JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is renowned for its unique and ever-changing color palettes, a visual signature that has captivated fans worldwide, and WHY.EDU.VN is here to explore the science behind it. This article delves into the reasons why does JoJo change colors, exploring the artistic choices, character emotions, and story climaxes that influence these vibrant shifts, providing a detailed analysis of the special scene coloring technique and its impact on the anime’s overall appeal. Learn about color expression and discover more insights on WHY.EDU.VN.
1. The Essence of “Study JoJo Scientifically”
When Warner Brothers Japan’s producer, Hiroyuki Omori, requested the creation of the JoJo anime, his instructions were straightforward: “Make JoJo.” Director Naokatsu Tsuda responded by embracing the concept of “Study JoJo scientifically.” This approach involved identifying the unique elements of the original JoJo manga and finding ways to replicate them in animation. The team meticulously recreated distinctive onomatopoeic sounds, iconic poses, and theatrical dialogues. They also mirrored the use of motion lines and frame layout direction from the manga in the animated series. This dedication to detail ensured that the anime stayed true to the spirit of the original work, capturing the essence that made JoJo unique.
2. Recreating the Eerie Atmosphere
Toshiyuki Kato, who directed the series since the first season, emphasized the importance of recreating the eerie atmosphere found in the original manga. The manga often depicted fog, smoke, and other unidentifiable gases swirling around. Instead of using computer graphics (CG), the team chose to recreate these effects by hand, mirroring the original manga’s artistic style. Additionally, when expressing the characters’ emotional turmoil, they employed suspenseful techniques such as darkening the entire face with tones and illuminating only the eyes, a method directly inspired by the manga.
3. Understanding Special Scene Coloring
3.1. Defining Special Scene Coloring
One of the most distinctive visual elements of the JoJo anime is the use of “special scene coloring,” also known as “special cut coloring.” Unlike many other anime series, JoJo does not adhere to a fixed color scheme. In Hirohiko Araki’s color manuscripts, characters often undergo drastic color changes from one appearance to the next. This fluidity and lack of rigid color constraints are hallmarks of Araki’s unique artistic style. The anime adaptation embraces this aspect by utilizing special scene coloring to reflect the dynamic nature of the story and characters.
3.2. Implementing Dynamic Color Shifts
In animation, colors cannot be changed as freely as in manga. To address this, the production team established a base color scheme to serve as an overall foundation. They then incorporated “special scene coloring” to modify colors based on the narrative’s developments. These color changes are most prominent during moments of intense emotional upheaval or when the story reaches a climax. The shifts function as effective visual accents, enhancing the drama and excitement of the scenes. This technique leverages the capabilities of animation to enhance the storytelling, becoming a key feature of the series through its fourth season.
3.3. The Impact on Visual Storytelling
The special scene coloring technique significantly enhances the anime’s visual storytelling. By changing colors to reflect emotional states and plot developments, the anime adds layers of meaning and impact to the scenes. For instance, when a character experiences intense anger or determination, their color palette might shift to warmer, more vibrant hues. Conversely, moments of sadness or despair could be depicted with cooler, more subdued tones. This dynamic use of color not only makes the anime visually striking but also deepens the audience’s emotional connection to the characters and the story.
4. The Absence of Fixed Color Schemes
4.1. Hirohiko Araki’s Artistic Choice
Hirohiko Araki, the creator of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, intentionally avoids using fixed color schemes for his characters. This artistic choice is a deliberate attempt to break free from conventional expectations and create a more dynamic and visually stimulating experience for the reader. By varying the colors of his characters, Araki adds an element of surprise and unpredictability to his artwork. This approach also allows him to express different facets of a character’s personality or emotional state through color.
4.2. The Benefits of Unpredictable Colors
The unpredictable use of color in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure offers several benefits. First, it makes the artwork more visually interesting and engaging. The constant changes in color keep the viewer’s eye moving and prevent the visuals from becoming monotonous. Second, it allows Araki to convey complex emotions and ideas in a subtle yet effective way. By associating certain colors with specific emotions or themes, he can add depth and nuance to his storytelling. Finally, it contributes to the overall sense of uniqueness and originality that defines JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
4.3. How Colors Reflect Character Emotions
The special scene coloring technique in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure often reflects the characters’ emotions. When a character is experiencing intense anger or determination, their color palette may shift to warmer, more vibrant hues like red or orange. These colors symbolize passion, energy, and aggression. Conversely, moments of sadness or despair might be depicted with cooler, more subdued tones like blue or gray. These colors evoke feelings of melancholy, isolation, and vulnerability. By using color in this way, the anime enhances the emotional impact of the scenes and allows viewers to connect more deeply with the characters.
5. Character Design: Balancing Fan Expectations
5.1. Bridging the Gap Between Styles
Character design posed a significant challenge during the visual construction of the first season. Araki’s early character designs featured muscular figures and a drawing style reminiscent of gekiga (a more realistic and dramatic form of manga). However, this style did not align with modern trends. The production team aimed to bridge this gap by creating character designs that resonated with fans while retaining the essence of Araki’s original vision.
