Alternative TitlesJapanese: カウボーイビバップ
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 26
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Mar 4, 1998 to Apr 24, 1999
Duration:
24 min. per episode Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.831 (scored by 34483 users)
Ranked: #132
Popularity: #12
Members: 50,936
Favorites: 4,324 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
action adventure comedy drama sci-fi space |
SynopsisEnter a world in the distant future, where Bounty Hunters roam the solar system. Spike and Jet, bounty hunting partners, set out on journeys in an ever struggling effort to win bounty rewards (money) to survive.
While traveling, they meet up with other very interesting people. Could Faye, the beautiful and ridiculously poor gambler, Edward, the computer genius, and Ein, the engineered dog be a good addition to the group? |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Cowboy Bebop, Cowboy Bebop Shooting Star
Side story: Cowboy Bebop - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Summary: Cowboy Bebop Session XX: Mish-Mash Blues
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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Llama_Guy
153 of 200 people found this review helpful
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26 of 26 episodes seen
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
People who know me know that I'm not a fan of episodic anime series unless they're either one season (12-14 episodes) long or a slice of life series. Why? They have a tendency to get boring, or repetitive. But all rules and preferences have exceptions. You know what? Cowboy Bebop is that exception.
The story is set in a space western setting - a genre and setting I'm loving more and more for each show I watch that falls under the genre. We follow two bounty hunters, Spike and Jet, who own a ship called the Bebop. They travel the Solar system, chasing wanted criminals to earn money. Along the way, they also pick up two women; the debt-laden Faye Valentine and the playful kid and computer genius Edward (yes, Ed’s a girl).
Each episode brings about a new bounty which they chase after, and while that doesn't sound too exciting to watch 26 episodes in a row, you'll end up loving the show. All the different events makes for a certain degree of unpredictability, and you'll sometimes wonder how things will end. However, that alone is not enough to give the story the rating I've given it. So why have I given that rating? Let's continue...
One of the things that elevate the show a bit above the rest is the manner in which the main cast's pasts are explored. It's not like one flashback episode and you understand everything about how they are today. In one episode you might get one piece, and then the next one in another episode, and it's not until the final three episodes of the show that everything falls in place. This way of executing it makes you want to watch another episode, so that you can find out more about the characters (some may say that this falls in under "Character", but the manner in which the pasts are explored are more "Story" than "Character", IMO). Now, that's so far a 9 for the story. Why did it deserve a 10?
The answer is easy: the way they executed many scenes in the show. The contrasts which you get to see between, music, the setting of scenes and what's really happening just gives the story that extra edge deserving of a perfect score.
The characters are all really good and interesting fellows. Though they every now and then reminded me of characters from other shows, they preserved that originality which gave a feel that they were, if not completely, then at least a little bit more real than most characters out there. The way their pasts intertwine with the future and how everything ends with them confronting and settling open ends from their pasts is also something that's impressive to watch. I don't really have anything more to say than "perfect".
The animation is, for a 90s anime, stunningly good. The detail put into backgrounds and surroundings is really good, and I also love how good lighting effects and shading are at times. All of Ed’s strange movements are animated really nicely too. If there's something negative, it's the somewhat dull coloring (compared to today's standards), as well as poor effects when traveling in hyperspace.
The soundtrack is also astounding! The music used for the show is so incredibly varied, and while keeping mostly to the more jazzy tunes, the soundtrack visits so many genres that it's hard to not like at least a few pieces. What I also loved is the way the music was used not only as a medium to go with and amplify the mood, but also as a contrast to what's happening in several scenes. All in all, it's really amazing. Don't have anything to say against voice acting and other sound effects either.
All in all Cowboy Bebop is an anime that’s in the top tier on the greatness scale, and a show I believe every anime fan should give a try.
To 'Not Helpful' voters (and you 'Helpful' voters too): Feedback greatly appreciated =)
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TheCriticsClub
39 of 59 people found this review helpful
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26 of 26 episodes seen
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
Only a few anime series or movies could be considered true classics, and one of the most notable shows to fall into this category is iconic not just for its style, design and animation, but also for the depth of its characters and its music.
That anime is Cowboy Bebop.
Story
Cowboy Bebop is told as a series of standalone episodes, each of which is only really connected to one another by the characters, with very few of them directly following on from one another. This method of storytelling is now termed as “episodic”, and while the format is now commonplace in anime, this series set the standard in its usage, and many purists believe it to be almost flawless in its execution of this storytelling style.
