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Stone Ocean
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Stone Ocean
The cover art is mostly grayscale with some colored details, and shows four characters, two female and two male, walking side by side, with the face of a fifth male superimposed in the fog behind them.
15th volume cover, featuring (from left to right) Weather Report (background), Anasui, Ermes, Jolyne, and Emporio
ストーンオーシャン
(Sutōn Ōshan)
GenreAdventure, supernatural[1]
Manga
Written byHirohiko Araki
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
Original runDecember 7, 1999April 8, 2003
Volumes17
Manga
Fujiko no Kimyō na Shoseijutsu: Whitesnake no Gosan
Written byShō Aimoto
Published byShueisha
MagazineUltra Jump
PublishedDecember 18, 2021
Other media
Chronology
icon Anime and manga portal

Stone Ocean (Japanese: ストーンオーシャン, Hepburn: Sutōn Ōshan) is the sixth main story arc of the Japanese manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. Set near Port St. Lucie, Florida in 2011, the story follows Jotaro Kujo's estranged daughter Jolyne Cujoh as she serves a 15-year sentence at Green Dolphin Street Prison. When her father's Stand ability and memories are stolen by a follower of Dio, Jolyne takes it upon herself to save her father, break out of prison, and put an end to the thief's grand machinations.

It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from December 7, 1999, to April 8, 2003,[a] and was collected into 17 tankōbon volumes. In its original publication, it was known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 6 Jolyne Cujoh: Stone Ocean. (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 第6部 空条徐倫 ―『石作りの海ストーンオーシャン, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken Dai Roku Bu Kūjō Jorīn: Sutōn Ōshan). It was preceded by Golden Wind and followed by Steel Ball Run. Viz Media digitally released the manga in English through its Shonen Jump service from January 2022 to December 2024, and released the series in nine hardcover volumes from November 2023 to March 2025.[5][1][6]

A 38-episode anime adaptation, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, was released on Netflix from December 2021 to December 2022.

Plot

[edit]

Jotaro Kujo's daughter, Jolyne Cujoh, is convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in Green Dolphin Street Prison, unknowingly taking the fall for her boyfriend. Prior to her incarceration, Jolyne pricks her finger on a pendant given to her by her estranged father, which is revealed to contain a fragment of a Stand-bestowing Arrow. This causes Jolyne to manifest her Stand, Stone Free, before being visited by Jotaro, who attempts to break his daughter out while revealing that she was framed by a follower of Dio, but it is revealed to be a trap set for Jotaro as a Stand named Whitesnake extracts Jotaro's memories and Star Platinum in the form of two discs, leaving him in a coma. Jolyne realizes the extent of her father's love for her and resolves to recover his discs from Whitesnake's user. She is joined by Emporio Alniño, a boy born in prison after his mother was murdered by Whitesnake; Ermes Costello, who entered prison seeking revenge for her sister's death; and Foo Fighters, a sentient plankton colony created by Whitesnake to protect his stolen Stand discs, which later inhabits the corpse of a dead inmate. They are soon joined by two inmates: a weather-controlling amnesiac, named Weather Report, and Narciso Anasui, who has an unrelenting love for Jolyne.

Whitesnake's user is eventually revealed to be a prison chaplain named Enrico Pucci. Pucci sought Jotaro's memories to learn the details of Dio's written plan to establish heaven on Earth, which Jotaro had destroyed twenty-two years earlier after killing Dio. After retrieving Jotaro's Stand disc and sending it to the Speedwagon Foundation, Jolyne discovers that Whitesnake has used a subordinate to revive one of Dio's bones, which eventually absorbs the souls of several prisoners and forms a homunculus named the Green Baby. Jolyne's group seizes the Green Baby as bait for Whitesnake's user, but Foo Fighters and Anasui are mortally wounded in the ensuing battle, with Foo Fighters using the last of her strength to save Anasui's life and retrieve Jotaro's memory disc. Pucci successfully fuses with the Green Baby and leaves the prison for Cape Canaveral, where the new moon is expected to bring about the heaven Pucci seeks.

Jolyne and her allies escape from prison to pursue Pucci to Orlando, Florida, arranging to give Jotaro's memory disc to the Speedwagon Foundation to revive him while dealing with Pucci's final subordinates, three illegitimate sons of Dio. Weather Report eventually regains his own memory disc and remembers his tragic past as Wes Bluemarine, Pucci's long-lost twin brother. Weather Report unleashes his ability's full extent on Orlando before dying in a confrontation with Pucci, using his final moments to extract his Stand disc for his allies to use. As Pucci reaches Kennedy Space Center, Whitesnake undergoes an evolution into the gravity-manipulating C-Moon and overpowers Jolyne's group. Though Jotaro arrives in time to save his daughter, Pucci realizes that he can use C-Moon to replicate the new moon's gravity, allowing him to complete his Stand's evolution into Made in Heaven, which gives him superhuman speed and exponentially accelerates time (except for living beings). The group makes a desperate stand against Pucci, but most of the group is soon killed. Jolyne sacrifices herself to allow Emporio to escape as the sole survivor.

Pucci's Stand accelerates time until a new cycle of time occurs, where people have subconscious precognition of their fate. Emporio awakens to find himself back at the Green Dolphin Street Prison. Pucci attempts to kill Emporio to tie up loose ends, only to inadvertently insert Weather Report's Stand disc into the child's head, changing his fate. Pucci reactivates Made in Heaven in order to counter Weather Report, but Emporio uses Weather Report to increase the concentration of the surrounding oxygen to a lethal amount. Poisoned, paralyzed, and unable to deactivate Made in Heaven's ability, Pucci pleads with Emporio to spare him until he can make Made in Heaven's effect permanent. Emporio refuses and declares that fate follows the path of justice as Weather Report obliterates Pucci's head into the floor.

Following the undoing of Made in Heaven's effect, erasing Pucci and his universe from existence, Emporio finds himself at a gas station near Green Dolphin Street Prison where he encounters a hitchhiker named Eldis who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ermes. As it begins to rain, the two are offered a ride by a couple named Irene and Anakiss, resembling Jolyne and Anasui, who are on their way to meet Irene's father for his marital blessing. Emporio, recognizing the reincarnations of his former friends, tearfully reintroduces himself to Irene. The group departs in Anakiss's car, picking up another hitchhiker resembling Weather Report before driving off in the rain.

