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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Steel Ball Run, Netflix’s adaptation of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, has drawn attention for an ending song that reportedly departs from a long-running feature of the anime: recognizable Western songs in its closing credits. The claim that fans are broadly furious is not established, however, and “Netflix’s biggest anime” needs a qualifier: first-half 2026 figures put Steel Ball Run below Jujutsu Kaisen season three in views.
What JoJo tradition did Steel Ball Run reportedly break?
According to Wukeer’s October 2, 2026 article, earlier JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime endings used Western songs, including “Roundabout,” “Walk Like an Egyptian,” “Last Train Home,” “I Want You,” “Freek’n You,” “Modern Crusaders,” and “Distant Dreamer.” Wukeer says Steel Ball Run uses “Dead or Alive,” by Japanese artist Yuki Chiba, rather than continuing that practice.
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The series is the latest entry in the franchise based on Araki’s manga, which Netflix said had surpassed 120 million copies in circulation in its December 2025 announcement. That circulation figure is Netflix’s published figure, not an independently audited sales total. Netflix’s Jump Festa 2026 announcement.
Why are JoJo fans upset about the ending song?
Wukeer reports criticism of the change, framing it as a break with a distinctive series tradition. But the available account does not establish that all or most fans are angry, nor does it provide representative evidence measuring fan reaction. The more supportable description is that the choice has prompted debate among some viewers.
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Wukeer also attributes the earlier song choices to Araki suggesting music he listened to while creating each manga part, with producer Hiroyuki Omori helping secure licenses. It links the new choice to a shift in music-production responsibility from Warner Bros. Japan to Warner Music Japan and Chiba’s 2025 deal with Warner Music Japan. These are explanations reported by Wukeer, not an official account verified by Netflix; they should not be treated as established reasons for the change.
When did Steel Ball Run come out on Netflix?
Netflix announced a special 47-minute “1st STAGE” episode for March 19, 2026. The later run consists of 11 episodes, streaming weekly on Fridays from September 25, 2026, according to Netflix’s Anime Expo announcement. These are two distinct release milestones: the March special and the September weekly schedule.
Netflix’s December 2025 announcement gives the first-stage details; Netflix’s July 2026 anime update lists the Friday schedule and 11-episode total.
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Is Steel Ball Run Netflix’s biggest anime of 2026?
That depends on what “biggest” means. In the first-half 2026 viewing figures reported in July, Steel Ball Run had 8.3 million views, while Jujutsu Kaisen season three had 9.4 million. A separate report describes Steel Ball Run as Netflix’s biggest exclusive anime so far, a narrower category than the most-viewed anime available on Netflix overall.
| Title | First-half 2026 figure | What the comparison means |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Ball Run | 8.3 million views, as reported in July 2026 by animeMANGA and ComicBook.com | Described by ComicBook.com as Netflix’s biggest exclusive anime so far |
| Jujutsu Kaisen season three | 9.4 million views, as reported in July 2026 by animeMANGA and ComicBook.com | More views than Steel Ball Run in the reported first-half figures; it is available across multiple platforms |
| Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai | 55.8 million hours watched, as reported by animeMANGA in July 2026 | Led the report’s anime titles by hours watched; hours are not the same metric as views |
The view totals come from July 2026 secondary reporting on Netflix’s first-half figures, not from a ranking that makes every title Netflix-exclusive. animeMANGA’s figures and report; ComicBook.com’s comparison.
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