Cowboy Bebop [Anime Series]
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Cowboy Bebop [Anime Series]
Originally broadcast in 1998 with 12 episodes on TV Tokyo, Cowboy Bebop also aired in 2001 as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming with an excellent English-dubbed soundtrack and all 26 episodes. The action-packed and hyper-styled animé is a very human drama in a futuristic setting about crime-fighting adventurers. Set in the 21st century, the Earth is a wasteland and the solar system has been fitted with hyperspace gates -- sort of an expressway for spaceships -- where criminals and gangsters continue to proliferate. Enter the misfit bounty hunters of the rickety ship called Bebop. Spike Siegel is the ultra-cool Bruce Lee-style fighter, who harbors painful memories that he covers up with a cynical wit. Jet Black is a former cop and a decent mechanic, who carries around memories of his own troubled past along with his mechanical arm. Faye Valentine is a femme fatale and compulsive gambler with a massive debt, who yearns to discover her identity prior to her cryogenic freezing. Along with the self-styled computer hacker girl called Ed and the data dog, Ein, the bounty hunters try to earn their keep and get through the day. The visual style is unique in the animé genre, using inspiration from old pulp adventure stories, film noir, and Westerns. Along with the original jazz compositions from The Seatbelts, the soundtrack incorporates
ock & roll and lues references. Style reigns in the world of these futuristic outlaws, but not at the sake of substance. The tragi-comic family of the Bebop crew deals with the realities of loneliness and isolation, as well as shoot-em-up action and bittersweet
omance. Alternately poignant, destructive, and hilarious, Cowboy Bebop has become an exceptional science fiction series. The series would be followed by a feature-length adventure, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie in 2002. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Includes Episodes:
Cowboy Bebop: Asteroid Blues
In the first episode of Cowboy Bebop, the characters Jet and Spike are introduced as two broke and hungry bounty hunters living on a ship called the Bebop. Jet and Spike go to the asteroid Tijuana after the bounty of Asimov Solensen, a villain addicted to the drug Red Eye. Asimov and his girlfriend, Katerina, are on the run heading for Mars when Spike meets up with them and shows off his Bruce Lee-style fighting skills. The reoccurring background characters of Antonio, Carlos, and Jobin make their first appearance. "Asteroid Blues" bears some tributes to the film Desperado. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cowboy Bebop: Stray Dog Strut
The title being a take on the tune by the Stray Cats, the episode "Stray Dog Strut" marks the first appearance of the data dog Ein and his joining of the Bebop crew. Jet and Spike are after the bounty of thief Abdul Hakim. Hakim is chasing after the valuable data dog while illegal research scientists try to get it back. One of the more lighthearted and funny episodes, it makes some references to Bruce Lee's Game of Death. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cowboy Bebop: Honky Tonk Women
Named after the Rolling Stones tune, "Honky Tonk Women" features the first appearance of Faye Valentine. Taking a tip from a dream about Charlie Parker, Jet and Spike go to the Spiders From Mars casino. Trying to get money to pay off her debt, Faye works as a blackjack dealer in a scam with casino owner Gordon, and Spike gets involved in the transaction. After accidentally stealing a valuable casino chip, Spike and Jet capture Faye, who soon has a bounty on her head. This episode features Faye doing some crafty flying and dramatic escapes in her ship, the Red Tail. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cowboy Bebop: Gateway Shuffle
While after a different bounty, Jet and Spike capture Twinkle Maria Murdock, the leader of the Space Warriors, an eco-terrorist group planning to release a virus on Ganymede. Meanwhile, Faye runs out of gas in Jupiter's orbit and retrieves a mysterious vial from a dying ISSP cop. This episode features the first battle team up between Spike and Faye, and a daring escape sequence through the hyperspace gate. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cowboy Bebop: Ballad of Fallen Angels
One of the most visually striking episodes, "Ballad of Fallen Angels" sets a narrative standard for the episodes to come. Spike and Jet are arguing, both refusing to reveal important events of their past. Jet is apprehensive about going after the bounty of Mao Yenrai, but Spike has personal reasons. Faye goes after him herself and gets captured, calling the Bebop for help; what follows is one of the most beautifully rendered sequences in the series. This episode contains references to John Woo's action classic A Better Tomorrow. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Cast
n/a | Crew
Junichi Higashi - Art Director
Shinichiro Watanabe - Director
Yoko Kanno - Composer (Music Score)
Yoichi Ogami - Cinematographer
Kazuhiko Ikeguchi - Producer
Masahiko Minami - Producer
Isamu Imakake - Set Designer
Keiko Nobumoto - Screenwriter
Ryota Yamaguchi - Screenwriter
Sadayuki Murai - Screenwriter
Michiko Yokote - Screenwriter
Akihiko Inari - Screenwriter
Dai Sato - Screenwriter
Shinichiro Watanabe - Screenwriter
Kimitoshi Yamane - Mechanical Design
Toshihiro Kawamoto - Character Design
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Cowboy Bebop [Anime Series]
(not reviewed)
General Specifications: | | Language Options: | | | Subtitle Options: | | | Sound Processing: | | | Additional Features: | none specified | | MPAA Rating: | 13Up | | DVD Discs Included: | 1 | | DVD Sides: | 1 | | DVD DVD Region Code: | 1 | | Content Length: | 125 min | | | |
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