Characters

[edit]
  • Jolyne Cujoh[b] is an inmate at Green Dolphin Street Prison, and is the daughter of the Stardust Crusaders main protagonist Jotaro Kujo. Her Stand is Stone Free,[c] which allows her to unravel her body into thread.
  • Jotaro Kujo[d] returns from Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable as Jolyne's father. Now a middle-aged man, he arrives at Green Dolphin Street Prison to help Jolyne escape prison, only to have his Stand and memories stolen from him. His Stand is Star Platinum,[e] a powerful close-ranged Stand with immense strength, precision, speed, and the ability to stop time.
  • Ermes Costello[f] is an inmate who intentionally had herself incarcerated to take revenge on the gangster Sports Maxx for killing her sister. She acquires the Stand Kiss,[g] which allows her to place stickers on anything to create a duplicate of it. When the sticker is removed, the duplicate and the original merge again, inflicting damage.
  • Foo Fighters,[h] often shortened to F.F., is a sapient being consisting of plankton. It is its own Stand, with the ability to control the plankton colony as one being or individually, as well as the ability to seal wounds using plankton or possess someone's body. After allying with Jolyne, the Stand assumes the appearance of a deceased prisoner named Atroe.[i]
  • Emporio Alniño[j] is a boy born to an unknown inmate in Green Dolphin Street Prison. His Stand, Burning Down the House,[k] materializes the 'ghosts' of objects. More precisely, it has the ability to manifest objects which no longer exist, such as those within a former version of the prison building. Following his incarcerated mother's death at Whitesnake's hands, he secretly lives in a ghost room that he created, together with Weather Report and Narciso Anasui.
  • Weather Report,[l] born Domenico Pucci and raised as Wes Bluemarine, is an amnesiac inmate who aides Jolyne at Emporio's request. With no memory of his true name, he goes by the name of his Stand, which allows him to manipulate the weather and the atmosphere. Upon regaining his memories, Weather awakens a hidden ability known as Heavy Weather,[m] which gradually transforms people into snails through subliminal messages embedded within rainbows.
  • Narciso Anasui[n] is an inmate who is obsessively in love with Jolyne and wishes to marry her, despite the fact that she is clearly not interested in him. His Stand, Diver Down,[o] allows him to phase himself or his Stand into objects, or into others' bodies to absorb damage dealt to them. Diver Down can then release this energy outward as an offensive counterattack.
  • Enrico Pucci[p] is a Roman Catholic priest at Green Dolphin Street Prison, and one of Dio's last remaining followers. Pucci uses the Stand Whitesnake,[q] which allows him to extract people's memories and Stand abilities in the form of compact discs; he can also insert discs into others, imbuing them with information, Stand abilities, or specific orders. He can also remove senses with discs, such as vision. Whitesnake, after Pucci fuses with the Green Baby, eventually evolves into C-Moon,[r] giving Pucci the ability to reverse the gravity of the area around him, as well as the gravity of anything the Stand touches, which can turn an object or person inside out. C-Moon eventually evolves once more into Made in Heaven,[s] gaining the power to accelerate time until a new parallel universe is reached. Pucci seeks to avenge Dio and continue his plans to "attain heaven" by wiping out the Joestar family and rewriting reality into Dio's image.
  • The Green Baby[t] is a homunculus created by Sports Maxx using a bone given to Pucci by Dio. After absorbing the souls of thirty-six prisoners, the homunculus gains a visible form and awakens. In its initial form, the Green Baby possesses a passive ability to absorb the souls of those nearby by turning them into flowers when they are hit by sunlight. After awakening, it develops the Stand Green, Green Grass of Home,[u] which automatically protects it by gradually shrinking any perceived threat as they move toward it, effectively preventing physical contact by invoking the dichotomy paradox.
  • The Inmates of Green Dolphin Street Prison are convicted felons sentenced to maximum-security incarceration for their crimes. During Jolyne's incarceration, a number of the prisoners are recruited by Pucci to eliminate her and her allies, sometimes in exchange for favors such as recommendation for parole.
    • Gwess[v] is Jolyne's cellmate at Green Dolphin Street Prison, serving a twelve-year sentence for arson, attempted murder, and parole violation. Her Stand, Goo Goo Dolls,[w] allows her to shrink people near her. Gwess plots to use her Stand to plan her escape, forcing Jolyne to act as a scout; following her betrayal of Jolyne and subsequent defeat, she unsuccessfully attempts to regain Jolyne's trust by acting servile toward her.
    • Johngalli A.[x] is an inmate at Green Dolphin Street Prison serving an eight-year sentence for murder. He was a former soldier and a proficient sniper before becoming nearly blind due to cataracts. He is one of the last remaining followers of Dio, and plots to kill Jotaro and his daughter out of his fanatical devotion to the late vampire. He wields the Stand Manhattan Transfer,[y] which acts in combination with Johngalli A.'s perception of wind currents to ricochet bullets fired from his sniper rifle.
    • Thunder McQueen[z] is an inmate at Green Dolphin Street Prison serving an eight-year sentence for accidentally murdering a woman in the middle of committing suicide. Though McQueen has gained a position as a janitor and amassed a sizable fortune, he has also developed suicidal tendencies of his own; recognizing McQueen's potential for evil, Whitesnake gives him the Stand Highway to Hell,[aa] which causes its victim to share the user's self-inflicted injuries.
    • Miraschon[ab] is an inmate convicted for armed robbery who becomes a pawn of Enrico Pucci. She is given the Stand Marilyn Manson, the Debt Collector,[ac] which automatically collects the debt incurred when her target loses a bet.
    • Lang Rangler[ad] is an inmate at Green Dolphin Street Prison serving a five-year sentence for hijacking a tanker and murdering his teacher. On Pucci's orders, he battles Jolyne and Weather Report in hopes of retrieving Jotaro's Stand disc. Lang Rangler possesses the Stand Jumpin' Jack Flash,[ae] which can nullify the force of gravity upon anything or anyone he or his victims touch.
    • Sports Maxx[af] is a gangster convicted and incarcerated at Green Dolphin Street Prison for tax evasion and extortion. Many of his crimes were unable to be proven in his conviction, including his murder of Ermes' sister. As part of Pucci's plan, Sports Maxx is given the Stand Limp Bizkit,[ag] which can bring any organism back to life as an invisible zombie.
    • Guccio[ah] is an inmate serving a five-year sentence for sexual assault and theft. He is sent to the Ultra Security House Unit by Pucci to help assassinate Jolyne and prepare for the Green Baby's birth. Whitesnake gives him the Stand Survivor,[ai] a Stand that travels along wet surfaces and uses a small electrical signal to greatly increase the perception and aggression of its victims, though Guccio himself remains unaffected.
    • Kenzou[aj] is an elderly cult leader who was sentenced to Green Dolphin Street Prison for 280 years after starting his own cult and organizing a mass suicide. He is a confident martial artist and assassin who hopes to regain his former glory by gaining followers within prison. In addition, he wields the stand Dragon's Dream,[ak] which points in the direction of lucky and unlucky areas in accordance to feng shui; the Stand acts as a neutral party, however, as its divinations are visible to both Kenzou and his opponent.
    • D an G[al] is an inmate in Green Dolphin Street Prison serving a twenty-year sentence for murder. D an G was a firm believer in Nostradamus's predictions; believing that the world would end in the year 2000, he shot several people he personally disliked and used his status as a police officer to cover up his crimes. As ex-police officers are often murdered in prison, he was placed in the Ultra Security House Unit for his own safety upon his conviction. He wields the automatic, sentient, and near-indestructible Stand Yo-Yo Ma,[am] which acts in a servile manner toward its target while subtly dissolving them with its acidic saliva.
  • The Sons of Dio are illegitimate children of the late vampire Dio and the half-brothers of Giorno Giovanna. Assembled in a hospital in Orlando, Florida due to the influence of fate, the three are recruited by Pucci and awaken their own latent Stand abilities.
    • Ungalo[an] is a drug addict who lost consciousness after using an unknown drug, forcing him to be brought to the hospital. He wields the Stand Bohemian Rhapsody,[ao] which allows him to summon fictional characters with the ability to swap souls with real people. Seeking revenge upon the world for his miserable life, Ungalo gladly lets his ability run wild across the world.
    • Rikiel[ap] is a meek and anxious man who was admitted to the hospital following a car crash. In his youth, he suffered from constant panic attacks and physical afflictions; after Pucci awakens his Stand, his afflictions are cured and he becomes more confident. Rikiel wields the Stand Sky High,[aq] which allows him to control a colony of rod-shaped cryptids that can absorb body heat from their victims.
    • Donatello Versus[ar] ran away from an abusive home at age thirteen and was falsely accused and convicted of stealing a pair of shoes that seemingly fell out of the sky, similarly to Stanley Yelnats in the novel Holes. After being released, a botched burglary resulted in him jumping off a six-story building, causing him to be taken to the hospital. Donatello Versus wields the Stand Under World,[as] which allows him to unearth memories of events and people from underground, forcing his victims to relive them. Upon his defeat, he betrays Pucci by returning Weather Report's memory disc to him, only to be caught up in the ensuing chaos and left to die by the escaping priest.
  • Loccobarocco[at] is the chief of Green Dolphin Street Prison. While speaking in public, he makes a spectacle of politely conversing with an alligator puppet named Charlotte,[au] who possesses a harsher personality.
  • Viviano Westwood[av] is a corrections officer in Green Dolphin Street Prison. He is sent to the Ultra Security House Unit by Pucci, where Guccio's Survivor causes him to become berserk and aggressive. Whitesnake gives him the Stand Planet Waves,[aw] which has the ability to summon small meteors from the sky.
  • Miuccia Miuller,[ax] also known as Miu Miu, is the chief guard at Green Dolphin Street Prison. Miuccia is able to prevent Stand users from escaping with her Stand Jail House Lock,[ay] which allows her to cripple her victims' memory. Through proactive and retroactive interference, Jail House Lock prevents anyone it afflicts from retaining more than three pieces of information at once, with the earliest piece of information being forgotten once another is learned.[7]
  • Dio[az] makes a posthumous appearance in various flashbacks. While traveling around the world in the 1980s, Dio meets Pucci and helps him to attain his Stand. Throughout their subsequent meetings, Dio informs Pucci of his plan to achieve what he believes to be heaven. Dio eventually writes down the steps to attain heaven in a diary, but the diary is read and destroyed by Jotaro after Dio's death during the events of Stardust Crusaders. However, Pucci is able to use Whitesnake to steal Jotaro's memories of the diary and continue Dio's plan in his absence.

