All episodes are unique and interesting. Some may involve getting a bounty and catching a wanted criminal while others may be about something as simple as beating a genius at chess. The randomness of the episodes and the story that each one tells makes Cowboy Bebop original, unpredictable, and entertaining.
The character designs in this series are extremely well done. Each character looks very detailed in appearance and is unique in personalities and character traits. The animation is also very impressive and reaches a point that Cowboy Bebop can be compared to anime that have been released recently. This is an impressive feat considering that it was released in 1998.
The soundtrack is also one of the best I have ever heard. Cowboy Bebop is my second favorite in terms of music, second only to FLCL. The jazz influence can be found in multiple episodes and plays an important role in the overall tone of the series. From the fast paced opening 'Tank!' to the well suited and stylized music played in certain scenes (falling from a church window, chasing a criminal, jazz and blues played at a local lounge, etc.), and the critically acclaimed ending song 'The Real Folk Blues,' the music isn't just 'there' but adds to the anime as a whole and to some fans, the music defines Cowboy Bebop. Even the episode titles are named after songs or musical components.
Cowboy Bebop also has a certain style that is hard to describe. From all of the anime that I have seen, this is one of a kind and can't be imitated (although Samurai Champloo comes close). Every setting is astonishing and easy on the eyes. There are high class space casinos, freezing cold planets with lowly criminals, futuristic cities with skyscrapers, and even barren deserts filled with nothing but sand. Each new location provides a new 'feel' that defines that episode. This anime also provides so many genre types that it is hard to classify. In some ways, Cowboy Bebop is a genre in of itself. It can be lightly humored like 'Mushroom Samba,' melancholy and depressing like 'Waltz for Venus,' action oriented and story driven like 'The Real Folk Blues parts 1 and 2,' and simply brilliant like 'Ballad of Fallen Angels.' This anime offers so much that it can appeal to ANY kind of anime fan. If you blend incredible music, visuals, stories, and settings, you end up with nothing but the essence of Cowboy Bebop's style.
By the last two episodes, Spike finally catches up to his ex-friend turned bitter rival and fights to bring peace to himself for what has happened in the past. The ending is so dramatic, well done, and overwhelming, that it is my favorite anime ending of all time. The ending is well deserved for the series and brings this awesome series to a stunning conclusion.
Rating
+ Interesting and varied episodes
+ Incredible animation and character designs
+ Highly stylized and original in concept and presentation of episodes
+ One of the best anime soundtracks and music of all time
+ One of the best anime endings of all time
- Some episodes may not appeal to everyone
- Not enough explanation on Spike's past and hardly any storyline
- Not enough air time for some characters (Vicious, Julia)
- Seriously, we need more Vicious and Julia...
9 out of 10
