The time is 2071 A.D. and the setting is outer space.
Spike Spiegel and his partner Jet Black are bounty hunters who earn their keep
by capturing people wanted by the authorities.
People who have huge cash rewards hanging on their heads. From thieves to terrorists, as long as the money's good, Spike and Jet are on
it.
Pretty soon, the duo unwittingly pick up additional group members -- the sassy
and smart-talking lady Faye Valentine, the whiz kid / hacker Ed, and the dog
Ein.
Together they travel through space on the spaceship Bebop, searching for
bounties and links to each of their mysterious pasts.
Review: Cowboy Bebop
The first thing that struck me about Cowboy Bebop anime was the impressive
combination of sound and visuals.
The intro sequence alone is snazzy, artistic, and very much in synch with the
show's overall theme. But that's not where the buck stops. It's just the wrappings of a very cool package.
Although each episode of Cowboy Bebop is fairly self-contained, every now and
then an ep with insights into a certain character's past is thrown into the
mix.
It's not really a continuous saga but watching (Cowboy Bebop Funimation) the series in its entirety can
be likened to completing a puzzle, especially where the characters are
concerned.
Spike in particular is a very charismatic main character, making it difficult
not to like him.
Cowboy Bebop anime also has a generous helping of action -- ranging from cool martial arts
type of moves to fancy gun-slinging to explosive space chases.
The overall mood leans toward the lighter side, even if there is a sprinkling
of darker moments at times.
The art and animation are among the very best I've seen in an anime series. The backdrops are richly depicted and the characters are superbly drawn.
Computer and cel imagery are blended perfectly to create a very authentic
"future" environment. The motions and movements are astoundingly smooth as silk.
Everything is just so crisp and clear (especially on DVD). Most of the songs you'll hear throughout the series is in English, as
performed by Japanese artists.
The songs and scores have a very nostalgic retro-jazz feel, and are quite
unlike the usual anime musical fare.
In fact, if you just listen to the music, the thought that it's coming from an
anime soundtrack would never even cross your mind. The English dubbing is fine.
Related Articles: Cowboy Bebop the Movie
If you're a big fan of the ever-popular seiyuu Megumi Hayashibara though, you
may want to grab the subbed version as she plays the sexy Faye Valentine.
Other prominent seiyuus like Touma Yumi and Maaya Sakamoto also make guest
appearances in some of the eps.
Cowboy Bebop's production values are very high for a TV series (like "The Vision of Escaflowne").
Not a surprise really as some of the people who worked on Escaflowne TV are
responsible for Cowboy Bebop review.
This series is definitely one to consider for collection.
Miscellanies: Cowboy Bebop
I find Cowboy Bebop quite reminiscent of an older anime series entitled "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro".
The main difference is that instead of hunting for people, Lupin and his gang
go after stuff like priceless artifacts and other similar types of valuables.
Cowboy Bebop | |
| Genre | Action, Sci-Fi |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 23 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Apr 3, 1998 to Apr 24, 1999 |
| Producers | Bandai Visual |
| Studio | Sunrise |
| Rating | R - 17+ (violence & profanity) |
| Themes | Adult Cast, Space |
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