Volumes

[edit]

Original volumization (Jump Comics)

[edit]
No. Title Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 (64)Prisoner FE40536–Jolyne Cujoh
Shūjin Bangō FE40536 Kūjō Jorīn (囚人番号FE40536空条徐倫)
May 1, 2000[8]978-4-08-872866-7
  • 1–3. "Stone Ocean (1–3)" (石作りの海ストーンオーシャン その①〜③, Sutōn Ōshan Sono 1–3)
  • 4–6. "Prisoner FE40536–Jolyne Cujoh (1–3)" (囚人番号FE40536空条徐倫 その①〜③, Shūjin Bangō FE40536 Kūjō Jorīn Sono 1–3)
  • 7. "Goo Goo Dolls" (グーグー・ドールズ, Gūgū Dōruzu)
  • 8. "Stone Free Appears (1)" (ストーン・フリー その①, Sutōn Furī Sono 1; lit. "Stone Free (1)")
2 (65)The Visitor to Green Dolphin Street Prison
Gurīn Dorufin Sutorīto Keimusho no Menkainin (グリーン・ドルフィン・ストリート刑務所の面会人)
August 4, 2000[9]978-4-08-872899-5
  • 9. "Stone Free Appears (2)" (ストーン・フリー その②, Sutōn Furī Sono 2; lit. "Stone Free (2)")
  • 10. "Green Dolphin Street Prison" (グリーン・ドルフィン・ストリート刑務所, Gurīn Dorufin Sutorīto Keimusho)
  • 11–17. "The Visitor (1–7)" (面会人 その①〜⑦, Menkainin Sono 1–7)
3 (66)Prisoner of Love
Purizunā Obu Ravu (プリズナー・オブ・ラヴ)
October 4, 2000[10]978-4-08-873027-1
  • 18–19. "The Visitor (8–9)" (面会人 その⑧〜⑨, Menkainin Sono 8–9)
  • 20. "Prisoner of Love" (プリズナー・オブ・ラヴ, Purizunā Obu Ravu)
  • 21–25. "Ermes's Stickers (1–5)" (エルメェスのシール その①〜⑤, Erumesu no Shīru Sono 1–5)
  • 26–27. "There's Six of Us! (1–2)" (6人いる! その①〜②, Rokunin Iru! Sono 1–2)
4 (67)Go, Foo Fighters!
Iku zo! Fū Faitāzu (行くぞ!フー・ファイターズ)
December 4, 2000[11]978-4-08-873051-6
  • 28–30. "There's Six of Us! (3–5)" (6人いる! その③〜⑤, Rokunin Iru! Sono 3–5)
  • 31–33. "Foo Fighters (1–3)" (フー・ファイターズ その①〜③, Fū Faitāzu Sono 1–3)
  • 34–36. "Debt Collector Marilyn Manson (1–3)" (取り立て人マリリン・マンソン その①〜③, Toritatenin Maririn Manson Sono 1–3)
5 (68)Operation Savage Garden (Head to the Courtyard!)
Saveji Gāden Sakusen (Nakaniwa e Mukae!) (サヴェジ・ガーデン作戦 (中庭へ向かえ!))
February 2, 2001[12]978-4-08-873077-6
  • 37–39. "Debt Collector Marilyn Manson (4–6)" (取り立て人マリリン・マンソン その④〜⑥, Toritatenin Maririn Manson Sono 4–6)
  • 40–45. "Operation Savage Garden (Head to the Courtyard!) (1–6)" (サヴェジ・ガーデン作戦 (中庭へ向かえ!) その①〜⑥, Saveji Gāden Sakusen (Nakaniwa e Mukae!) Sono 1–6)
6 (69)Torrential Downpour Warning
Shūchū Gōu Keihō Hatsurei (集中豪雨警報発令)
April 4, 2001[13]978-4-08-873103-2
  • 46–47. "Operation Savage Garden (7–8)" (サヴェジ・ガーデン作戦 その⑦〜⑧, Saveji Gāden Sakusen Sono 7–8)
  • 48–50. "Torrential Downpour Warning (1–3)" (集中豪雨警報発令 その①〜③, Shūchū Gōu Keihō Hatsurei Sono 1–3)
  • 51–54. "Kiss of Love and Revenge (1–4)" (愛と復讐のキッス その①〜④, Ai to Fukushū no Kissu Sono 1–4)
7 (70)Ultra Security House Unit
Urutora Sekyuriti Chōbatsubō (ウルトラセキュリティ懲罰房)
June 4, 2001[14]978-4-08-873126-1
  • 55–57. "Kiss of Love and Revenge (5–7)" (愛と復讐のキッス その⑤〜⑦, Ai to Fukushū no Kissu Sono 5–7)
  • 58. "Maximum Security Disciplinary Wing" (ウルトラセキュリティ懲罰房, Urutora Sekyuriti Chōbatsubō; lit. "Ultra Security House Unit")
  • 59. "His Name Is Anasui" (その名はアナスイ, Sono Na wa Anasui)
  • 60–63. "The Secret of Guard Westwood (1–4)" (看守ウエストウッドの秘密 その①〜④, Kanshu Uesutouddo no Himitsu Sono 1–4)
8 (71)Enter the Dragon's Dream
Moe yo Doragonzu Dorīmu (燃えよ竜の夢ドラゴンズ・ドリーム)
September 4, 2001[15]978-4-08-873160-5
  • 64–66. "The Secret of Guard Westwood (5–7)" (看守ウエストウッドの秘密 その⑤〜⑦, Kanshu Uesutouddo no Himitsu Sono 5–7)
  • 67–71. "Enter the Dragon's Dream (1–5)" (燃えよ竜の夢ドラゴンズ・ドリーム その①〜⑤, Moe yo Doragonzu Dorīmu Sono 1–5)
  • 72. "Enter the Foo Fighters" (燃えよフー・ファイターズ, Moe yo Fū Faitāzu)
9 (72)Birth of the Green
Midori-iro no Tanjō (緑色の誕生)
November 2, 2001[16]978-4-08-873183-4
