JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the most popular and well-known names in anime. The series has received numerous awards and is renowned for its unique and distinctive art style, catchy soundtracks, and show-stopping action. However, the show can certainly seem more difficult to start as a newer fan, because it is not your typical action anime like Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer.

I did not start watching anime regularly until college. In my freshman year, I started watching Death Note, and it was love at first sight as I quickly became an avid fan. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure was one of the first few series I watched, despite warnings that it’s not an anime for beginners.

With the adjective “bizarre” in the title, viewers are right to prepare themselves for an anime that can be on the strange side. Compared to other shows, JoJo’s is certainly filled with more wacky antics, creatively hilarious uses of powers, and overall, more off-the-wall humor and weirdness than other action series.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Can be an Excellent Starter Anime

It is Crucial Not to Skip Part 1 or Part 2, Although Some Fans Recommend Doing This

However, I don’t personally find the bizarre nature of JoJo’s offputting. Rather, it makes the series more endearing and unique. By not conforming to a typical action format, the series stands out among the wide variety of anime currently available to watch. I was instantly delighted by the bright, bold art style and distinctive use of humor along with the show’s more serious and dramatic moments. I definitely disagree with the notion that JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is not a good starter anime, because I think the first few seasons do an excellent job of gradually easing viewers into the more “bizarre” aspects.

JoJo is divided into arcs called Parts, with nine arcs so far. Six of these are currently adapted into the anime series. Each part centers around a member of the Joestar family, a group with innate powers and villain-fighting abilities, as well as matching star marks on their shoulders to indicate their lineage. Part 1 is the beginning of the story, focusing on Jonathan Joestar. This arc also introduced Dio Brando, the series’ worst villain who appears many times throughout the different parts. Although some people insist the first two seasons can be skipped, I feel both are crucial to watch.

Parts 1 and 2 Are More Straightforward and Less “Bizarre” Seasons

They Also Lay the Groundwork for Later Seasons and Explain Necessary Background Information

Part 1 does a phenomenal job introducing the Joestar family and developing integral parts of the plot that become important later in the story. I am of the mind that every episode of a show is important, so skipping anything is an unwise idea. However, especially with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, this content is not just pure filler. Details of Part 1, such as the origins of the Joestars, Dio’s backstory and turn to villainy, and the Stone Masks featured in this arc, are revisited later on in the show. I imagine someone who jumped straight into Part 3 of JoJo’s would be quite confused.

Part 2, the Battle Tendency Arc, brings in Joseph Joestar, an integral character in multiple future JoJo parts, as well as explaining a brand-new style of fighting using energy called Hamon. In my opinion, Part 2 also lays the necessary groundwork for understanding the Joestar family, their power sources, fighting techniques, and other crucial elements of the unique story. Furthermore, compared to parts 3-6 of JoJo’s, these first two seasons are more straightforward and laidback than the more intense and strange later parts. For this reason, I think this makes the series a better starter anime than some may expect.

Watching the First Couple Seasons Helped Me Feel More Connected to the Story

JoJo Can Get Complex and Confusing, so Skipping Parts is Not Recommended

The way the series gradually introduces the Joestar family, the series’ main villain, Dio, and the usage of powers felt very natural to me and less overwhelming than jumping straight into Part 3 would feel. Part 3 Stardust Crusaders is one of JoJo’s most famous and beloved arcs, so it’s understandable that a fan might be eager to jump right into the excitement, but without background knowledge, the strange, chaotic nature of this season could be confusing and hard to handle. As a new fan, watching JoJo’s Parts in order helped me feel more connected with the characters and world of the series.

Stands, which can be described as a manifestation of a character’s spirit that each possess a unique power, were introduced in the Stardust Crusaders arc. They are one of the most “bizarre” parts of JoJo’s, but also one of the elements it is most famous for. Stands certainly keep battles entertaining and there seems to be no limit to how they can creatively utilize their abilities. However, I felt like the more simplistic physical battles and easily understandable powers like Hamon in previous seasons allowed for a gradual buildup to the introduction of Stands, rather than starting off with such complex beings.

Contrary to Popular Belief, JoJo Is a Perfect Starter Anime

With Stunning Art, Catchy Music, and Plenty of Emotion and Action, JoJo Is Amazing, Even For New Anime Fans

In my opinion, as long as one is watching the entire series in order, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the greatest starter animes out there. With catchy music, artistically impressive character and background art, emotionally gripping plots, and some of the strongest characters and best fights in anime, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more compelling and unique series to start your anime journey with. I have nothing but the fondest memories of watching the series many years ago. I came to love the characteristic strange quirkiness of the show rather quickly, and I would definitely recommend JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to any new fan.