5.2. Finding the Median Value
To achieve this balance, the team looked at character designs from the third to fifth parts of the original manga, which are the designs most fans envision. They found the median value of these designs and applied it to the first season. The resulting characters are generally more refined and approachable, while still retaining the strong atmosphere of Araki’s early work. This approach ensured that the character designs were both faithful to the source material and appealing to a contemporary audience.
5.3. Retaining the Essence of Early Araki Characters
While the character designs were updated to be more in line with modern aesthetics, the production team was careful to retain the essence of Araki’s early characters. This meant preserving the strong, dynamic poses, the detailed facial expressions, and the overall sense of power and presence that defined the early designs. By striking this balance, the anime was able to capture the spirit of the original manga while appealing to a broader audience.
6. Art and Setting: From the 19th Century to the Present Day
6.1. Adapting to Different Eras
The JoJo series spans various eras and settings, each presenting unique challenges for the art and setting work. The first season, “Phantom Blood,” is set in England at the end of the 19th century, while “Battle Tendency” takes place in America and Europe before World War II. These settings were not depicted realistically in the original manga, so the anime presented them as fantasy environments.
6.2. Depicting Diverse Cultures
The second season, “Stardust Crusaders,” is set in the 1980s and takes place in various countries, from Japan to Egypt. This required the art team and sub-character designers to depict a wide range of architectural styles, ethnicities, and clothing. The team paid meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each location felt authentic and immersive.
6.3. The Importance of Props
The production team was also meticulous about props. For example, Suzuki, who was in charge of the script and storyboard for episodes 37-38 of “Stardust Crusaders,” speculated that the Porsche model in the original manga might be a limited production model known as the Yellow Bird. He incorporated this detail into the settings, even though the car only appeared briefly in a few panels. This level of dedication demonstrates the team’s passion for JoJo and their commitment to creating a faithful adaptation.
7. Crafting Morioh Town
7.1. Creating a Realistic Setting
The third season, “Diamond is Unbreakable,” is set entirely in the fictional town of Morioh. Director Kato created a precise map of the town based on the original manga, calculating the route to each character’s house and school, as well as the time required to get there. This meticulous approach was aimed at making Morioh feel as real as possible.
7.2. Emphasizing Contrast
Kato wanted to emphasize the contrast between the familiar scenery of rural Japan and the heinous murders happening behind the scenes. By creating a realistic and relatable setting, the anime heightened the impact of the darker elements of the story. This contrast added depth and complexity to the narrative, making “Diamond is Unbreakable” a standout season in the JoJo anime series.
7.3. Morioh as a Character
Kato viewed Morioh Town as another main character in Part 4. This perspective guided the team’s efforts to create a detailed and immersive environment that felt alive and dynamic. The town’s layout, architecture, and atmosphere all contributed to the overall sense of realism and helped to draw viewers into the world of “Diamond is Unbreakable.”
8. Location Scouting in Italy
8.1. Capturing the Essence of Italy
The fourth season, “Golden Wind,” is set in Italy in 2001. General director Tsuda and directors Yasuhiro Kimura and Hideya Takahashi traveled to Italy in July 2017 for location scouting. Their goal was to make it easy for viewers to identify and visit the real-world locations that inspired the anime’s settings.
8.2. Facilitating Fan Pilgrimages
Kimura emphasized the importance of capturing the essence of Italy in the anime. The team meticulously documented the architecture, landscapes, and cultural details of various Italian cities. As a result, fans were able to find most of the places that appear in the series, turning the anime into a virtual tour of Italy.
8.3. Immersive Visual Experience
The meticulous location scouting work paid off, giving viewers the feeling of traveling all over Italy with Giorno and his friends. The anime’s visual fidelity and attention to detail created an immersive experience that deepened the audience’s connection to the story and characters.
9. Establishing “JoJo-ism” in Drawing
9.1. Overcoming Design Challenges
When producer Hisataka Kasama of David Production first heard about the JoJo anime project, he worried about finding animators who could work with the distinctive design style. The studio had never created a work with such a clear emphasis on muscles and skeletons. This posed a significant challenge for the animation team.
9.2. Accumulating Know-How
Series director Kenichi Suzuki recalled that he had a clear image of the finished work from the beginning, but it took time to get used to drawing in the JoJo style. Kato emphasized the importance of conveying the sense of weight in the drawings, particularly in scenes involving physical exertion. By carefully communicating the concept for each shot, the team gradually accumulated the necessary know-how.
9.3. The “Battle of Density”
Animator Shunichi Ishimoto noted that the JoJo series is characterized by dense drawings. Initially, the team was drawing through trial and error, but soon a “battle of density” emerged among the drawing team. This competitive spirit drove the animators to push their limits and create increasingly detailed and dynamic drawings.
