One of my favorite modern-day adaptations of shonen manga produced and serialized in the 1980s-90s, Hiroko Araki’s ” Jojo Bizarre Adventure,” comes to mind when thinking of product placement within an animated series. This series is no stranger to incorporating certain brands and commodities into its plot, whether through smartly displayed backdrop art or the designs of the original characters. Hiroko Araki, the creator of Jojo, has always been known for his artistic eye and love of fashion, and this aspect of his personality really does shine through the distinctive and captivating style of his many illustrated characters, which made his work easily distinguished and authentic; considering that most of the apparel and styles he encompasses within his characters designs are inspired from socially significant reference materials such as Versace, Moschino, and even Vogue. Funny enough, in 2013 there were marketing visuals for GUCCI’s spring fashion line that included Araki’s Jojo characters donning Gucci clothing, shoes, and accessories. Araki even created two special one-shot mangas that feature Jolyne Cujoh, the female protagonist of Part 6, and Rohan Kishibe, a supporting character from Part 4, embarking on journeys that incorporate Gucci-related items, definitively establishing this fashion brand as canon within this fictional universe. Some of the designs were also included in the anime’s promotion, which was a brilliant marketing move given the fact that the anime adaptation was still relatively new at the time. Believe me when I say that the anime was no stranger to product placement either. In 2016, for Part 4 segment of the story, near the climax there is a visible billboard in the back, advertising the soft drink Pepsi. Even before the present anime version, an older Ova special for Part 3 in 1993 used the same advertising tactic but instead used a 7UP billboard.
