Cowboy Bebop is a neo-noir science fiction anime series that ran from 1998-1999. Unlike most anime, which adapt a preexisting manga, Cowboy Bebop is an original creation. The show was produced by Sunrise, one of the major animation studios in Japan. The series was created by Hajime Yatate, which is a pseudonym for the Sunrise studio staff as a collective. Production was led by the team of director Shinichirō Wantanabe, screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto, character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto, mechanical designer Kimitoshi Yamane, and composer Yoko Kanno. Cowboy Bebop was a critical and commercial success both in Japan and internationally, most notably in the United States. It received several major anime and science-fiction awards upon its release and received unanimous praise for its style, characters, story, voice acting, animation, and soundtrack. Cowboy Bebop received such praise that it is seen as a gateway anime for many in the Western audience.

Plot–

The series, which ran for twenty-six episodes (dubbed “sessions”), is set in the year 2071 and follows the lives of a traveling bounty-hunting crew aboard a spaceship, the Bebop. Although it incorporates a wide variety of genres, the series draws mainly from science fiction, western, and noir films. Its most prominent themes are existential ennui, loneliness, and the inability to escape one’s past. There is an underlying plot, but it doesn’t fully develop until later in the show. The beginning is episodic and follows the crew as they take on different bounties to earn some much-needed cash. Later on, things get more complicated as the characters’ backstories are revealed.

Soundtrack– 

Cowboy Bebop’s soundtrack is so good- one of my favorites of all time. It perfectly enhances the themes of the show by blending western, noir, and jazz music. Yoko Kanno formed the blues and jazz band Seatbelts specifically to perform the music for the show. The show’s opening Tank! is one of my favorite anime openings. Its ending The Real Folk Blues is even better. Some of my favorite tracks from the show include Space Lion, Waltz for Zizi, Cats on Mars, and Spy, but there are so many others I wish I could’ve included. The whole soundtrack is really just that good.

Characters–

The characters in Cowboy Bebop are very well thought out and lovable. All the characters are outlaws who are unable to fit into society. The crew of the ship consists of Spike Spiegel, a tall, thin bounty hunter, and the character the show focuses on. He is the embodiment of the show’s themes. An ex-hitman, he is plagued by feelings of loss of a loved one and often experiences lethargy. The Bebop’s pilot is a large muscular man named Jet Black. He is an ex-cop who acts as Spike’s foil throughout the series. Like Spike, he has lost confidence in his former self and in turn, becomes cynical about the state of society. Faye Valentine is characterized by her liveliness, sensuality, and humanity. She also acts as a contrast to Spike. The final human member of the crew is Ed, a young, carefree and energetic girl who is a very skilled hacker. Despite her outward appearance, she is also affected by feelings of loneliness after being abandoned by her father. Lastly, the one non-human member of the crew is Ein, a corgi who lives on the ship with the rest of the crew.

Art/Animation–

Cowboy Bebop is filled to the brim with some of the most beautiful visuals of 90’s anime. As the series takes place in the future where space travel is common, there is no shortage of cool visuals of planets and other space technology. Each planet visited throughout the show’s duration has its own feel. Whether it’s a gambling hub reminiscent of Las Vegas, a dark and snowy city, sandy dunes stretching forever, or a big city, they all bring their own unique look to the story. The animation in general is great as well. It’s all very smooth and fluid. It’s always impressive to see such smooth animation in older shows. You can really see how much hard work went into the production of the episodes. The characters’ designs are also really cool to look at. It’s funny seeing a guy in a suit fight all these different criminals.

Cowboy Bebop is a must-watch anime in my opinion. It is short enough to watch in no more than two weeks, but it’s also long enough to where you aren’t begging for more. The story is both lighthearted and deep at the same time, and all the characters are enjoyable. The art and soundtrack add to the overall appeal of the show and make it such a good experience. I highly recommend you check it out if anything here piques your interest.