  • 73–74. "Enter the Dragon's Dream (6–7)" (燃えよ竜の夢ドラゴンズ・ドリーム その⑥〜⑦, Moe yo Doragonzu Dorīmu Sono 6–7)
  • 75. "Jotaro and Jolyne, Father and Daughter" (父・空条承太郎 娘・空条徐倫, Chichi: Kūjō Jōtarō Musume: Kūjō Jorīn; lit. "Father: Jotaro Kujo, Daughter: Jolyne Cujoh")
  • 76–77. "Birth of the 'Green' (1–2)" (『緑色』の誕生 その①〜②, "Midori-iro" no Tanjō Sono 1–2)
  • 78–81. "Yo-Yo Ma Is Coming! (1–4)" (ヨーヨーマッが来る! その①〜④, Yōyōma ga Kuru! Sono 1–4)
10 (73)Awaken
Aweikun - Mezame (AWAKENアウェイクン-目覚め)
February 4, 2002[17]978-4-08-873225-1
  • 82. "Yo-Yo Ma Is Coming! (5)" (ヨーヨーマッが来る! その⑤, Yōyōma ga Kuru! Sono 5)
  • 83–84. "F.F.–The Witness (1–2)" (FエフFエフ-目撃者 その①〜②, Efu Efu - Mokugekisha Sono 1–2)
  • 85–88. "Awaken (1–4)" (AWAKENアウェイクン-目覚め その①〜④, Aweikun - Mezame Sono 1–4)
  • 89–90. "Whitesnake–The Hunter (1–2)" (ホワイトスネイク-追跡者 その①〜②, Howaitosuneiku - Tsuisekisha Sono 1–2; lit. "Whitesnake–The Pursuer (1-2)")
11 (74)Head Out! Time for Heaven
Mukae! Tengoku no Toki (向かえ! 天国の時)
April 4, 2002[18]978-4-08-873250-3
  • 91–93. "Whitesnake–The Hunter (3–5)" (ホワイトスネイク-追跡者 その③〜⑤, Howaitosuneiku - Tsuisekisha Sono 3–5; lit. "Whitesnake–The Pursuer (3-5)")
  • 94. "Time for Heaven" (天国の時, Tengoku no Toki)
  • 95. "New Moon! New Priest" (新月の時!ニュー神父, Shingetsu no Toki! Nyū Shinpu)
  • 96–99. "Jail House Lock! (1–4)" (JAILジェイル HOUSEハウス LOCKロック! その①〜④, Jeiru Hausu Rokku! Sono 1–4)
12 (75)Jailbreak...
Datsugoku e... (脱獄へ…)
July 4, 2002[19]978-4-08-873284-8
  • 100–101. "Jail House Lock! (5–6)" (JAILジェイル HOUSEハウス LOCKロック! その⑤〜⑥, Jeiru Hausu Rokku Sono 5–6)
  • 102. "Jailbreak..." (脱獄へ… , Datsugoku e...)
  • 103. "The Three Men Who Were Taken to the Hospital" (病院に運ばれた3人の男, Byōin ni Hakobareta Sannin no Otoko)
  • 104–108. "Bohemian Rhapsody (1–5)" (自由人の狂想曲ボヘミアン・ラプソディー その①〜⑤, Bohemian Rapusodī Sono 1–5)
13 (76)Sky-High Sky High!
Sora Takaku Sukai Hai! (空高くスカイ・ハイ!)
September 4, 2002[20]978-4-08-873315-9
  • 109–110. "Bohemian Rhapsody (6–7)" (自由人の狂想曲ボヘミアン・ラプソディー その⑥〜⑦, Bohemian Rapusodī Sono 6–7)
  • 111. "It's Been a While, Romeo" (ひさしぶりねロメオ, Hisashiburi ne Romeo)
  • 112–117. "Sky High (1–6)" (スカイ・ハイ その①〜⑥, Sukai Hai Sono 1–6)
14 (77)Time for Heaven: Three Days Until the New Moon
Tengoku no Toki Shingetsu made Ato Mikka (天国の時 新月まであと3日)
December 4, 2002[21]978-4-08-873346-3
  • 118. "Heaven is at Hand: Three Days Until the New Moon" (天国の時 新月まであと3日, Tengoku no Toki Shingetsu made Ato Mikka; lit. "Time for Heaven: Three Days Until the New Moon")
  • 119–124. "Under World (1–6)" (アンダー・ワールド その①〜⑥, Andā Wārudo Sono 1–6)
  • 125–126. "Heavy Weather (1–2)" (ヘビー・ウェザー その①〜②, Hebī Wezā Sono 1–2)
15 (78)Heavy Weather
Hebī Wezā (ヘビー・ウェザー)
February 4, 2003[22]978-4-08-873383-8
  • 127–135. "Heavy Weather (3–11)" (ヘビー・ウェザー その③〜⑪, Hebī Wezā Sono 3–11)
16 (79)At Cape Canaveral
Kēpu Kanaberaru nite (ケープ・カナベラルにて)
April 4, 2003[23]978-4-08-873410-1
  • 136–137. "Heavy Weather (12–13)" (ヘビー・ウェザー その⑫〜⑬, Hebī Wezā Sono 12–13)
  • 138. "At Cape Canaveral" (ケープ・カナベラルにて, Kēpu Kanaberaru nite)
  • 139–140. "Gravity of the New Moon (1–2)" (新月の重力 その①〜②, Shingetsu no Jūryoku Sono 1–2)
  • 141–146. "C-Moon (1–6)" (C(シー)-()MOON(ムーン) その①〜⑥, Shī Mūn Sono 1–6)
17 (80)Made in Heaven
Meido In Hebun (メイド・イン・ヘブン)
July 4, 2003[24]978-4-08-873483-5
  • 147–148. "C-Moon (7–8)" (C(シー)-()MOON(ムーン) その⑦〜⑧, Shī Mūn Sono 7–8)
  • 149–157. "Made in Heaven (1–9)" (メイド・イン・ヘブン その①〜⑨, Meido In Hebun Sono 1–9)
  • 158. "What a Wonderful World" (ホワット・ア・ワンダフル・ワールド, Howatto a Wandafuru Wārudo)

