Steel Ball Run, the anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's manga part 7, is streaming its second stage on Netflix starting September 25, 2026, with new cast members announced and a strong viewer satisfaction ranking. The series has also generated a wave of merchandise, including figures, sticker wafers, and leather goods.
Steel Ball Run, the anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's manga part 7, premiered on Netflix in March 2026. The first episode introduced paraplegic jockey Johnny Joestar, who enters the cross-country race to understand the secrets of Gyro Zeppeli's steel balls. A review from Anime Feminist examined the series' depiction of 1890s America, focusing on race and gender dynamics, noting the only named woman so far is Lucy and that non-white characters like Sandman and Pocoloco are framed through stereotypical lenses.
The production has moved steadily toward its second stage. Warner Bros. Japan announced during Anime Expo that the second stage would begin September 25, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays. The second and third stages together will have 11 episodes. New cast members include Tomokazu Sugita as President Funny Valentine, Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants, and Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim. Composer Yugo Kanno called the Steel Ball Run score his best work yet, breaking from the franchise's enemy-defeat musical structure to fit the race format.
Viewer response has been strong. Filmarks, Japan's largest review service, ranked Steel Ball Run first in its spring 2026 anime satisfaction ranking with an average score of 4.45 stars. The series also appeared on Circana BookScan's May adult graphic novel list, indicating ongoing manga sales. Merchandise has followed the anime's release, including a leather accessory line, Ichiban Kuji lottery with MASTERLISE figures, a large statue of Johnny and Slow Dancer, and a Chozo Art Collection figure set. Bandai's Niformation sticker wafers added Steel Ball Run characters in their ninth volume, released August 24.
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CyberConnect2 will exhibit for the first time at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from September 17 to 21. The company will stage its 30th anniversary CyberConnect2 Exhibition as an IN Chiba edition at its booth. No new title announcements are planned. The booth will display development materials and artwork, and 1,200 copies of the manga Chaser Game will be given away free.
Releaseplay Studio confirmed online battles for SteelBlade Shop Simulator, its Beyblade-inspired shop management and spinning top battle game for PC (Steam), in a Reddit post that drew over 2,000 upvotes. Players run a SteelBlade toy shop in Japan, customize tops from three parts, sell them, and can battle themselves. A demo is planned for Steam Next Fest in October. Japanese is supported.
Bushiroad Creative's PalVerse Pale. figure brand has added Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, and Diego Brando appear as deformed figures, on sale since Friday, August 28, 2026, at anime goods and hobby shops, mass retailers, and major online shops for 3,300 yen each.
Bandai will release the Niformation JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Seal Wafer ~The Animation Special I~ at confectionery sections of mass retailers nationwide from August 24. The set includes one sticker and a wafer, with 32 sticker types total, including one secret type, covering characters from the 1st and 2nd series and Steel Ball Run. It includes foil-stamped JJR (JoJo Rare) stickers and all 5 types of the 5th Rare commemorating Niformation's 5th anniversary. The price is 149 yen including tax.
The Steam store page for the sci-fi mecha action RPG Steel Frontier has been opened. The game is developed by Cat Pounce Game Production and published by Right Mind. In Steel Frontier, the player takes on the role of a mercenary pilot named Ivan, who lands on the cold frontier planet Minryusei. There, pilots control humanoid mechs imbued with a Machine Soul, racing across battlefields from a fortress in a cold region to wastelands scorched by war. Players customize their mechs with weapon parts and action modules obtained within stages, combining heat energy blades, heavy howitzers, and other weapons to adapt to various combat situations. The key feature is stylish action: players can approach with jets and strike with a blade, or shoot from long range with guns. The developer, who is also an animator and goes by the name Chacha Bouzu, is posting development logs on X. These showcase high-speed combat, mecha moving as if gliding across the ground, and using wires to traverse uneven terrain. The release date is undecided, and Japanese language support is planned for the PC version on Steam.
Game*Spark's weekly ranking of its most-read articles for August 14-20, 2026 is led by the announcement of Death Game Report, a game in which players identify the death cause, weapon, and perpetrator of death game participants. The rest of the list covers free distributions, including Steelrising for Amazon Prime members and Caravan SandWitch on Epic Games Store, plus new Gundam Rogue Orbit details.
GENEPOP Studio published the Steam store page for Steel Soul Shaper, a cyberpunk repair simulation game. Players run a secret clinic as an underground doctor, repairing and modifying cyberware like prosthetics and drones. The game also includes decoration options and story choices that affect the world.
Bandai will release the 9th series of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Niformation sticker wafers on August 24. The set includes 32 sticker types, including one secret, featuring characters from Parts 1-2 and Steel Ball Run. It also includes all five 5th Rare stickers and foil-stamped JJR cards.
Medicom Toy's SUPER MANGA POWERS soft vinyl figure line is adding two figures from the Superman comic series The Return of Superman: Cyborg Superman and Steel. Both stand about 24 centimeters tall and cost 19,800 yen including tax. Orders open July 24 through August 31, with shipment planned for January 2027.
Bandai will release the ninth JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Niforumeshon sticker wafer set on August 24. The lineup includes 32 stickers total, one secret, plus five 5th Rare anniversary stickers and foil-stamped JJR stickers, priced at 149 yen each.
