulfs the screen without interruption, the opponent is instantly put to sleep. Level 3 Super.

Black Polnareff

This version of Polnareff is Polnareff possessed by the Anubis Stand after accidentally unsheathing Anubis' blade. This version of Polnareff is more aggressive as a result.

As if Polnareff isn't good enough for offense, Black Polnareff is even better. His increased speed gives him a good confusion game. Despite the loss of an active Stand, his moves more than make up for it - all of his special and most super attacks can be chained from basic attacks. While this makes him a close-quarters character, the damage he deals pays off the effort. Also, he gains the properties of any Anubis Sword-wielder: the ability to remember attacks. Like Shadow Dio's Incomplete The World, his Stand Button now summons Dark Silver Chariot to attack briefly, enabling him to create amazing combos out of delayed pokes and frame traps.

Techniques
  • Chariot's Split: A dark version of Million Split that does a set amount of hits but enables Polnareff to move around freely after calling Silver Chariot out.
  • Kirenzan (Demon Chain Slash): One of Chaka's original techniques. Also known as Anubis Rush. Polnareff reaps forward with the Anubis sword, and is able to follow up with either Silver Chariot's arm stabbing downward in unison with Polnareff's arm or smashing its pommel onto the opponent via an overhead blow.
  • Tatsujin no Nitouryuu (Expert's Two-Blade Style): Silver Chariot is called out to attack forward with a sword twirl. Twirls either its rapier, the Anubis Sword, or both in succession.
  • Oboe TA! (MEMORIZED!): Reversal/counter attack, and one of Chaca's original techniques. Polnareff holds the sword downward in a reverse grip, and if hit while doing so, Silver Chariot appears and launch-slashes the foe upward and away. For every move countered, Polnareff will memorize the attack, and can counter it automatically should he normally block said memorized move(s).
  • Dame Oshi Iu Yatsuda! (No Hard Feelings Fellow!): Silver Chariot performs the starting slash for Armor Takeoff. Should it connect, Silver Chariot will rapidly stab the foe forward as they fall back down, then does a final thrust with the Anubis Sword. The sword then flies back into Polnareff's hands after the attack. Level 1 Super.
  • Zettai ni Maken no Da! (Your Loss of Absolution!): After a brief pause of activating the attack, Silver Chariot rushes forward with a Raydarts. Should that connect, Polnareff will then follow up with a rush forward through the foe with sword in hand, and will split the screen apart horizontally. The startup of this move has great invincibility, making it a strong punishing tool. Level 1 Super.

Golden Whirlwind (PS2)

Polnareff make his third playable debut in the PS2 game. Based on his Part V appearance, Polnareff is playable in Chapter 19 of Super Story, facing Diavolo. In a wheelchair, Polnareff can freely move around the stage faster than the other characters. If Silver Chariot is activated, Polnareff will always move around the target enemy. Most of his moves consist of Silver Chariot using its sword to attack, such as Silver Chariot shooting its blade and his "HORAHORAHORA!!!" war cry as a charged move.

If Polnareff falls due to an enemy attack and does not have his Stand gauge full he will not be able to get up until the bar is fully recharged. This is due to the fact he needs Silver Chariot to get up now. Polnareff is also available to play in some battles from Extra Story such as Ghiaccio and "The Boss" battles. His theme is also an orchestrated version of his previous theme from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future.

Jump Super Stars (DS)

Polnareff appears as part of Jotaro's 5-Koma Special Move. Where both Star Platinum and Silver Chariot punch and cut anything that gets in their way, shouting with their battle cries "ORAORAORA!!!" and "HORAHORAHORA!!!" (Similar to how Jotaro and Polnareff finished off Alessi).

Jump Ultimate Stars (DS)

Polnareff returns as Jotaro's 5-Koma Special Attack. This time Polnareff also appears on the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure World Intro along with the other Stardust Crusaders.

All-Star Battle (PS3)

Polnareff is one of the 9 Part III characters in the game, and was among the second batch of characters confirmed along with Kakyoin, Giorno and Mista.

Overall most of Polnareff attacks return from his previous game appearance (Heritage for the Future) though performed in different fashions in comparison. His most notable new move is Silver Chariot rotating its rapier to deflect projectiles.

His HHA is “Can’t catch me when I take off the armor!”, which removes Silver Chariot’s armor, making it faster and allowing it to do multiple strikes in one attack similar to a Custom Combo but lowering defense. 

His GHA is “Gives you chills, doesn't it?”, where Silver Chariot stabs the victim twice before shedding its armor. It proceeds to assault the opponent from every direction before circling Polnareff and 'merging' with its afterimages, delivering a final, powerful strike that pierces the opponent.

