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, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken Fantomu Buraddo) is an animated film produced by Studio A.P.P.P., which was given a limited theatrical release in Japan starting on February 17, 2007. It adapts the first part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Phantom Blood.
Phantom Blood was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, as well as the 25th anniversary of Hirohiko Araki's career as a manga artist. A PS2 game based on the Phantom Blood manga was also released a couple of months prior to the film, with a few characters sharing the same voice actors.
A test pilot doubling as an announcement trailer for the film was shown at the 2004 Tokyo International Anime Fair. 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 lost media 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.
Hayama, Jun Itoda, Araki, Kazuhiro Ozawa & Hikaru Midorikawa
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.
Uncolored Unused/Rare Poster that was present in Hallways of the PS2 Game Event
Colored Unused/Rare Poster, from an online blog that has never been seen nor used as the films final poster
The horse cabin driver that died from a spike protrusion only has his head shown, and not his body.
Dario finds a ring within the carriage and keeps it.[7]
Dario waves his hand in front of a partially unconscious George Joestar I thinking he's dead, which George then grabs his wrist.
A lighting strikes creates a bright flash which shows the Stone Mask.
Dario's entire backstory of Dio & his wife is never shown in the movie. It's unknown whether George's story of him is told as the inspector is present in the Movie.[8][9]
The scene changes to a Young Dio Brando standing in front of Dario's grave.
George witnesses Dio's arrival from the upstairs window in the Joestar Mansion
Jonathan attempts to help with Dio's luggage but gets shouted at by him.
Danny doesn't walk up to Dio, instead Dio runs up to Danny and kicks him.
Dio takes his own luggage upstairs.
Jonathan attempts to formally introduce himself to Dio but is grabbed on the wrist and then elbowed in the stomach
Jonathan leaves the mansion after Dio's arrival to talk to his friend's, only for them to not trust Jonathan anymore.
Jonathan & Dio's boxing match is never shown.
An original scene is added of Jonathan returning to his living quarters after it being ransacked.
A smashed photograph of his mother can be seen on the floor.
An original scene is added of Dio outside, stomping on the pocket watch he stole.
An original scene is added of Jonathan trying to sleep on his pillow, but gets pricked by a needle that was placed under it by Dio.
Afterwards, Jonathan gets out of his bed and sadly stares at the moon.
Dio's inner monologues and his tormenting of Jonathan are never depicted.
Jonathan's desire of wanting to be a true gentleman is never talked about.
Dio takes the Stone Mask off the wall to look at, he is approached by George who explains the mask to him.
Erina's overall character is toned down and made to look more 'cuter'.
Jonathan finds out what Dio did to Erina in a forest rather than in a town, she can be seen running away.[10]
Jonathan's line when beating Dio up at the Joestar Mansion has been changed to "You! Why did you do this!"[11]
When Dio finds the singular Vagrant, he questions himself "is he homeless?"
Will A. Zeppeli visits Wang Chan's shop and investigates him, to which he is then told about Dio at the Joestar Mansion.[13]
After this theatrical trailer, Will A. Zeppeli can be seen in the bottom left of the screen running towards the light the emitted by the Stone Mask at the Joestar Mansion.
The Police Officers that're waiting for Dio at the Joestar Mansion are shown with more historically accurate British Police outfits.
Dio's infamous line of "I reject my humanity JoJo!" is changed to "I will transcend humanity!"
When Jonathan initiates his first fight with a vampiric Dio on the roof of the Mansion, he uses a warhammer to attack him instead of a spear.
Wang Chan apparently waits and hide for Dio in an abandoned mine next to the Joestar Mansion. Which can be seen on promotional art.[14]
Instead, Will A. Zeppeli picks up a "sword"—presumably Bruford's-- to use it in his fight with Dio.
The scene where Will A. Zeppeli, Jonathan & Dio clash under the moon takes place after Jonathan defeats the Dark Knights and is in proximity of Dio's castle.
The famous line spoken from Dio about "how many pieces of bread have you eaten in your life?" is omitted.
The specifics behind the freezing technique and why it counters Ripple are not explained.
Tonpetty appears by himself, this means Will A. Zeppeli gets to see him again whilst he's alive. Unlike the manga.
When Will A. Zeppeli fights zombies at Windknight's Lot, he takes off his hat to throw at the zombies.
Will A. Zeppeli doesn't die to Tarkus instead he dies by Dio's freezing technique, from him creating an ice spike/pillar out of the ground and not flash frozen like Dire was in the manga.
The Rose on Will A. Zeppeli's jacket (seen in promotion material) was used in his fight against Dio, similar to how Dire spat a rose into Dio's eye like in the manga.
The scene where Jonathan is given Will A. Zeppeli's life energy happens within the Windknight's Lot Castle.
Will A. Zeppeli doesn't age, nor does his hair turn grey when he gives Jonathan his Life Energy.
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. Instead, Erina enters the coffin without Jonathan saying anything. In the manga, she chooses to die with Jonathan but is persuaded after he asks her to save the baby.