2008 release (Shueisha Bunko)

[edit]
No. Title Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
40Part 6: Stone Ocean 1
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 1 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 1)
April 18, 2008[25]978-4-08-618736-7
  • Chapters 1–13
41Part 6: Stone Ocean 2
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 2 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 2)
May 16, 2008[26]978-4-08-618737-4
  • Chapters 14–28
42Part 6: Stone Ocean 3
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 3 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 3)
June 18, 2008[27]978-4-08-618738-1
  • Chapters 29–43
43Part 6: Stone Ocean 4
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 4 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 4)
July 18, 2008[28]978-4-08-618739-8
  • Chapters 44–57
44Part 6: Stone Ocean 5
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 5 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 5)
August 8, 2008[29]978-4-08-618740-4
  • Chapters 58–72
45Part 6: Stone Ocean 6
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 6 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 6)
September 18, 2008[30]978-4-08-618741-1
  • Chapters 73–86
46Part 6: Stone Ocean 7
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 7 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 7)
October 17, 2008[31]978-4-08-618742-8
  • Chapters 87–101
47Part 6: Stone Ocean 8
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 8 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 8)
November 18, 2008[32]978-4-08-618743-5
  • Chapters 102–115
48Part 6: Stone Ocean 9
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 9 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 9)
December 12, 2008[33]978-4-08-618744-2
  • Chapters 116–129
49Part 6: Stone Ocean 10
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 10 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 10)
January 16, 2009[34]978-4-08-618745-9
  • Chapters 130–144
50Part 6: Stone Ocean 11
Part 6 Sutōn Ōshan 11 (Part6 ストーンオーシャン 11)
February 18, 2009[35]978-4-08-618746-6
  • Chapters 145–158

English release

[edit]
No. English release date English ISBN
1 (36)[ba]November 28, 2023[1]978-1-9747-3266-1
  • Chapters 1–17
2 (37)January 23, 2024[36]978-1-9747-4288-2
  • Chapters 18–36
3 (38)March 26, 2024[37]978-1-9747-4322-3
  • Chapters 37–54
4 (39)May 28, 2024[38]978-1-9747-4561-6
  • Chapters 55–72
5 (40)July 23, 2024[39]978-1-9747-4608-8
  • Chapters 73–90
6 (41)September 24, 2024[40]978-1-9747-4880-8
  • Chapters 91–108
7 (42)November 26, 2024[41]978-1-9747-4930-0
  • Chapters 109–126
8 (43)January 28, 2025[42]978-1-9747-5149-5
  • Chapters 127–142
9 (44)March 25, 2025[6]978-1-9747-5218-8
  • Chapters 143–158
[edit]

Anime

[edit]

The anime adaptation of Stone Ocean was personally announced by series creator Hirohiko Araki on the "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure the Animation Special Event: JOESTAR Inherited Soul" live stream in April 2021.[43][44] The first twelve episodes premiered on Netflix worldwide on December 1, 2021; episodes 13–24 were released on September 1, 2022,[45] and episodes 25–38 were released on December 1, 2022.[46]

One-shot manga

[edit]

Fujiko no Kimyō na Shoseijutsu: Whitesnake no Gosan (フジコの奇妙な処世術 -ホワイトスネイクの誤算-; "Fujiko's Bizarre Wisdom: Whitesnake's Miscalculation"), a one-shot spin-off manga by Shō Aimoto, the creator of Kemono Jihen, was published by Shueisha in their seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump on December 18, 2021.[47]

Reception

[edit]

Kono Manga ga Sugoi! recommended the series, and called Jolyne a distinctive character within the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise.[48] In a 2015 poll on Charapedia, Japanese readers ranked Stone Ocean as having the seventeenth most shocking ending of all time in manga and anime.[49]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Stone Ocean (Japanese: ストーンオーシャン, Hepburn: Sutōn Ōshan) is the sixth and final part of the original continuity of the series , written and illustrated by . Serialized in Shueisha's magazine, it introduces , the estranged daughter of from previous installments, as the series' first female protagonist in the Joestar family lineage. Set in 2011 near , the narrative follows Jolyne's wrongful conviction for a crime she did not commit, leading to a 15-year sentence at the maximum-security Green Dolphin Street Prison, nicknamed "the Aquarium." There, a pendant gifted by her father awakens Jolyne's Stand ability, Stone Free, drawing her into a web of conflicts involving other Stand users, orchestrated by the prison chaplain Enrico Pucci in pursuit of DIO's long-standing scheme to reshape reality into "." The was originally published from December 7, 1999, to April 8, 2003, and compiled into 17 volumes released between May 1, 2000, and July 4, 2003. Key allies including Ermes Costello, Emporio Alnino, (F.F.), and Narciso Anasui join Jolyne in battles that escalate from prison intrigues to cosmic threats, emphasizing themes of fate, memory, and the Joestar family's enduring struggle against DIO's influence. Stone Ocean marks a shift in the series' art style toward more fluid designs and intricate Stand mechanics, while concluding the original continuity of the Joestar saga. An anime , produced by , was released in three batches on starting December 1, 2021, comprising 38 episodes and concluding on December 1, 2022. The faithfully recreates Araki's story, with voice acting led by as Jolyne, and has been praised for its animation of dynamic Stand battles and the expansion of the prison's eerie atmosphere. Viz Media began digitally publishing the English-language version in January 2022 via its Shonen Jump service, with physical volumes starting in November 2023 and completing in March 2025, making the series accessible to a global audience.

