Summary
One of the things thatJojo’s Bizarre Adventureis most infamous for is the odd way that its characters will sometimes stand or move, what’s come to be known as “Jojo posing.” While these strange poses may seem like an invention of the author, Hirohiko Araki, he actually picked them up from somewhere else, which may turn out to be a surprise.
In his artwork, Araki tends to prefer highly dynamic poses which help to convey emotion or movement. This goes all the way back to the first part ofJojo,Phantom Blood, in some respects, but it really caught on late in the production ofStardust Crusadersand became standard practice by the time ofDiamond is Unbreakable.When combined with the often unusual outfits ofJojocharacters, these poses can come across as very memorable, enough so that they’ve wormed their way into internet pop culture even far outside the realm of anime fandom.
But all these strange poses can be traced back to their origin: the fashion runway.
Jojo’s Iconic Posing Was Based on Female Models
Araki Took Inspiration From Fashion’s Most Exciting Models
It’s no secret that Araki is a big fan of fashion, andJojo’s Bizarre Adventurehas even collaborated with major fashion brands like Guccibefore. In an interview with the fashion magazine SPUR in 2018,as translated and maintained by Jojowiki users, Araki explains the origins of his posing: “I like to use women’s poses as a reference when drawing. SoI often end up drawing male characters by looking at the models in women’s fashion magazines.” It may come as a surprise to learn that even Araki’s male characters take inspiration from women’s fashion specifically, but once it’s heard, the clues become apparent.
Araki’s character poses often do feel like they have a gender-bending quality to them, particularly with some of his less muscular heroes like Giorno or Josuke. Their poses make them very distinct from other manga heroes, who often pose in traditionally masculine ways, inspired more by Greek statues or martial arts. It makes aJojocharacter instantly recognizable, even if one doesn’t immediately know who that character is. At this point, the use of feminine posing is almost a trademark of Araki’s artwork.
When one thinks of a woman on the catwalk at a fashion show, the obvious idea behind the poses they make is to show off the clothing they’re wearing as thoroughly as possible. This aspect of these unusual poses actually makes a lot of sense when one considers Araki’s fascination with fashion in general;Araki has spent a lot of time designing charactersand their outfits very deliberately to resemble high fashion, so it only makes sense that the characters would utilize poses akin to those used by models in order to show off the clothes that they’re wearing as well.
Araki’s Love of Fashion Created An Unforgettable Combo
Araki Feels Style is the Key to a Hero
Earlier in the interview, Araki explained, “I don’t distinguish between [drawing] men and women like that. When it comes down to it, I think I’m more concerned about whether I make them stylish or cute. I’m not very good at the ‘cute’ part, so I often focus on drawing them stylishly instead.The definition of stylish is pretty broad, but in my opinion, it’s someone who’s a loner.Although society doesn’t recognize them, they’re still able to maintain a strong sense of justice. That’s what makes a hero/heroine.”
Araki clearly feels that being stylish is an important part of designing a character, as the character’s clothes often inform a lot about their characterization, particularly inJojo’s Bizarre Adventure, where elements of a character’s costume can hint at their Stand abilities. As such, his love of fashion is directly tied to his creativeness as a mangaka, and he’ll likely keep having ideas forJojocharacters for as long as he maintains his interest in fashion.
Jojo’s characters often have strange and ridiculous outfitsbecause they’re each meant to have their own style, one that’s not shared by anyone else in the setting, as part of that “loner” aspect which Araki pointed out. They tend to be heavily themed, even if the purpose of that theme isn’t always clear. Their poses are designed to help show off their outfits, as well as provide dynamic panels which more easily convey things like emotion and movement. This heavy influence from the world of fashion is something shared by few manga, makingJojo’s Bizarre Adventurestand out for its attention to detail all the more.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a Japanese multimedia franchise created by Hirohiko Araki. It follows the adventures of the Joestar family, spanning generations, each with unique abilities and battling supernatural enemies. Known for its eccentric characters, distinctive art style, and creative battles, it includes manga, anime, games, and merchandise.
