Best JoJo Designs In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Key Takeaways

• Araki uses character designs to reflect the time periods and personalities of JoJo protagonists.
• The evolution of protagonist designs, from Jonathan’s simplicity to Jolyne’s punk-rock style, showcases Araki’s creativity.
• Character designs like Jotaro’s iconic trench coat and Josuke’s unique pompadour add to the appeal of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

When it comes to character designs, there aren’t many mangaka in the industry who are quite as talented as Hiroki Araki, the author of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. While the whacky story, epic Stand battles, and quirky dialogue of this multi-part anime are a few reasons why people love it so much, the way the characters look, especially the JoJo protagonists themselves, has also become a big draw.

After all, these are the characters that viewers and readers are going to be exposed to the most, so it helps to make them stand out as much as possible. Since each part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is based in a different time period, it also allows Araki to get creative with the kinds of fashion choices he incorporates, with the characters’ appearances often saying a lot about who they truly are. When all is said and done though, which JoJo takes the crown for having the most memorable and eye-catching design of them all?

9 Jonathan Joestar

A Design Template For Araki To Build Off Going Forward

It’s clear that when writing Phantom Blood, the first entry in the JoJo series, Araki was still figuring out what he wanted the tone and style of the series to be going forward. As a result, Jonathan can come across as a little bland, both in personality and design, though he’s still a lovable protagonist regardless. Since he assumes the role of a Victorian gentleman, Jonathan can most often be seen wearing smart jumpers and vests which tend to be dark blue or purple, alongside his signature purple hair, which is by far his most striking feature.

Jonathan also has a massive physique which makes him stand out from other shonen protagonists, but since this has become a staple for most JoJo’s in this series, it’s not exactly a unique feature. If anything, Jonathan’s design feels like a rough sketch Araki could then build on and expand later down the line.

8 Josuke Higashikata (JoJolion)

Josuke’s Basic Design Still Adds An Aura Of Mystery To His Character

Josuke’s outfit from Jojolion has changed colors a few times throughout media outside the manga, but this plucky protagonist can always be seen donning a traditional sailor outfit, fitted with his now iconic dixie cap. Though it may not be as flashy as the designs of his counterpart, Josuke’s rather unusual attire does add an element of mystery to the young man, especially since virtually nothing is given about his backstory considering he has amnesia at the beginning of Part 8.

Josuke is also an example of how Araki began to create protagonists who were a lot more slim and realistic, as opposed to the JoJo’s of old. The truth is though, when it comes down to design, Josuke’s appearance doesn’t quite reach the heights of Araki’s past work, though it still suits the character and his personal story, which is slowly revealed throughout JoJolion.

7 Joseph Joestar

Joseph’s Stylish Hair And Fashion Choices Put His Grandfather To Shame

This is specifically referring to Joseph as he appears in Battle Tendency when he’s a little younger. In stark contrast to Jonathan who came before him, Joseph is an endlessly charismatic and feisty protagonist, and his design certainly puts that on display. His stylish unkept hair and sharper facial features make him seem like a character who cares a lot more about fashion than his grandfather ever did, which is made even more evident by his clothing choices.

While a lot of the JoJo’s will tend to stick with one specific attire for their respective parts, Joseph is constantly switching clothes. Sometimes, he can be seen rocking his glossy leather red coat, but by the end of part 2, Joseph decides to stick with a tank top and patterned scarf, paired with a purple headband. Joseph has an effortlessly cool design, but it was in the next few parts where Araki really went above and beyond with his protagonist’s appearances.

6 Johnny Joestar

Johnny’s Vibrant Attire Is Full Of References To His Lineage And Past

Johnny’s design perfectly complements his story and says a lot about who he is as an individual. At the beginning of Steel Ball Run, Johnny is shown to be a depressed ex-jockey who dreams of one day being able to restore power to his legs after a tragic accident. Johnny’s love for hours riding is littered around his clothing, a prime example being the horseshoe that hangs from his knit cap, alongside the spurs at the back of his shoes.

Araki also decided to tone down the hairstyle for this JoJo, giving him short blond quiffs that hang out from each side of his hat. The stars that decorate Johnny’s cap and pants also provide nice indications of his lineage, and the ancestors who appeared in the series long before him.

