A Letter From the Past (Episode)

is the second episode of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime. It is also the second episode of Phantom Blood. It covers Chapter 6 through Chapter 10 of the manga.

Manga/Anime Differences

 * Jonathan lamenting that he studied archaeology instead of medicine so he can help his father after George tells Jonathan and Dio that he's getting better is removed in the anime.
 * Dio's flashback to him bringing his father some medicine after making money with chess, his father punching him and demanding that he buy alcohol instead and yelling at him to sell his dead mother's dress is shortened (only the part where the dress is thrown is shown) and placed when Dio is walking away after punching Jonathan and being thrown in the anime.
 * The servants asking Dio what happened after he was thrown from the upper floor through the railing (Dio states that he slipped) and Dio thinking that it'll take the police a few days to analyze the poison and he has to finish Jonathan in 3 days is cut in the anime.
 * Dio pricking his finger to put blood on the Stone Mask and thinking that he also knew about the Stone Mask being activated with blood is cut from the anime. The manga also clarifies Dio's plan a bit more: Dio will put the Stone Mask on Jonathan and kill him with it, so the police would just think it was a research accident due to Jonathan's notes instead of murder.
 * Dio tells the coach to not tell George about Jonathan going to Ogre Street in the anime instead of a servant. It is also moved to after Jonathan defeats Speedwagon.
 * Dio kicking the vagrant after putting the Stone Mask on him is removed in the anime. He also doesn't mention that his body can't keep up with the power given and that his body is being destroyed when he attacks.
 * The part of the manga where Dio buys the medicine from Wang Chan was shortened to a few shots in the anime.

Commentary
"Toshiyuki Kato has been remarkable for the second episode where he was in charge of the storyboard and the direction. We have many manga fans in the team but Kato was one of those who read it for the anime. Yet, he immediately grasped the work. With the excellent Manubu Akita who handled the key animation, it gives a high-quality episode, don't you think?

I especially enjoy the second part with Dio's aggressiveness, then this final scene softly transitioning into the ending. Moreover, the parts blackened for the TV broadcast will be revealed in detail in the disks.

It's also the episode where Speedwagon is introduced. The character gives off a very strong presence, it's impossible to do things half-hardheartedly with him (laughs). Everyone in the team had a hard time giving him life, we had to work twice as hard. A lot of secondary characters accompanied Speedwagon, but the one in charge of this part managed to give them all a true bad guy's look."

- Naokatsu Tsuda, Blu-Ray limited edition commentaries