Netflix is encountering fresh criticism after the ending theme for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure premiered at the start of the anime’s 2nd and 3rd STAGE, with a number of fans demanding the track be swapped after discovering Dr. Luke listed as its producer.
The closing song, “Shinukaikiruka” performed by Yuki Chiba, made its debut in Episode 2 on September 25. The official credits name Chiba as lyricist, Lukasz Gottwald as composer, and Dr. Luke as producer. It’s worth noting that Gottwald and Dr. Luke refer to the same individual. The track was released digitally alongside a version without any credit information.
Early feedback was partly centered on the music itself. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has traditionally employed licensed songs from outside Japan for many of its endings, and some viewers expected STEEL BALL RUN to follow that precedent. Earlier themes have included:
- Phantom Blood / Battle Tendency “Roundabout” by Yes
- Stardust Crusaders “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles
- Stardust Crusaders: Battle in Egypt “Last Train Home” by Pat Metheny Group
- Diamond Is Unbreakable “I Want You” by Savage Garden
- Golden Wind “Freek’n You” by Jodeci
- Golden Wind “Modern Crusaders” by Enigma
- Stone Ocean “Distant Dreamer” by Duffy
Supporters quickly started sharing alternative edits of the new ending, swapping in songs such as “A Horse with No Name,” “The Chain,” and “Pony.” They are also flooding unrelated posts on Netflix with comments urging the streaming service to replace the outro.
The controversy grew louder after attention focused on Dr. Luke’s involvement. In 2014, Kesha accused the producer of sexual assault dating back to 2005. Dr. Luke denied the accusation and sued her for defamation. Their prolonged legal battle concluded with a settlement in 2023, with neither party admitting any fault.
Given that background, some JoJo fans argue the problem goes beyond merely disliking the tune. Posts across various fan communities explicitly call for the ending to be changed because of Dr. Luke’s production credit, while others encourage fans to voice their objections to Netflix and Warner Bros. Japan.
This push comes just months after Netflix faced another major online uproar over the STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure release schedule. After the 47‑minute first episode (Stage 1) aired in March, fans complained about a lack of clarity regarding when the series would continue. Netflix later confirmed the anime would return with weekly installments, explaining that a split‑cour and weekly rollout had been the production committee’s original plan.
STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure had previously unveiled its opening video and theme song ahead of the 2ND and 3RD STAGE premiere on September 25. The anime has been confirmed to consist of 11 episodes covering stages 2 and 3, with weekly streaming on Netflix.
The opening theme is “SPIN” by Kroi, the group that also performed the opening tracks for SAKAMOTO DAYS and Liar Game. You can watch it below.
Steel Ball Run stands as the seventh installment of Hirohiko Araki’s celebrated JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga series. Set in late‑19th‑century America, the story follows former prodigy jockey Johnny Joestar and the enigmatic outlaw Gyro Zeppeli as they enter a transcontinental horse race for a massive cash prize. Beneath the surface, however, they confront dangerous conspiracies that threaten to hijack the competition. The first episode was a 47‑minute special covering Stage 1 of the race and aired on March 19, 2026.
You can watch the latest trailer for the anime below.
Be sure to check out the English dub version of the trailer as well:
The manga, created by Hirohiko Araki, began serialization in 1987, while the Steel Ball Run arc ran from 2004 to 2011. The full production team for the latest anime adaptation includes:
- Director: Yasuhiro Kimura & Hideya Takahashi (Golden Wind)
- Series Director: Toshiyuki Kato (Every Series)
- Series Structure: Yasuko Kobayashi (Every Series)
- Character Design: Daisuke Tsumagari (Golden Wind)
- Music: Yugo Kanno (Stardust Crusaders, Diamond is Unbreakable, Golden Wind, Stone Ocean)
- Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami (Every Series)
- Animation: david production (Every Series)
A key visual for the 2nd STAGE was previously released.
Source: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure YouTube Channel, Netflix Official X
©LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS/SHUEISHA, JOJO’S Animation SBR Project
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