Sunrise, the production company behind the show, used this format as a tool to develop the characters in the show, and whilst many episodes are unique in terms of story content and plot, there is a strong connection to the rest of the series due to the strength of the characters, something which also applies to the movie Knocking on Heaven’s Door.
One of the big advantages to the show's storytelling method is that it allows the viewer to jump straight into the story at almost any point, however it should be noted that many shows that adopt the episodic format are often let down by poor character development. The fact that the series manages to develop its characters, and develop them well, is a testament to the strength of the individual episodes as standalone stories, and the personal history of each character (which becomes clearer as the series progresses). In essence, Cowboy Bebop is a more about the characters themselves and their relationships with each other, than it is about their “adventures”. There are a number of episodes where the viewer may feel a strong connection to the characters, their history,mannerisms, pet peeves, etc, something which is difficult enough to accomplish in a normal sequential story. Achieving this in an episodic story is a mark of the quality of the series.
Art/Animation
The animation in Cowboy Bebop is amongst the best seen in anime, and even though it is now over a decade old, it still manages to hold its own in terms of animation and character design with more modern action oriented shows. Sunrise, who generally do an excellent job on animation, really pushed the boat out with this series, and when compared with other shows that were released around the same time (Outlaw Star for example), it can clearly be seen that the art, animation and character design in Cowboy Bebop is something special. The animation during the numerous action sequences is especially impressive and the character movements are free-flowing and naturalistic.
The art, while not vibrant with flashy colours, portrays the feeling, attitude and environmental influences for the characters perfectly. The numerous locales which the crew of the Bebop visit are rendered in stunning detail, adding a surreal sense of realism to the show, whilst the character designs were a work of brilliance, and allows each character a mark of individuality even before they spoke.
Sound
The quality of the soundwork used in Cowboy Bebop is what really sets it apart from other anime series. The music was composed by the world renowned Yoko Kanno, and performed by The Seatbelts, a band specifically formed by Kanno to perform the music for the series. The music is a strange mix of blues, classic rock and jazz, and while at first this may seem an odd choice for a sci-fi series, the music works extremely well in the setting as it reflects the generally lackadaisical attitude adopted by the crew of the Bebop. Even today, the soundtrack for this anime is unique in terms of style and composition. The opening theme, Tank!, has become one of the most influential pieces in anime history, and one of the few anime based music tracks to be appreciated by music lovers with no background in anime or manga.
The sound effects in the series are also well done. The various locations are vibrant with background noises, from the hum of the Bebop's engines and the sound of gulls by the sea, to the hubbub of a crowded street. The many gunshots and explosions are clear and sound almost as though you're standing right in the middle of the wild gun battles.
Whilst the Japanese voice actors do an excellent job with each of the four main characters, this is one of the rare anime shows out there where many prefer the English cast over the original Japanese. Cowboy Bebop is one of the few anime in existence where the English dub is equal to, if not better than, the original Japanese version.
Characters
Cowboy Bebop has some of the most original and memorable characters to appear in anime. Spike, Jet, Faye and Ed are four of the most enigmatic individuals to found in the medium, and upon seeing them, the viewer will probably wonder how they work together when all of them come from diversely different backgrounds with opinions that clash with one another.
Spike and Jet are most definitely "The Odd Couple" of sci-fi anime, or indeed any genre of anime you care to name. Their conflicting personalities bounce off each other like peas on a drum, and once Faye is added to the mix it becomes a potent brew of character interaction. It is through this interaction that the viewer is more able to empathise with each character, and the slow but steady revelations about their pasts, told wonderfully through flashbacks and reunions, have far greater impact because of this empathy. The characters are so well defined that many scenes which would normally appear mundane in other anime are just as memorable in this series as the action scenes (one springs to mind - Spike and Jet eating eggs after Faye, Ed and Ein leave the ship).
Enjoyment
Cowboy Bebop is a sci-fi western with equal parts humour and seriousness, and is already considered by many within the anime community to be a classic. There is a level of sophistication in both the story and its characters that is rare for a show, regardless of whether it is an anime or not. The great cast, the heavy drama tempered with bouts of comedy, the excellent music, all serve to cement its place in the hearts and minds of anime fans the world over. It is a testament to its quality that there is only one show, anime or otherwise, that can be held up as a fair comparison (Joss Whedon’s Firefly). This is considered by many to be a “must-see” series as it is a testament to what can be achieved in anime with the right ingredients.