Developer Keicee has released a demo for the 2-button sword action game Steel Maiden on Steam. The high-speed roguelite features a 2.5D girl character who mows down enemies from left and right with simple controls. The demo supports Japanese. The full game is scheduled for PC release in Q4 2026.
Composer Yugo Kanno and producer Noriko Dohi discussed the upcoming Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime in an interview with Anime Herald. Kanno said the pressure to surpass his prior JoJo scores pushed him to create his best work yet. He also confirmed Shohei Ohtani used his music for warmups again this year.
Filmarks, Japan's largest review service, released its satisfaction ranking for spring 2026 anime, with Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure topping the list at 4.45 stars. Dorohedoro Season 2 and Nihon Sangoku followed, while Nihon Sangoku recorded the highest number of reviews.
Dengeki Hobby Web reports that a large statue of Johnny Joestar and Slow Dancer from Steel Ball Run is now accepting reservations at Rakuten Books. The figure, part of the Super Figure Art Collection, stands over 30 cm in both height and width. Distributed by Medicos Entertainment, it is priced at 28,600 yen and depicts Johnny on his horse with dynamic detailing.
Inti Creates released White Steel of X 1+2 Dual Collection on July 9 for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The Switch 2 version is priced higher than the other platforms. Owners of both previous Steam titles can get a 50% discount bundle for two weeks.
Takara Tomy announced two new sets for the Transformers MPG toy line: MPG-24 Eject & Amhorn, releasing in late February 2027, and MPG-25 Blaster & Steeljaw, releasing in late March 2027. Both sets include fully transformable figures and accessories based on the classic anime series.
The second and third stages of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run will stream worldwide on Netflix starting September 25, 2026. New cast members include Tomokazu Sugita as President Funny Valentine, Yoko Hikasa as Hot Pants, and Tomoaki Maeno as Mountain Tim. A second promotional video was also released.
Warner Bros. Japan announced during its Anime Expo panel that the second stage of the Steel Ball Run anime will begin on September 25, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays. The second and third stages together will have 11 episodes. New characters Mountain Tim, Funny Valentine, and Hot Pants were introduced.
Medicom Entertainment is releasing a Chozo Art Collection figure set of Johnny Joestar and his horse Slow Dancer from the anime Steel Ball Run JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The set stands 300mm tall and 305mm wide, priced at 28,600 yen, and ships in December 2026. Pre-orders open July 3 at the Medicom online shop and other retailers.
The Ichiban Kuji for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run will be released June 27, 2026. The lineup includes MASTERLISE figures of Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, Slow Dancer, and Lucy Steel as top prizes, plus a Last One Diego figure. Other prizes include a yo-yo, storage case, charms, notebooks, and stickers. Tickets cost 850 yen each.
The official X account for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime series released the second key visual for Steel Ball Run on June 25. It also announced new information about the '2nd STAGE,' which is set for a fall 2026 release, will be revealed on July 4. A special panel with composer Yugo Kanno is scheduled for Anime Expo 2026 on July 3.
Publisher Positive Games and solo developer KEICEE announced Steel Maiden, a roguelite action game for PC (Steam) releasing in Q4 2026. The game uses only two buttons (left and right) for combat, with players intercepting enemies from both sides. Three beautiful girl protagonists are selectable, each with unique weapons. Weapons and upgrades combine to evolve abilities. The art director previously worked on a Steam Awards nominee.
Circana BookScan's Top 20 adult graphic novels list for May 2026 features 15 manga volumes, with Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen volume 30 at #1. Other ranked titles include Witch Hat Atelier, Gachiakuta, Kagurabachi, One Piece, Steel Ball Run, The Summer Hikaru Died, and Demon Slayer.
Good Smile Company's MODEROID series is releasing a plastic model kit of Testa-Rossa, the Vermilion Knight from The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. The kit stands approximately 180mm tall, features movable joints, clear parts for jewels, and includes a weapon sword. Pre-orders are open for a December 2026 release at 9,500 yen.
Bandai Spirits announced the full prize lineup for the Ichiban Kuji lottery based on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run. Prizes include MASTERLISE figures of Johnny Joestar, Gyro Zeppeli, Slow Dancer, and Lucy Steel, plus a Stephen Steel small items case, a Gyro's Steel Ball toy in collaboration with HYPER YOYO ACCEL, and other collectibles. The lottery launches in Japanese stores on June 27, 2026, with online sales starting July 21.
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, the anime adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's manga part 7. The episode introduces paraplegic jockey Johnny Joestar, who enters the cross-country Steel Ball Run race not for the $50 million prize but to understand the secrets of Gyro Zeppeli's steel balls. The review, written by Chiaki Mitama, focuses on the series' depiction of 1890s America, its romanticized manifest destiny and Wild West flavor, and the racial and gender dynamics of its cast. The only named woman so far is Lucy, a race-runner's wife. Non-white characters include Sandman, a Native American runner whose skill is attributed to "the natives' unknown power," and Pocoloco, a lazy comic relief character with supernatural luck. The reviewer notes the violence typical of JoJo, with body contortion and blood, but praises the race sequence as well-paced and engaging. The review is presented as a "carte blanche" perspective from a critic not deeply familiar with the franchise.
Bandai Namco has opened pre-orders for a leather accessory line based on the Steel Ball Run anime. The Johnny and Gyro models include key cases, wallets, and coin cases, each featuring character-specific emblems and color schemes. Orders close September 27, 2026, with shipments in October.