JoJo vs. The Ultimate Lifeform (Episode)

JoJo vs. The Ultimate Life-Form (JOJO vs. 究極生物) is the thirteenth episode of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime. It is also the fourth episode of Battle Tendency. It covers Chapter 58 through Chapter 61 of the manga.

Summary
At first, Joseph attempts to rather playfully make peace with Santana, but is instead greeted by an attack from Santana's ribs; this almost kills Joseph had he not blocked the attack with his Ripple. Joseph realizes his attacks are not effective, so he feigns unconsciousness, and attacks Santana from the inside after the latter attempted to absorb him just as Stroheim was prepared to activate the base's self-destruct sequence. With the Pillar Man in half, Joseph chains the upper portion and tries to drag Santana to the entrance of the base to destroy the body using the sunlight. Unfortunately, Santana grabs hold of Joseph's leg and immobilizes him just before reaching the door. Stroheim comes from behind to help, but he too is ensnared. Joseph is forced to chop Stroheim's leg off as a request allowing Stroheim to open the door. However, Santana avoids the sunlight by crawling into the stub where Stroheim's leg was cut off. Stroheim walks on one leg into the sunlight and pulls out a grenade. From there, he tells Joseph that the Germans had uncovered other Pillar Men in Europe and that he must go to Rome to learn how to defeat them. With that said, Stroheim ignites the grenade and destroys his body. As a last-ditch effort, Santana attacks Joseph, and the two go flying into a well. Joseph reveals that the water at the bottom of the well acts as another light source due to its ability to reflect sunlight. Being hit by sunlight in two directions, Santana turns into stone and is defeated.

Manga/Anime Differences

 * Joseph wondering if there are any female Pillar Men, how they have kids, and what happened thousands of years before Santana went to sleep is cut.

Commentary
"At the end of 2012, there was a tight timing for Episode 13. The series' director Kenichi Suzuki, made the second half of the episode. Thanks to him, we managed to finish it in time, and even made it look great. Masahiko Komino managed the first half and put in it his mark. It's a lot of wired muscles. There were only a few characters, but the ensemble was balanced. The tension is kept high by Speedwagon and Stroheim who compete to deliver their explanations aloud; they're really noisy here (laughs).

Anyway, the episode was really great between Stroheim's bravery or the last sun ray vanquishing Santana in the well, such great moments. The composition is exemplary, Suzuki applied himself with the layout.

I think that with all of these together, we got many good scenes at the end."

- Naokatsu Tsuda, Blu-Ray limited edition commentaries