The only downside to this anime would be the lack of a continuous story. Because of this, the series lacks the "epic saga" feel upon which many sci-fi stories are judged. However, the depth of each character, together with the strength of their individual stories, is more than enough to carry this series.
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This review is the final result of a review team composed of members from the "Critics and Connoisseurs" club. The team members were:
Archaeon - Writer and editor
Fallen101 - Writer and editor
Vindemon64 - Writer and editor
Here are their individual scorings for the show:
Category - Archaeon, Vindemon64, Fallen101
Story - 8, 7, 8
Art - 9, 10, 7
Sound - 10, 10, 10
Character - 9, 10, 10
Enjoyment - 10, 9, 9
Overall - 9, 9, 8.5
In the club wide poll held for Cowboy Bebop it received an average overall rating of 8.73
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Recommendations
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Same style, same director, same type of characters.
Spike -> Mugen (whimsical and wild)
Jin -> Jet (level headed)
Faye -> Fuu (charming but deadly)
The music is a big influence for both animes. Hip Hop and Jazz. Same director, completely diffrerent settings. But they match up very well. You can't watch one without the other.
Animes from the same directors. What Cowboy Bebop is to Jazz music is the same as Samurai Champloo to Hip Hop. Beautiful animation in both and very episodic.
Just read what the guys above me write.
There right^^
If you like Cowboy bebob then you will also like Samurai
Champloo for sure.
What the people above me said :D Adding to that; similar in storytelling, often episodic but in a good way.
Same Director, pretty much the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop,completely different world/story, their main similarity is...the awesomeness of the music, other than that, it's totally different.
Although set in opposing eras, both have a strong musical theme weaving through the engaging journey of a group of accidentally travellers (for Champloo) / bounty hunters (for Bebop). Both series may seem episodic but every one is highly enjoyable. Plus all the characters have fascinating deep/dark backstories.
similar climate... but SC is better ;)
Samurai Champloo is like Bebop taking place in the 'Edo-Era'. Both are made with the same style of animeation, and both have their own music themes, Bebop(Jazz/Blues), Champloo(DJ-Mixing/Rap.) Both are highly entertaining filled with action, drama, comedy, ect.. all in the right parts at the righ time. You can't like one without the other.
Of course, Cowboy Bebop is very much related to Samurai Champloo. Both Spike and Mugen are very much alike, and it also has very many humorous/serious moments, exactly like Bebop.
Both anime include a group of odd characters, who eventually develope a relationship. The have the same writer and basically the same style. Samurai Champloo : Cowboy Bebop :: Hip-Hop : Jazz.
Same director, same story, same characters and very similar style.
Not only is the director the same, but the artistic and character designs are very similar. The action scenes are very enjoyable as well, and have there fair share of funny moments as well as very serious ones. Chances are if you loved one or the other, you will easily get into the other one.
has the same creator, and is a great follow up (new story). Not as great as the Cowboy Bebop but still head and shoulders above the rest.
Both were created and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe.
here are 2 good what i call 'old', 'classic' animes. cool stories and cool characters a must watch for any anime lover
Same type of feel when it comes to all the random stories, etc..
Same director, so a very similar style. EXCELENT!!!
In both there is one episode in which the characters get high ;]
Both are directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and have a very similar feeling. Episodic and only have a main story at the end.
The same director is enough to put these series together, because Watanabe's way to create is somehow the same with Miyazaki, who share many ideas in his works. The crew contingent is almost the same, a woman and two men (with some exceptions). The story contingent is also almost the same, one episode - one story, with a great story line which has resolution in the end. You'll find moments to laugh yourself to death and to burst into tears. Besides all the above listed you'll enjoy an awesome work with music in these series. It isn't just a background for the main performance, but a very integral part of the creation.
This series is made by the same people and also has the same great action and comedy elements which are in samurai champloo but the storyline can be confusing at times.
