“Metal Ball Run: JoJo’s Weird Journey” is among the most anticipated anime of 2026. It is the seventh entry within the massively well-liked, long-running sequence “JoJo’s Weird Journey,” itself based mostly on Hirohiko Araki’s best-selling manga of the identical identify and a property closely influenced by Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Western films. The manga has even impressed two completely different anime diversifications, together with an appropriately gonzo live-action “Jojo’s Weird Journey” movie by legendary director Takashi Miike.
A part of the attraction of “Metal Ball Run” is that it takes place in a brand new timeline with a contemporary assortment of characters. (To make clear: Each season of “JoJo’s” jumps ahead in time and options largely completely different characters.) This implies the season is each a great entry level for brand new audiences and an thrilling new chapter for longtime followers.
That mentioned, “Jojo’s Weird Journey” followers have been flooding Netflix’s social media accounts of late. The reason being easy: It has been almost a month for the reason that first episode of “Metal Ball Run” premiered in mid-March, but the second episode has but to reach. Much more frustratingly, the streamer remained silent on the matter up till just lately.
Now, earlier than you ask, let’s be clear: Netflix didn’t promote the primary episode of “Metal Ball Run” as being some sort of sneak peek or preview. As such, followers had each purpose to anticipate new episodes to drop weekly after its premiere, as is customary for seasonal anime reveals on the whole.
Ultimately, the fan backlash was so unhealthy Netflix launched an announcement on its social media platforms (together with on X/Twitter) clarifying that “Metal Ball Run” can be break up into completely different elements. The second half, or “Stage” as Netflix is asking it, will launch weekly beginning in Fall 2026. At this level, although, the injury has already been carried out.
Netflix ought to have introduced Metal Ball Run’s launch schedule sooner
Based on Netflix, “This launch schedule is a part of our authentic plan and displays the desires of the manufacturing committee.” Nonetheless, that has carried out little to alleviate followers’ issues, and with good purpose.
Once more, at no level was Netflix forthcoming about how “Metal Ball Run” could be launched. After dropping the primary episode, it was solely due to a trailer on producing companion Warner Bros. Japan’s YouTube channel that followers realized the “2nd Stage” would arrive later in 2026. The streamer did not talk that, and even sequence director Yasuhiro Kimura beforehand advised AniTrendz that he did not know when extra episodes would drop.
If Netflix had no less than marketed the primary episode as a sneak preview, followers would have recognized to not instantly anticipate the following episode per week later. In spite of everything, this occurs very often, with huge occasions like Anime Expo internet hosting premiere screenings for reveals that will not air for a number of months. As a substitute, followers have been left to invest about Netflix’s plans for added episodes (together with whether or not they have been even on the way in which).
Making issues worse, this is not the primary time Netflix has fumbled the discharge of a brand new season of “JoJo’s Weird Journey.” Previous to this, the streamer secured the unique streaming rights to the present’s sixth arc, “Stone Ocean,” but by no means promoted it. Even worse, Netflix launched that season in seemingly random batches with out publicly clarifying what it was as much as, premiering three separate blocks of episodes throughout 2021 and 2022. Consequently, followers have been left to surprise what was even occurring, which killed any sense of anticipation or pleasure surrounding the season’s rollout.
In summation? “JoJo’s Weird Journey” has all the time been a narrative about dangers, however not this sort.