5 Giorno Giovanna

A More Feminine And Elegant Design Compared To Most Other JoJo’s

Giorno’s design from Golden Wind marks quite a big departure from Araki’s usual character designs in the series. In contrast to the big and muscular Jonathan and Joseph, Giorno is a tall and slender main character who incorporates a lot more femininity into his appearance, especially with the purple coat and heart symbol engraved in the center.

Additionally, Giorno’s golden hair presents him as being a rather elegant and fashionable individual, though what also bolsters this design is the small references to Dio. The small golden ornaments fitted around Giorno’s attire, paired with his intimidating facial expressions provide just enough indications of Dio without making Giorno a complete copy of his father.

4 Jodio Joestar

Jodio’s Troubled Personality Is Reflected In His Clothing And Hairstyle

Jodio, the main protagonist of JOJOLands, is a young gangster who dreams of one day becoming filthy rich. However, he’s also a troubled teenager who struggles to maintain a balance between being reckless and violent, while also acting responsibly towards his family and friends. As a result, his design, which incorporates a hoodie and long silver hair covering half his face, come together to create an unorthodox appearance that perfectly suits the more vibrant styles of the 2020s when JOJOLands is based.

Jodio’s hoodie also has a fluttering heart at the center, which is a clever homage to previous protagonists while also signifying that this is a kid who wants to make something of himself and “fly to the heavens” with cash in hand. As one of the youngest JoJo’s upon his debut, Araki did an excellent job showcasing the obsession with style that many teenagers Jodio’s age would have, and it’ll no doubt be a joy to watch him being animated in the future.

3 Jolyne Cujoh

Jolyne’s Punk-Rock Style Design Evokes Her Father While Still Being Unique

By the time the JoJo story had reached part 6, Araki essentially had free rein to get as creative as he wanted with his character designs, and Jolyne is a perfect example of this. Jolyne can almost always be seen wearing a cropped shirt and pants which are designed with a spiderweb print, and when mixed with the darker colors, it gives the impression of a punk-rock kind of character who’s a lot more serious than the likes of Joseph or Josuke.

Additionally, her hair, which is parted into two buns, has become somewhat of a fashion statement among JoJo fans. Jolyne also has a butterfly tattoo on her left arm and in the center of her top which indicates she is a free spirit who still values beauty and nature within the world. It’s a now-iconic design that manages to perfectly encapsulate the edgy appearance of Jotaro while still being something entirely new.

2 Josuke Hogashikata (Diamond Is Unbreakable)

The Ways Josuke Has Spruced Up His School Uniform Says A Lot About His Carefree Personality

Similarly to Giorno, Josuke from part 4 is another protagonist who deviates away from the character designs of old but is still a joy to look at on screen because of how eye-catching and vibrant his appearance is. Of course, the most notable aspect of Josuke’s design is the pompadour hairstyle which is utterly unique and stretches over the top of his head, almost looking like a helmet. This was actually a hairstyle Japanese school delinquents would wear in the 90s, with another callback to Josuke’s school being his uniform, which he has fashioned in his unique way.

Half of the shirt is left permanently open to expose a bright yellow undershirt, alongside a heart and peace symbol being fitted on either side. These may seem like small details, but they go a long way in representing the fun and carefree attitude of Josuke, giving fans a good idea of what this guy is all about just from looking at him.

1 Jotaro Kujo

An Iconic Character Design Which Manages To Be Outlandish, Yet Effortlessly Stylish

Jotaro’s design from Part 3 is without a doubt one of the most recognizable protagonist designs in all of anime and manga. The long black trench coat, loose golden chains, and multiple belts strapped around his waist all come together to create a character that is hard to look away from whenever he pops up on screen. Jotaro’s hat also needs to get a special mention, specifically for how weird it is.

The back of Jotaro’s black cap, which is almost always hanging over his eyes to create an aura of mystery, essentially merges into his hair, causing fans to wonder whether the two have somehow blended together. Jotaro is supposed to be a character who can seem intimidating on the surface, but ultimately has a heart of gold under the rough exterior; an exterior which also just happens to be an absolute marvel to gaze at.