Overview and production

Premise and setting

Stone Ocean, the sixth installment of Hirohiko Araki's manga series, centers on , the estranged daughter of , who is framed for a crime and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Set in 2011 near , the story unfolds primarily within Green Dolphin Street Prison, a fictional maximum-security facility on an island off the state's coast, nicknamed "the Aquarium" for its confining, aquatic-like isolation. Upon her arrival, Jolyne receives a mysterious pendant from her father that pierces her finger, awakening her latent ability to summon a Stand—a psychic manifestation of one's fighting spirit that appears as a powerful, humanoid entity capable of executing the user's will with superhuman precision and versatility. The prison's oppressive environment shapes the narrative, with its regimented structure forcing Stand users to engage in battles within tightly controlled spaces, such as the main visitation room, isolation wards, , and the surrounding swampy grounds that border the facility. These locations not only amplify the stakes of confrontations by limiting mobility and introducing environmental hazards but also symbolize the characters' in a larger linked to the Joestar family's historical foes, including the enduring legacy of the vampire DIO from earlier parts of the series. The timeline extends into 2012, bridging events from prior installments like while establishing Stone Ocean as a pivotal chapter in the overarching JoJo universe. Central to the world-building are Stands, which serve as the primary mechanism for conflict; in this arc, many are named after ocean- or stone-related music references, such as "" and "," reinforcing thematic motifs of fluidity, entrapment, and elemental power within the prison's "stone ocean" confines. This emphasis on Stand mechanics builds on the series' tradition, where these abilities represent personalized extensions of the user's psyche, often requiring strategic adaptation to the confined prison setting to overcome adversaries.

Development

Hirohiko Araki sought to refresh the series by introducing as its first female protagonist in Stone Ocean, aiming to inject new dynamics into the narrative after five parts centered on male leads. He had long desired a female hero, having featured one in his short story "Gorgeous Irene," but editors resisted the idea until this part, allowing Araki to explore themes of , fate, and redemption within a traditionally masculine framework. This shift enabled deeper examination of personal agency and emotional resilience, contrasting Jolyne's independence with the familial legacies of prior protagonists. Araki drew inspirations for Stone Ocean from real-world incarceration systems, conducting on-site research by visiting a prison divided into four wards (juvenile, female, male, and dangerous/condemned), where he experienced and tension in its private, high-tech design. The title "Stone Ocean" reflects these influences, evoking Jolyne's stone-like will as entrapment while alluding to the fluidity of the ocean symbolizing ; it can also refer to an "ocean of stone," the image of the prison. Around the year 2000, personal reflections on the series' longevity prompted Araki to conclude the original Joestar family continuity, infusing the story with a sense of finality and as he wrapped up long-running plot threads. Production challenges arose from serializing Stone Ocean in , where Araki balanced immediate chapter demands with overarching plotting, often revising endings—such as the finale right before the last chapters—to align with thematic closure amid evolving ideas. He considered abilities to have peaked in this part, later enhancing elements like Pucci's for a universe reset, expanding the framework while tying into redemption arcs. These elements tested Araki's ability to maintain coherence in a high-pressure weekly format. Thematically, Stone Ocean emphasizes the duality of stone and ocean as metaphors for in rigid structures versus the pursuit of freedom through fluid adaptation, recurring across settings and Stand battles to underscore fate's weight and personal transcendence. Araki's evolved post-2000 toward more streamlined, expressive lines and intricate details, moving from muscular forms to elegant, fashion-inspired designs that enhanced the story's emotional depth and visual rhythm.

Characters

Protagonists

serves as the central protagonist of Stone Ocean, depicted as a tough and rebellious young woman in her late teens with a strained relationship with her father, , who provides occasional support as an ally. Her personality is marked by defiance, resourcefulness, and a fierce determination, often channeling her frustrations into bold actions within the confines of Green Dolphin Street Prison. Jolyne awakens her Stand ability early in the story, transforming her into a key fighter against supernatural threats. Jolyne's Stand, , manifests as a sleek, humanoid figure with light skin, blue eyes, and a color scheme of green and pink, possessing exceptional close-range power, speed, and precision comparable to top-tier Stands in the series. Its core ability revolves around string manipulation: Jolyne can unravel any part of her body—or the full Stand—into dense, durable strings resembling fishing line, which she controls with fine dexterity for versatile applications such as ensnaring foes, creating barriers, or infiltrating tight spaces. These strings exhibit remarkable tensile strength, capable of slicing through metal or binding superhuman opponents, while also allowing sensory extensions for eavesdropping or reconnaissance by threading into objects. In its compact form, Stone Free delivers rapid punch rushes and can reassemble instantly, though the ability carries risks like vulnerability during partial unraveling if the strings are severed. This transformation mechanic underscores Jolyne's adaptive combat style, blending agility with creative problem-solving. Ermes Costello is a fiery and loyal inmate ally to Jolyne, driven by a personal backstory of profound loss—her sister Gloria's death at the hands of a deceitful acquaintance—which fuels her vengeful yet principled demeanor. Ermes exhibits a hot-tempered personality tempered by street-smart cunning and unwavering solidarity, often using her quick wit and physical prowess to support the group in prison skirmishes. She acquires her Stand through a pivotal encounter, enhancing her role as a dependable . Ermes's Stand, , appears as a golden, humanoid figure with a design evoking a stylized or abstract mask, boasting solid melee capabilities in strength and durability for close-quarters brawling. Its primary power involves generating adhesive, kiss-shaped stickers that, when applied to any object or surface, produce an exact duplicate which expands rapidly to , mirroring the original's properties and movements. This duplication enables traps, such as creating explosive decoys or binding duplicates that crush targets upon activation, with the copies linked symbiotically to their originals—damage to one affects the other, imposing a strategic limitation that requires precise placement to avoid backlash. Kiss's stickers can be peeled off and reapplied, allowing iterative use, though the Stand's short range restricts it to nearby engagements, emphasizing Ermes's tactical foresight in leveraging environmental elements. Foo Fighters, commonly abbreviated as F.F., represents a unique as a sentient colony of originating from a Stand-manifested entity, adopting a form to interact with humans while with its non-human nature. F.F. displays a curious and adaptive personality, rapidly learning social norms and human behaviors, though it retains an instinctive gluttony for liquids and a detached, analytical outlook on emotions. This plankton-based existence allows F.F. to join the protagonists as a versatile ally, contributing intellect and resilience in battles. The Stand is intrinsically tied to the plankton colony itself, enabling full-body reformation and manipulation of water-based matter without a separate humanoid manifestation in its base state. Key abilities include dispersing into microscopic to infiltrate and control organic bodies, such as hijacking a corpse for mobility or extracting memories by consuming brain matter, while maintaining cohesion through liquid intake to sustain its form. F.F. can propel as high-pressure projectiles or generate acidic sprays for offense, and its regenerative properties allow near-instant recovery from by reassembling from any surviving cells, though poses a critical weakness by limiting reformation. This fluid, invasive power set highlights F.F.'s role as an unconventional fighter, excelling in infiltration and endurance over brute force. Emporio Alniño is a young boy among the prison's inmates, serving as a timid yet resourceful supporter to the main group, having evaded detection by hiding in the facility's underbelly since childhood. His personality blends initial fearfulness with growing courage, marked by a helpful, empathetic nature that drives him to aid others despite his vulnerability. Emporio's Stand provides essential utility, allowing him to operate from the shadows effectively. Emporio's Stand, , functions as an automatic, room-bound ability rather than a traditional combat entity, invisible to non-users and confined to specific enclosed spaces like prison cells or vehicles. It grants access to a metaphysical "ghost room"—an ethereal duplicate of the physical space—where "ghost objects" (spectral versions of real items) can be manipulated to affect the tangible world indirectly, such as toggling hidden switches, unlocking doors, or deploying weapons without physical presence. These interactions occur in real-time but only within the room's boundaries, with Emporio able to transport between ghost and real spaces for stealthy ambushes or escapes, limited by the need for enclosed areas and inability to affect users directly. This setup positions Burning Down the House as a supportive power, ideal for and over frontline confrontation. Narciso Anasui emerges as a later ally and romantic interest to Jolyne, portrayed as an eccentric and obsessive inmate with a flamboyant sense of style, harboring intense affections that border on fixation. His personality combines inventive creativity with a relentless pursuit of connection, often expressing devotion through dramatic gestures and clever Stand applications. Anasui's introduction adds a layer of romantic tension to the group dynamic, while his combat skills prove invaluable. Anasui's Stand, , takes the form of a humanoid diver in ornate, pearl-adorned gear with a color palette of pink, white, and gold, equipped with above-average power, speed, and range for mid-distance engagements. Its signature ability enables phasing through solid matter—objects or living beings—like a diver submerging, allowing internal rearrangement of structures without external damage; for instance, it can compress organs to induce explosions from within or reshape materials into traps like coiled springs. This phase-shifting extends to storing in objects for delayed releases, with the Stand capable of partial or full dives, though it cannot affect Stand users directly and risks entrapment if the target collapses around it. Diver Down's mechanics emphasize Anasui's strategic mind, turning everyday environments into deadly internals for surprise assaults.

