The Last Crusaders
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Special Event "The Last Crusaders" (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スターダストクルセイダース スペシャルイベント「THE LAST CRUSADERS」, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken Sutādasuto Kuruseidāsu Supesharu Ibento 'Za Rasuto Kuruseidāsu') was a special event held at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan on February 19, 2017, as a follow-up celebration for the concluded TV airing of Stardust Crusaders. This event is where the Diamond is Unbreakable anime adaptation was announced.
Summary
The event featured the voice actors of the main cast and the singers of the anime's openings: Daisuke Ono, Unsho Ishizuka, Kenta Miyake, Daisuke Hirakawa, Fuminori Komatsu, Misato Fukuen, Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga, Coda, and Jin Hashimoto. The voice actors presented on a set designed to resemble DIO's mansion. Ono, a big JoJo fan even before he played Jotaro Kujo, greeted the audience by twisting a line from Lovers, saying "I am most, most, most, most grateful."
Miyake, also a JoJo fan, imitated Avdol as he declared "YES I AM! Is everyone doing okay with their 'JoJo' withdrawal? Thinking it's all over? It's 10 years too soon for that, isn't it?" Hirakawa, who took the stage with red hair extensions reminiscent of Kakyoin, was teased by announcer Hisanori Yoshida as "looking like a late-comer to the visual kei scene."
The first segment was "Stardust Crusaders Last Talk!" where the cast took the opportunity to try things on stage which they've wanted to do. When Ono expressed his wish to "try stopping time," Ishizuka and Hirakawa made fun of him, but when Ono declared on stage "I have stopped time...", his co-stars stiffened as if time had indeed stopped. Ono, while laughing, said "This segment is held together by everyone's goodwill," and performed a skit where he surprised the cast by reversing the direction of the chairs during the 'time stop'. Komatsu, carried to the side of the stage by Ono during the 'time stop', used Polnareff's line, "Let me tell you what just happened! I was sitting on a chair, but before I knew it, suddenly found myself on the side of the stage," eliciting laughter from the audience. The segment also included a "surface tension game" with coins and glasses, commemorative photos, and tasting coffee-flavored chewing gum.
The live part that followed featured TOMMY, Coda, and Hashimoto, who performed the opening themes from Parts 1 to 3 of the series, JoJo ~Sono Chi no Sadame~, BLOODY STREAM, and STAND PROUD. They also sang tracks from The anthology songs.
After the live performances, a live voice-over session of the anime was conducted. Intense reenactments included battles such as Pet Shop vs. Iggy, the fight against Vanilla Ice, and the final battle with DIO. Ono, after the live voice-over, expressed that he had anxiety about whether it was truly possible for him to reenact the final battle scene again with the same intensity. However, looking at everyone with him, he felt he could do it. "I couldn't have done it alone. I've been on this journey thanks to the passion I received from these comrades." Ishizuka also commented on the trust among the cast, "This work requires overwhelming power to perform. I wondered if I had the strength to bring it up to that level. But just seeing everyone's faces raised my spirits."
In the final greeting with all the performers, Ono said, "I think everyone involved with Stardust Crusaders is a star. There are many different stars. Looking at the audience, there are young women, muscular men, and kids. Each has their own sparkle and has been drawn together by the gravitational pull of JoJo. We've come this far with the members on stage, the people who shaped the work but aren't here, and all of you, a gathering of various stars. We are all 'Stardust Crusaders'!" and expressed his thanks.[2]
As the event ended, they announced that the fourth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Diamond is Unbreakable, will be adapted into a TV anime, displaying a 45 second preview.[3]
Gallery
The Last Crusaders Logo
Art
JO☆STARS at "The Last Crusaders" Event
Cast posing at "The Last Crusaders" Event
Cast at "The Last Crusaders" Event
Cast replicating the Joestar Group photo
Ishizuka reenacting gambling scene at "The Last Crusaders" event
Daisuke Ono, Kenta Miyake, and Unsho Ishizuka posing at "The Last Crusaders" Event
Misato Fukuen and Fuminori Komatsu posing at "The Last Crusaders" Event
Daisuke Ono from "The Last Crusaders" pamphlet
Misato Fukuen from "The Last Crusaders" pamphlet
References
- ↑ JoJo The Last Crusaders Special Event
- ↑ "ジョジョ3部ラストイベントで、小野D「色んな星が集まってここまで来れた」", Comic Natalie, October 25, 2015.
- ↑ Diamond is Unbreakable Anime PV