Besides the entire cast of Part III, Polnareff also has special intros with almost all of the entire Part V cast (sans Fugo). Most of them express surprise at seeing a younger and perfectly ambulatory Polnareff, though he doesn't recognize them (As the Part V cast only know of the one-eyed, paraplegic Polnareff of their time, whilst ASB's version is naturally based off of his Part 3 incarnation.) Against Diavolo, the two will say the same lines they used in the Part V flashback where Polnareff realizes how Diavolo's powers work, as a recreation of their first battle.

Notably in his intro with Mista, Polnareff will wonder if Mista's Stand is the same as Hol Horse's Emperor, which is true, but in a different sense.

Polnareff also has two alternate costumes, the first being the attire he used during his flash-back story (the one where he met DIO for the first time) and the second one, inspired by his attire from Heritage for the Future's promotional materials.

Techniques

  • You shall be shish kabob: Silver Chariot thrusts its sword, then if it hits, it rapidly the sword at the opponent before knocking him/her away.
  • Cuts everywhere else!: Silver Chariot swings it sword around diagonally, then swings it up.
  • Hurry up and die!: Polnareff jumps over the opponent and Silver Chariot cuts him/her.
  • My secret weapon!: Silver Chariot launches it's sword's blade at the opponent.
  • Start packing for hell!: Silver Chariot flies at the opponent and cuts him/her with a swing of the sword.
  • You miserable cur!: Silver Chariot rapidly thrusts its sword on the opponent.

Stardust Shooters (Android/iOS)

Polnareff appears as one of of the several Part III characters who possess a Metal Stiker. His FINISH move makes Silver Chariot appears and attack the defeated opponent with its sword several times.

Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)

Polnareff was confirmed for the game alongside Hol Horse.

Unlike the previous game, Polnareff's main color scheme is now based on his anime appearance.

Tournament

He is paired with Rohan Kishibe in the Eyes of Heaven tournament, but was eliminated in the preliminaries by Giorno and Mista.

Trivia

  • Polnareff became the biggest inspiration towards the character design of KOF's Benimaru Nikaido. SNK developers continue referring to Benimaru as Polnareff even today.[6]
  • Because of the similarities of instruments and tunes, his theme in Heritage for the Future is often compared with Strider Hiryu's theme in Marvel Vs. Capcom. Since both game's soundtrack was composed by Yuko Takehara, it was likely intentional. 
  • Youmu Konpaku from Touhou Project is similar to Jean Pierre Polnareff in the same vein as well, such as a white colored companion (her ghost half), afterimage capabilities, super speed, as well as swordsmanship.
  • He is often quoted saying "Buttsubusu!" ("I'll beat you up!") or "Buttagitte yaru!" ("I'll slice you to pieces!").
  • In Part 3 Polnareff is victim of a recurring gag involving bathrooms: Every time he goes to one he gets into trouble, be it an attack from the enemy or the bathroom itself. This is noted by Avdol after he has trouble in finding Mariah in a bathroom, as he comments that Polnareff is the expert with incidents on them.
  • Polnareff's hairstyle may be a reference to the french singer Desireless.
  • There are strong parallels between Polnareff and Inigo Montoya from the movie and novel The Princess Bride: both are at first foes and then allies, both are master swordsmen and both sworn to vengeance against a man with a deformed hand. For Inigo, it was the count with six fingers, for Polnareff, J. Geil with two right hands. Finally when both meet their villain, they have a dramatic but concise presentation of their reason and intent for vengeance.
  • In Le Bizzarre Avventure di GioGio: Vento Aureo, he shares the same Seiyuu with La Squadra di Esecuzione members Illuso & their leader Risotto Nero.
  • Both Polnareff and Ermes Costello have a similar reason to fight, both wanting to avenge their sisters. They appear together as rivals in one of the All-Star Battle trailers, with their battle named as "AVENGER AND AVENGER".
  • Interestingly, Polnareff is shown having clearly lost two fingers on his left hand after his battle with Vanilla Ice, though when he returns in Part 5 he still has five fingers on said hand, though this is cleared up in the Part 5 action figure as it shows Polnareff having two prosthetic fingers on his hand.

Gallery

References

  1. Silver Chariot - Vol.2 "Shueisha Jump Remix Stardust Crusaders Edition" P66 The Secret of JOJO Characters
  2. Chapter 565: "Green Day" and "Oasis" (12)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Chapter 144: Emperor and Hanged Man (5)
  4. Chapter 126: Silver Chariot (3), p.9
  5. Chapter 127: Dark Blue Moon (1), p.4
  6. http://kofaniv.snkplaymore.co.jp/english/character/index.php?num=benimaru

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