Antagonists and supporting cast

Enrico Pucci serves as the primary antagonist in Stone Ocean, portrayed as a and the at Green Dolphin Street Prison in . His backstory involves a troubled youth marked by family tragedy, including the suicide of his sister Perla, which profoundly shapes his worldview and leads him to seek spiritual enlightenment. Motivated by his close friendship and loyalty to DIO—a figure from prior installments in the series—Pucci pursues DIO's long-devised plan to attain "," a state of ultimate fate where individuals accept their predetermined destinies, ultimately aiming to reset the . Pucci possesses a series of evolving Stands that drive the central conflict. His initial Stand, , allows him to extract memory and Stand discs from individuals, erasing their abilities and recollections or implanting false ones, which he uses to manipulate prison inmates and staff into his service. This power facilitates his collection of the 36 souls needed for the "heaven" ritual. Whitesnake later evolves into C-Moon after Pucci merges it with the Green Baby, an entity born from DIO's bone, granting control over by inverting it to turn objects and people inside out toward the closest surface. The progression culminates in , the final form, which accelerates time for all non-living matter and living beings except Pucci himself, enabling universal time skips that lead to the birth of a new reality. Several minor Stand users act as obstacles to the protagonists within the prison, often under Pucci's indirect influence as part of his broader conspiracy. Gwess, an inmate and early foe, wields , which shrinks targets to doll-like size for control, reflecting her manipulative personality. Sports Maxx, a prisoner obsessed with his deceased lover Gloria, employs to liquefy and revive the dead as zombies, unleashing chaos during a . These characters highlight the prison's dangerous of Stand-wielding criminals aligned with or exploited by Pucci's schemes. Supporting cast members complicate the narrative through alliances and betrayals tied to Pucci's plot. , the protagonist's father from earlier parts, plays a limited but pivotal role, providing guidance and combat support against Pucci's forces before his capture via Whitesnake's disc extraction. , an amnesiac inmate with a Stand of the same name that manipulates weather phenomena—from rain to toxic oxygen—joins the protagonists after regaining fragments of his past, which reveals his brother's involvement in Pucci's inner circle; his powers prove crucial in countering Stand threats. Prison staff, such as the enigmatic Guard X, offer brief assistance or hindrance without supernatural abilities, underscoring the human elements amid the supernatural battles. Pucci's group dynamics revolve around a cult-like among his followers, including Stand users like the sons of DIO (Ungalo, Rikiel, and Donatello Versus), whom he awakens to latent powers as pawns in his quest. These disciples, influenced by DIO's lingering legacy, aid in advancing the "" plan through battles that test the protagonists' resolve, emphasizing themes of fate and within the .

Publication

Serialization

Stone Ocean was serialized in Shueisha's , the publisher's flagship weekly anthology magazine for , from December 7, 1999, to April 8, 2003. This period marked Hirohiko Araki's return to the magazine following the conclusion of Part 5: Golden Wind in April 1999. The series was announced in late 1999 ahead of its debut in the magazine's first issue of 2000, which was released on December 7. The serialization comprised 158 chapters, published across issues #1 of 2000 through #19 of 2003. Unlike some longer-running series in the magazine, Stone Ocean experienced no major hiatuses, though Araki made adjustments to the pacing to accommodate the story's increasing plot complexity as it built toward its climax. The final chapter, published in issue #19 on April 8, 2003, concluded the original continuity of , resetting the universe for future installments.

Volume editions

Stone Ocean was first compiled into 17 volumes under Shueisha's Jump Comics imprint, released between May 1, 2000, and July 4, 2003. These volumes collect the manga's 158 chapters, with each typically grouping 9 to 10 chapters; for instance, Volume 1 contains chapters 1 through 9, featuring cover artwork by series creator . The editions maintain the original formatting without alterations to the narrative content. In 2008 and 2009, issued a re-edition in the more compact Shueisha Bunko format, condensing the story into 11 volumes (numbered 40 through 50 in the broader bunko series). This version, starting with Volume 40 on April 18, 2008, incorporates newly added color pages, a smaller portable size, and author afterwords that provide insights into thematic elements. The design facilitates rereading to uncover plot twists central to the storyline. Additional Japanese variants include digital releases through Shueisha's platforms, such as the Jump Comics Digital color edition launched in 2013, which preserve the content with minor enhancements like improved but no significant narrative changes beyond occasional author notes on character development and motifs. All print editions were completed by 2009, with the bunko version particularly suited for revisiting the series' interconnected twists.

