Netflix is facing a fresh wave of criticism over STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, this time aimed at the ending theme rather than the release schedule. Some fans are calling for the song to be replaced after discovering that Dr. Luke is credited as its producer.
The ending, “Shinukaikiruka” by Yuki Chiba, debuted with Episode 2 on September 25, at the start of the anime’s 2nd and 3rd STAGE. The official credits list Chiba as lyricist, Lukasz Gottwald as composer and Dr. Luke as producer — Gottwald and Dr. Luke being the same person. The song was released digitally alongside a creditless ending video.
Why the ending drew complaints first
Initial criticism focused partly on the song itself. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has historically used licensed songs from outside Japan for many of its endings, and some viewers had expected STEEL BALL RUN to continue that tradition. Fans quickly began posting alternative edits to the new ending, using tracks such as “A Horse with No Name,” “The Chain” and “Pony.”
The reaction escalated once attention turned to Dr. Luke’s involvement. Kesha accused the producer in 2014 of sexually assaulting her in 2005. Dr. Luke denied the allegation and filed a defamation lawsuit against her. Their long legal dispute ended in a settlement in 2023, with neither side admitting wrongdoing.
That history has led some viewers to argue the objection is about more than disliking the song. Posts across fan communities specifically call for the ending to be changed because of the production credit, while others urge fans to make their concerns known to Netflix and Warner Bros. Japan. Hundreds of comments have also been posted under unrelated Netflix posts urging the streamer to act.
A second backlash in a single release cycle
The campaign comes only months after Netflix faced another major online backlash over the STEEL BALL RUN release schedule. Following the 47-minute 1st STAGE in March, fans criticised the lack of clarity about when the series would continue. Netflix later confirmed the anime would return with weekly episodes, stating that the split-cour and weekly strategy had been the production committee’s original plan.
The 2nd and 3rd STAGE premiered on September 25 with 11 episodes confirmed, streaming weekly on Netflix. The opening theme is “SPIN” by Kroi, the band that also performed the opening songs for SAKAMOTO DAYS and Liar Game.
About the series
Steel Ball Run is the seventh part of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga. Set in late 19th-century America, it follows former prodigy jockey Johnny Joestar and mysterious outlaw Gyro Zeppeli as they compete in a transcontinental horse race for a massive cash prize, with dangerous conspiracies running underneath the competition. The Steel Ball Run part of the manga ran from 2004 to 2011, within a series that began in 1987.
The anime’s first episode was a 47-minute special covering Stage 1 of the race, released on March 19, 2026.
Why it matters
Theme-song choices have become one of the most visible points of friction between streaming platforms and anime audiences. Ending songs in particular are licensed, replaceable and easy to swap out compared with animation, which makes them the most common target when fans want to pressure a production. Whether Netflix responds here is an open question — the company has not commented — but the pattern is becoming familiar: a music credit generates a campaign, and the campaign is aimed as much at the platform’s comment sections as at the production committee.
For more on the autumn line-up, see our Fall 2026 anime ranking.
Source: Anime Corner
Featured image: Key visual for STEEL BALL RUN JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s 2nd STAGE, via Anime Corner.