10. Stage Acting in Character Performance
10.1. Exaggerated Expressions
The character acting in JoJo is not bound by common sense. Characters often strike unique poses and deliver lines that would be out of place in everyday life. This theatrical approach is intentional, drawing inspiration from stage acting traditions.
10.2. Maximizing Appeal
Suzuki explained that the team sometimes deviates from standard rules regarding character placement and lighting to maximize the appeal of Araki’s best panels. This might involve suddenly changing the lighting or putting a character in the spotlight, similar to “Mie” in Kabuki theater. Kato refers to this as “stage acting,” emphasizing the shared vision among the creative team.
10.3. The Influence of Professional Wrestling
Tsuda likens the battles in JoJo to professional wrestling. He notes that JoJo’s characters rarely worry about why they are fighting. Instead, they focus on entertaining the audience with exaggerated gestures and dramatic performances. By presenting what they are going to do and then how it turned out, the battles become more interesting and engaging.
11. The Groove of JoJo Battles
11.1. Tempo and Rhythm
Tsuda believes that the real pleasure of JoJo’s battles lies in the groove created when the tempo and rhythm of long spoken lines, action, and characterization all come together. This combination of elements is what the anime is based on, creating a unique and captivating viewing experience.
11.2. Balancing Showiness and Speed
Tsuda warns against prioritizing showiness and speed over the charm of JoJo’s battles. He argues that focusing too much on visual spectacle can detract from the underlying rhythm and tempo that make the battles so engaging. The key is to strike a balance between visual excitement and narrative coherence.
11.3. Unthinkable Behaviors
The JoJo series creates a sense of abnormality through the unthinkable behaviors of its characters. This unpredictability is a key element of the series’ appeal, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats and constantly surprising them with unexpected twists and turns.
12. Additional Factors Contributing to Color Changes
12.1. Environmental Context
The environment in which a scene takes place can significantly influence the color palette. For instance, a scene set in a desert might feature warm, earthy tones, while a scene set in a snowy landscape might be dominated by cool, icy colors. These environmental cues help to create a sense of place and immerse viewers in the world of the story.
12.2. Time of Day
The time of day can also affect the colors in a scene. Scenes set during sunrise or sunset might feature warm, golden hues, while scenes set at night might be dominated by cooler, darker tones. These temporal cues help to establish the mood and atmosphere of the scene.
12.3. Symbolic Meaning
Colors can also carry symbolic meanings, adding layers of depth and interpretation to the visuals. For example, red might symbolize passion or danger, while blue might symbolize tranquility or sadness. By using colors in this way, the anime can communicate complex ideas and emotions in a subtle yet effective way.
13. The Science Behind Color Perception
13.1. The Human Eye
The human eye contains photoreceptor cells called cones, which are responsible for color vision. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to a different range of wavelengths: red, green, and blue. When light enters the eye, these cones send signals to the brain, which interprets the signals as color.
13.2. Color Blindness
Some people have a condition called color blindness, which affects their ability to distinguish between certain colors. This condition is usually caused by a genetic defect that affects the function of the cones. There are various types of color blindness, each affecting the perception of different colors.
13.3. Color Psychology
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human behavior and emotions. Different colors can evoke different feelings and associations. For example, red is often associated with excitement and energy, while blue is often associated with calmness and serenity. These psychological effects can be used in art and design to influence the viewer’s perception and emotional response.
14. FAQ: Unveiling More About JoJo’s Color Changes
14.1. Why does JoJo’s art style change so much?
Hirohiko Araki’s art style has evolved significantly throughout the JoJo series, reflecting his experimentation with different techniques and influences.
14.2. How does the anime adapt Araki’s unique color sense?
The anime uses special scene coloring to capture Araki’s dynamic color choices, changing colors based on character emotions and story developments.
14.3. What is the significance of the special cut coloring?
Special cut coloring adds visual accents during emotional moments and climaxes, enhancing the storytelling impact.
14.4. Does the color palette affect the viewer’s perception of characters?
Yes, color changes can reflect a character’s emotional state, influencing how viewers perceive their actions and motivations.
14.5. Are there any fixed color schemes in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure?
No, JoJo intentionally avoids fixed color schemes to create a more dynamic and unpredictable visual experience.
14.6. How does environmental context influence color choices?
The setting of a scene (e.g., desert, snowy landscape) influences the color palette, creating a sense of place and atmosphere.
14.7. What role does time of day play in color selection?
The time of day (sunrise, sunset, night) affects the colors, establishing the mood and emotional tone of the scene.
14.8. Can colors have symbolic meanings in JoJo?
Yes, colors like red (passion, danger) and blue (tranquility, sadness) carry symbolic meanings, adding depth to the visuals.
14.9. How does the anime balance fidelity to the manga with modern aesthetics?
The production team balances the original designs with contemporary styles to appeal to a broad audience while staying true to the source material.
14.10. Where can I learn more about the artistic techniques used in JoJo?
WHY.EDU.VN offers detailed analyses and insights into the visual elements and artistic choices of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
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