International releases

The English-language release of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 6—Stone Ocean is handled by , which began digital serialization on the Shonen Jump platform on January 25, 2022, with the first eight chapters made available simultaneously. New chapters followed weekly thereafter, with all 158 chapters accessible digitally by December 2024. Physical volumes, released in a 9-volume deluxe edition format, commenced on November 28, 2023, with Volume 1, adopting a bimonthly schedule that continued through Volume 9 on March 25, 2025. The edition concluded with Volume 9 on March 25, 2025. As of November 2025, all nine physical volumes are available, spurred by heightened demand following the 2021–2022 adaptation. In , the series is published by Delcourt/Tonkam, with the French edition of Stone Ocean beginning in September 2005 and spanning 17 volumes released progressively through 2011. Italy's release comes from under the title Le bizzarre avventure di , starting with Volume 1 on , 2002, and completing the 17-volume run by 2004. For Spanish-speaking markets, Editorial handles the localization, launching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Parte 6: Stone Ocean on October 15, 2020, with all 9 volumes (adapted to a collected format) available by July 8, 2021. Viz Media's English localization emphasizes fidelity to the original Japanese text, retaining Stand names, puns, and cultural references without alteration, while providing glossaries for complex terminology. Digital editions are accessible via the Shonen Jump app and website, integrated with Viz's broader catalog since the 2022 debut. Similar approaches are noted in European editions, where publishers like Delcourt/Tonkam and preserve Araki's stylistic elements, including onomatopoeia and visual motifs, to maintain narrative immersion.

Adaptations

Anime series

The anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean was produced by and directed by Toshiyuki Kato, with Kenichi Suzuki serving as chief director. The was officially announced on April 4, 2021, during the "JOESTAR The Inherited Soul" event. Series composition was handled by , with character designs by Masanori Shino. The series comprises 38 episodes, adapting the entirety of the manga's 158 chapters across its major story arcs. For instance, the opening "Prisoner of Love" arc, introducing Jolyne's incarceration and initial Stand encounters, is covered in episodes 1–7. The music was composed by , incorporating an ocean-themed original soundtrack to evoke the part's titular motif and atmospheric tension. Key voice actors include as , as Ermes Costello, as Emporio Alnino, and as Enrico Pucci. Seki's casting for Pucci was revealed in late , bringing a measured intensity to the antagonist's philosophical demeanor. Compared to the , the adjusts pacing to accommodate animated storytelling, such as extending sequences for dynamic flow, while enhancing visual effects in Stand battles to emphasize action. It retains the core plot without significant cuts, but incorporates additional details to heighten the oppressive prison environment, including expanded background animations of Green Dolphin Street Prison. Stone Ocean premiered exclusively on with global , dropping the first 12 episodes on December 1, 2021, followed by episodes 13–24 on September 1, 2022, and the final 14 episodes on December 1, 2022. In , home video releases began in 2022 via DVD rentals, with Blu-ray volumes issued progressively through 2023 by Warner Bros. . The series also aired on Japanese television starting January 7, 2022, concluding on April 8, 2023.

Reception

Critical response

Critics have widely praised Stone Ocean for its intricate conspiracy plot set within the confines of Green Dolphin Street Prison, where protagonist uncovers a web of Stand users manipulated by the antagonist Pucci in service of a grand scheme tied to DIO's legacy. highlighted the manga's emotional depth, particularly in its exploration of themes like trauma and generational echoes. However, some reviewers criticized the finale for feeling rushed, with the climactic resolution of the universe-altering conflict compressing major plot threads and character arcs, leading to a divisive conclusion that undoes much of the established narrative. The character development, especially Jolyne as an empowering female lead, received acclaim for subverting series traditions by centering a tough, resourceful woman who evolves from resentment toward her absent father Jotaro into a determined hero. awarded the manga adaptation's anime counterpart a 10/10, commending Jolyne's growth and the strong female representation, including allies like Ermes Costello, as a refreshing shift that emphasizes vulnerability alongside strength. echoed this, describing Jolyne's arc as resilient and heroic, highlighting her reconciliation with family legacy amid high-stakes battles. Araki's evolving art style in the manga was lauded for its dynamic depiction of Stand battles, with fluid paneling and exaggerated poses enhancing the intensity of confrontations. The anime adaptation further amplified this through innovative Stand designs, such as Whitesnake's disc extraction ability, which allows memory and Stand theft, praised for adding psychological horror and strategic depth to fights. noted the "lush animation" that captures these creative powers effectively. Post-anime reviews from 2022 onward continued to praise the adaptation's fidelity to the manga's essence, with appreciating the consistent portrayal of character motivations and thematic weight, including Pucci's backstory and generational legacy, despite animation inconsistencies in later episodes. aggregated an 87% audience approval rating, commending the animation quality and bizarre Stand innovations that maintain the series' signature weirdness.

Commercial performance and legacy

Stone Ocean contributed significantly to the commercial success of the franchise, which exceeded 120 million copies in circulation worldwide as of 2023. The manga's 17 volumes, serialized from 1999 to 2003, helped drive this milestone, with English editions by completing release in 2025 through volumes 8 and 9 published in January and March, respectively, sparking renewed global interest. The adaptation further amplified its reach, debuting on in December 2021 as the most-watched program in during its first week and ranking eighth on Netflix's global top 10 for non-English TV shows, accumulating over 13.94 million viewing hours in that period alone. Popularity metrics underscore Stone Ocean's strong fanbase, with episodes from the part frequently topping polls; in the 2025 JOJODAY survey conducted by , which received over 50,000 votes, multiple Stone Ocean installments ranked among the favorites across the series. Fan rankings often place it highly, such as third overall among parts in a 2024 analysis by Game Rant. Merchandise has thrived, featuring posable figures of characters like from manufacturers including Medicos Entertainment and Bandai Namco, alongside apparel collaborations that capitalize on the part's distinctive fashion elements. As the finale of JoJo's original universe, Stone Ocean's climactic universe reset directly influences the alternate continuity of Parts 7 through 9, allowing to explore fresh narratives unbound by prior events. This structural pivot has inspired spin-offs set within or expanding its world, such as the one-shot Jolyne, Fly High with GUCCI and the manga Fujiko's Bizarre Worldly Wisdom: Whitesnake's Miscalculation, which delves into prison dynamics through supporting characters. The part's bold themes and character designs have fueled trends, with protagonist emerging as a staple at conventions due to her iconic green hair and versatile outfits. By 2025, the full English manga's availability and ongoing streaming had reignited engagement, contributing to the franchise's sustained cultural footprint.

References

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