Things that probably shouldn't have worked together that well, but they did.
The anime Cowboy Bebop is an original work — it's not based on manga or a light novel. And it amassed a cult following on its own, becoming a hit show not only in Japan but overseas too. There are several reasons for that.
Due to the seemingly episodic nature of the show, it's more character-driven than plot-driven. Cowboy Bebop wants the viewers to focus on its protagonists, introducing them in a way that instantly makes you not appreciate, but understand them, and this feeling grows with every single episode. Especially notable is the initial introduction of Spike and Jet: try to rewatch these first few minutes after finishing the series and you will realize how wonderful it is.
The character-driven approach focuses not only on how the characters behave now but also on what happened in their past to forge the current versions of them. Neither of the characters has plot armor, and neither of them is flawless: they all have a history that left deep scars on them, and are learning to live with the consequences. The general flow of the story allows the characters to open up to the viewers — and to each other — at a slow pace without artificial info-dumping.
This part makes the show feel realistic despite being a space western. The characters feel grounded, both the main cast and the extras that you'll see just for a few frames. Their personalities don't change on a whim, their actions affect them, and they have morals that they are sticking to. And maybe there is no drastic character development, but that also adds to the realism of the series.
The thing that we, however, can only experience in the animated form, are the beautifully directed action scenes that are still epic even 25 years later. The visual is top-notch, the fights, both space battles and punch-outs, are creative but believable. And don't forget the sound design that follows whatever transpires on the screen.
The soundtrack is iconic. Jazz is not something you'd usually see in anime, but Cowboy Bebop is a weird mix of genres by design — it combines sci-fi and western, so why not add a little bit of sax to this concoction? This was the right choice: Yoko Kanno's tunes fit both the somber moments and the thrilling action perfectly. It's a masterpiece on its own, but the way it follows the story and emphasizes it in the right places is remarkable.
Cowboy Bebop is a unique show, an interesting mix of genres and artistic choices that just simply works and delivers a well-rounded, humane story. Also, it was available in the US early on with a great dub, and that helped it gain popularity.
Things that probably shouldn't have worked together that well, but they did.
The anime Cowboy Bebop is an original work — it's not based on manga or a light novel. And it amassed a cult following on its own, becoming a hit show not only in Japan but overseas too. There are several reasons for that.
Due to the seemingly episodic nature of the show, it's more character-driven than plot-driven. Cowboy Bebop wants the viewers to focus on its protagonists, introducing them in a way that instantly makes you not appreciate, but understand them, and this feeling grows with every single episode. Especially notable is the initial introduction of Spike and Jet: try to rewatch these first few minutes after finishing the series and you will realize how wonderful it is.
The character-driven approach focuses not only on how the characters behave now but also on what happened in their past to forge the current versions of them. Neither of the characters has plot armor, and neither of them is flawless: they all have a history that left deep scars on them, and are learning to live with the consequences. The general flow of the story allows the characters to open up to the viewers — and to each other — at a slow pace without artificial info-dumping.
This part makes the show feel realistic despite being a space western. The characters feel grounded, both the main cast and the extras that you'll see just for a few frames. Their personalities don't change on a whim, their actions affect them, and they have morals that they are sticking to. And maybe there is no drastic character development, but that also adds to the realism of the series.
The thing that we, however, can only experience in the animated form, are the beautifully directed action scenes that are still epic even 25 years later. The visual is top-notch, the fights, both space battles and punch-outs, are creative but believable. And don't forget the sound design that follows whatever transpires on the screen.
The soundtrack is iconic. Jazz is not something you'd usually see in anime, but Cowboy Bebop is a weird mix of genres by design — it combines sci-fi and western, so why not add a little bit of sax to this concoction? This was the right choice: Yoko Kanno's tunes fit both the somber moments and the thrilling action perfectly. It's a masterpiece on its own, but the way it follows the story and emphasizes it in the right places is remarkable.
Cowboy Bebop is a unique show, an interesting mix of genres and artistic choices that just simply works and delivers a well-rounded, humane story. Also, it was available in the US early on with a great dub, and that helped it gain popularity.
