We like to kick off this list by sharing how Death Note could be for those who want something like Golden Wind. In a way, you can think of using a Death Note and being able to see a Shinigami are similar to the use of Stands. Just like how only Stand users can see other Stands (with some notable exceptions), only those who have touched a Death Note can see a Shinigami. Like how Light Yagami, the main character, wants to use the Death Note to make the world a better place by ridding it of criminals and become a god, Giorno wishes to use his Stand abilities and the Passione gang to rise to the top and rid his community of those who push drugs onto kids. Also, think of Mikami’s battle cry of “sakujo,” or “delete,” every time he writes a name in the Death Note in the same vein Giorno scream “MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA” like his iconic father.

What’s interesting to note is that the creators of Persona have admitted to taking some influences from JoJo. While the fourth game takes influence from the fourth JoJo series, both 5 and Golden Wind still share many similarities. Both are about how a group of teenagers band together doing crazy things all for the purpose of taking down the establishment to make their community a better place. The Personas that the main cast possess share many numerous similarities to the Stands from JoJo. They can be acquired by entering a special realm that only a few can see (while in JoJo, they can be acquired through a special arrow or possessing the right genes), and their abilities/appearances represent their personalities.

Beyond basic similar plot points, they artistically share numerous qualities in context to visual and audio. Both of these anime titles exhibit a great use of colors for a psychedelic experience, and they are both heavily music oriented. While JoJo tends to take more from progressive rock, Persona in turn relies on jazz to give it a different sense of cool.

To some extent, you can compare this to JoJo as a whole. Just like how JoJo from Phantom Blood to Golden Wind takes place within a span of a century, Baccano covers parts of 1711, the early half of the 1930s, and bits and pieces of 2001 (just like Golden Wind) and 2002. However, a large majority of its plot takes place in the 1930s in NYC. Both anime share a large ensemble cast of characters with their own relationships and agendas. Since it takes place in the aftermath of prohibition, which paved way for the mafia in America, the mafia once again plays a large role in the plot. Just like how JoJo has the supernatural with Stands, Baccano also deals with the supernatural through demons and immortals, which borrows more form the first two story arcs of JoJo. While JoJo appropriately uses progressive rock to reflect Araki, the original manga’s musical influences, Baccano on the other hand uses jazz and swing music to reflect its time and setting.

Just like JoJo, Black Lagoon uses a time specific setting. Just like how JoJo uses 2001 Naples, Italy for its story, Black Lagoon largely takes place in the first half of the 1990s in Southeast Asia. As opposed to the Italian mafia being a plot point, the setting of Black Lagoon focuses on pirates (and other criminal organization) in that region. Both series share an ensemble cast of various personalities who each have their contribution to the group. Compared to Golden Wind, Black Lagoon has a rather international cast (which is more like you see in the third story arc of JoJo, Stardust Crusaders).

As you enjoy both series, they also share similar qualities in terms of comedy, insane action sequences, and characters that you’ll come to love and connect to. Rock, the main character, may be rather ordinary compared to the likes of Giorno and the rest of the cast of both JoJo and Black Lagoon, but through him, the audience can have a very immersing adventure, which adds a unique flavor of excitement. Last, we recommend Black Lagoon because they both have heavy rocking soundtracks you probably want to air guitar to like Bill & Ted while screaming excellent.

Based on the cult PS2 game, the anime adaptation to Gungrave largely tells the backstory to the main character, Beyond the Grave, or Brandon Heat prior to his death. Similar to Golden Wind’s story of Giorno and his team, it tells how Brandon and his best friend Harry are two small timers who try to rise through the ranks of a local mafia, Millennion. Just like the small group Giorno joins, Brandon starts out in a small team with his best friend Harry. As opposed to Giorno who wants power, it’s Harry who wants to rise to the top. Brandon, a debt collector turned assassin with a heart of gold, just wants to live his life the best he can.

Both Gungrave and Golden Wind do deal with the supernatural, but Gungrave takes a sci-fi approach to it, while Golden Wind is still mystical like its preceding story arcs. If you’re familiar with Nightow’s previous creation, Trigun, you’ll know that Tsuneo Imahori, the composer to that series, once again serves as a composer to Gungrave. If you’re familiar with Imahori’s works in both Trigun and Hajime no Ippo, he has a unique sense of gas fun with his tracks. With Gungrave, compared to the darker and more emotional atmosphere of that series, he still offers a jazz-like soundtrack but delivers something appropriately dramatic for it.

We put Cowboy Bebop at number one because you can easily compare them based on their similarities and differences. On one hand, this edition to JoJo is about how a teenager who wants to rise through the ranks of a criminal organization. While with Cowboy Bebop through Spike, it’s about how he wants to leave that life behind him, which is where the base similarities and differences stem from. However, both Spike and Giorno join a ragtag group of people with crazy personality quirks, but manages to find some kind of relationship with them. At first, their relationships are rocky, but as they spend more time together, they form an unbreakable bond.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Golden Wind share exciting action sequences, but they offer something different for audiences to enjoy. Spike’s fighting style takes influence from how Bruce Lee fights in his films, while Golden Wind once again uses Stands for something supernatural and dramatic. Either way, you’re getting something super intense and mind blowing. They both share an excellent use of very addictive and exciting soundtracks that just somehow suit their atmospheres. The free jazz represents the erratic, unpredictable and exciting nature of Cowboy Bebop, while JoJo’s heavy guitar riffs represents the young and hard style of its respective series.