Ton Petty questioning Zeppeli to see if he really wants to see his future
Zeppeli having his future shown to him by Ton Petty outside the Ripple Temple
Powerful Ripple shockwaves travelling throughout the atmosphere that is caused by Zeppeli having his future shown to him by Tonpetty
Dario looting the Horse Carriage
Dario discovers the Stone Mask
Dario Caught off guard by a half conscious George Joestar
The Stone Mask
Dario Brando's Grave
Dio spitting on Dario's Grave
Dio on his way to the Joestar Mansion
George noticing Dio's arrival
Jonathan and Danny witnessing Dio's arrival to the Joestar Mansion
Key frame of Jonathan watching Dio jump out of the carriage
Danny innocently staring at Dio
Dio kicking Danny
Jonathan trying to halt Dio after Kicking Danny
Inside the Joestar Mansion
George welcoming Dio to the Joestar Mansion
After taking Dio to his new room, Jonathan requests a handshake
Dio aggressively refusing Jonathan's handshake
Dio antagonising Jonathan before punching him in the stomach.
Jonathan in pain after Dio elbowing his stomach
The Bullies not wanting Jonathan to speak to them
Picture of Jonathan's Mother, smashed by Dio
Jonathan saddened by seeing his Mother's picture broken
Dio stealing Jonathan's Pocket watch
Dio walking outside with Jonathan's Pocket Watch
Dio crushing the pocket watch with his foot
Jonathan angry at Dio for breaking his Pocket Watch
Jonathan pricked by a needle that Dio hid under his pillow
Jonathan Sadly looking out of his bedroom window
The Stone Mask Dio is looking at
Dio looking at the Stone Mask on the wall
Dio holding the Stone Mask
George approaching Dio whilst he is looking at the Stone Mask
Young Jonathan with Danny
Young Erina introducing herself to Jonathan(?)
Jonathan looking at Erina
Jonathan with Erina
Jonathan & Erina's names carved into a tree
Dio Ambushing Erina
Erina caught in Dio's ambush
Dio forcefully Kissing Erina
Another Frame of Dio Kissing Erina
Dio disgusted with Erina after she washes her mouth with muddy water
Erina fallen over from Dio kissing her(?)
Erina upset from Dio kissing her
Jonathan finds out what Dio did to Erina
Jonathan bursting into the Joestar Mansion, inflamed with rage towards Dio
Jonathan back in the Joestar Mansion, ready to attack Dio
Jonathan about to attack Dio for payback as for what he did to Erina
Dio preparing to attack Jonathan at the stairs
Dio about to engage the fight with Jonathan
Dio elbowing Jonathan in the face
The Incinerator
Jonathan shocked at Danny's burial(?)
Jonathan, a Maid and George standing at Danny's burial
Jonathan grown up
Dio grown up
Dio, grown up, prying Jonathan's desk open to look at the Stone Mask(?)
Dio's Experiment Outfit
The Street Where Dio Conducted the Test Subject Experiment with the Stone Mask
Dio having his blood drained by the Vagrant who Dio experimented Stone Mask with
Wang Chan
George touching Jonathan's face before dying
George on the floor dying after being stabbed by Dio
Dio donning the Stone Mask to become a vampire
Dio rejecting his humanity
Dio getting shot by the Police Officers
Dio pretending to be dead after being shot by the Police, while the Inspector stands by the window
Dio slaughtering the Police Officers
Keyframe Closeup after Dio slaughtered the Police Officers
Dio, after using the Stone Mask
Keyframe of Dio looking on, after using the Stone Mask
Joestar Mansion exploding inside from Dio's havoc
Keyframe of Joestar Mansion exploding on the outside
Jonathan about to attack Dio with a warhammer
Dio watching Jonathan about to attack(?)
Jonathan lunging the warhammer at Dio
Dio dodging Jonathan's warhammer attack
Dio talking about the limits of human abilities
Zeppeli as he looks in the movie
Jonathan, after his fight with Dio at the Mansion
Will A. Zeppeli talks about the Stone Mask to Jonathan
Jonathan possibly looking at Zeppeli
Zeppeli staring onward
Zeppeli Leaving the Hospital after seeing Jonathan
Zeppeli demonstrating the Ripple From the Trailer
Zeppeli, about to punch the frog
Keyframe of Zeppeli Smirking as he's about to punch the frog
A Keyframe of the Frog from the Trailer.
A Keyframe of Zeppeli Punching the Frog from the Trailer
Closeup of Zeppeli Punching the Frog
Zeppeli Punching the Frog
Jonathan in awe watching Zeppeli use the Ripple(?) from the trailer
Jonathan's Training Outfit
The castle at Windknight's Lot
Jonathan, Preparing to attack Dio
Dio, wincing from Jonathan's attack
Jonathan, "Powering up" to counter Dio's Freezing abilities
Another shot of Jonathan sending the Ripple into Dio
Jonathan delivering the final blow
Another shot of Jonathan finishing Dio
Erina's Wedding Dress
Trailers & 16 Minute Workprint
Trivia
Comedy Duo "Speedwagon"
Despite the character's own lack of involvement in the movie, the Japanese comedy duo "Speedwagon", comprised of Jun Idota and Kazuhiro Ozawa, voiced Wang Chan and Dario Brando respectively.[17]
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.
Voice Actor(s):