They both have great story lines and both were created by the same person (name escapes me right now).
same guy behind the direction and story (shinichiro watanabe) with the same idea of fusing a music culture with a genre ( retro hip-hop and rap + historical samurai setting = samuraichamploo, Jazz, blues and old rock + sci-fi space cowboys and bounty hunters = cowboy bebop )
they are from the same creater but samuria champloo is about a furture ferdal japan and cowboy bebop is about space and bounty hunters aka cowboys
Champloo offers the same kind of artistically edgy depth as the masterpiece that is Bebop. While the two do not share similar story types nor art styles, i believe that there is a certain unspoken class of anime these two are filed under. We all i know how diverse anime can be in terms of art style as well as theme. Though i like to believe there was a resurgence in the popularity of anime in the West with animes in this class im talking about. In my opinion, this is where it truely got started folks. These animes turned a lot of us into the Otakus (geeks) we are today. Do not miss this amazing Series! You will not be disappointed friends.
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bounty hunting, guns, great characters
Pretty laid back, lots of fighting. All in all very similar to Bebop.
both have some great gun fights,the dark backgrounds of the main characters
Black Lagoon is just a down to earth copy of the true classic Cowboy Bebop.
Lot's of high energy action. The cast are pirates instead of bounty hunters.
Black Lagoon is similar to Cowboy Bebop in that both series have a crew of characters who go from job to job trying to make ends meet, they both have at least 1 or more characters who come to terms with their past in some way shape or form and they both are full of action packed gun blasting fun that will leave you saying "Wow, how awesome was that!"
A little bit of a warning though, there is ALOT of swearing in Black Lagoon so watch with care. Go ahead and give it a shot.
The similarities between these two anime are not so apparent, however they do share quite a bit in common. Both shows are about a rag tag bunch of pirates (or bounty hunters, same thing, right?) who make their living dong dangerous things. Both shows are episodic in nature, and are very character driven. While not on the same par as Bebop, Black Lagoon is no slouch when it comes to character development, which is a bit of a surprise from a show whose immediate goal is to deliver as much blood, action, and gunplay as possible (which Bebop also has quite a bit of). Revy, BL's resident badass, has her own distinctive charm, much like Spike. While Bebop is easily the better show (well, it's better than most anime, so it's not really fair to compare), Black Lagoon is entertaining in its own right and is worth a look from Bebop fans.
Same gun-toting badassery, same motley-crew antics, same moments of, "holy crap, that's actually well-done characterization."
Stylish and gritty violence. Both share a lot of gunfight.
Similarities are overwhelming. Crude comedy, a bald leader of the group who used to be in the civil service, a hot girl with a bad attitude, a technical genius, and a ship hideaway. Also similar are the violent scenes, and guns, guns, guns.
Both have interesting episodic plots and doing jobs for money with guns and action.
Black Lagoon is a story about a band of modern pirates who do their dirty jobs to survive in a very harsh world. The characters in this series are amazing and just like in Cowboy Bebop, they are rich with both positive and negative traits which make them so alive. The story is also laid out in a similar way: the series is split into short adventures which are gently connected by the main storyline and you find out more about the main characters as you go along.
Its pretty obvious at times that Black Lagoon had gotten some inspiration from Cowboy Bebop, BL even has a similar feel to CB as well.
So if you seen CB or BL and you are looking for more some the same action awesomeness, this series is a great pick. Highly recommended!
Two great show's about freelancer's. The character's are rich and contrast well. And both are filled with great stories and ton's of action. You'll be curious about each event episode by episode while trying to figure out the character's involved over the entire show.
Guns, Bounties, Mercenaries, Hot Chicks, Bad Ass Buff Guys, what else do you look for in shonen Anime?
Amazing, exciting, and gritty anime which focus on a crew composed of 4 people (bounty hunters in CB, modern pirates in BL) and their adventures and jobs at the edge of legality.
The main characters are quite similar: there’s the hot and dangerous beauty (Faye/Revy), the computer genius (Ed/Benny), and the ship’s owner/leader (Jet/Dutch).
Both anime have large amounts of action, badassery, guns, violence, black humour, mafia, plus awesome characters, great animation, and good music.
Also, both anime have an episodic nature: most of the episodes have a different story with several characters joining it, but without forgetting the protagonists' past and troubles.
If you love one, you’ll adore the other.
Same cybern-western atmosphere and action.
Bounty hunter themed with action, comedy, and seriousness.
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Opening Theme"Tank!" by The Seatbelts
Ending Theme#1: "The Real Folk Blues" by The Seatbelts feat. Mai Yamane (eps 1-12, 14-25)
#2: "Space Lion" by The Seatbelts (ep 13)
#3: "Blue" by The Seatbelts feat. Mai Yamane (ep 26)
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