Cowboy Bebop Review!!

I delved into the world of Japanese Anime a few years back, trying to broaden my horizon if you will. I started with Cowboy Bebop, considered by many to be one of the best.  Cowboy Bebop first aired in 1998 on TV Tokyo, only to be aborted a couple months in. It didn’t really help that the episodes were shown out of order. Fortunately, in October of 99, Japanese viewers were re-introduced to the show and were finally able to see the series in its wonderful entirety. Cowboy Bebop went on to great success, including the Seion Award in 2000 for best Anime.  Some of you may ask, “Was the show actually deserving of all that success?” Well, let me answer you with a resounding “Yes!!!” 

First of all, Keiko Nobumato should feel proud for creating such a wonderful cast of characters.  The show is set in the distant future and follows the many exploits of a crew of bounty hunters.  The show’s central character is Spike Spiegel, a young man who’s slow to exhibit emotion yet quick to rush into danger.  His partner is Jet Black, an x-cop who seems to be the wiser of the two.   Faye Valentine, a strong, confident female bounty hunter, joins the crew a few episodes in, followed several episodes later by a young, energetic kid named Ed, who at first I thought would just end up being an utter annoyance.  Instead, she succeeded on many occasions to bring a smile to my face.  What Nobumato did here was give his viewers a cast of  characters they will never forget.  Whether it be their constant arguing, incessant bantering, or occasional sympathizing, seeing these misfits interact with one another is reason enough to watch.                            

Though there isn’t much in terms of an overlying plot, most of Cowboy Bebop’s 26 episodes won’t fail to satisfy, with plotlines ranging from truly heart-warming to downright dark and dreary.  Instead of bombarding viewers with plot twist after plot twist, Nobumato decided to utilize a different kind of twist.  Throughout the series, he reveals bits and pieces about the characters’ lives before becoming bounty hunters, stuff that the other characters didn’t even know.  It’s these episodes where Cowboy Bebop really shines, especially the ones dealing with Spike and a mysterious man by the name of Viscous, the only truly recurring villain in the show.  Though not much concrete is provided about their past relations, their scenes together are some of the highest emotional points of the series.

Unfortunately, I have little  time left to tell you about Bebop’s slick, stylish fight scenes as well as its robust soundtrack, a great mix of country, jazz, and rock n’ roll.  Because of all this and the show’s wonderfully endearing cast, I see no reason why you shouldn’t check it out.  I honestly think it's one of the most broadly appealing Anime around.

Visual Style- A great example of just how amazing a Japanese Anime can look, all the while never letting the animations get too ridiculous.

Sound- The Japanese voice-acting is superb, and the soundtrack’s mix of country, jazz, and rock works surprisingly well.

Characters- The amazing cast and their many scenes together make the entire experience well worth it.

Plot- There’s really no overlying plot, but most of the episodes still manage to pull you in, especially the ones dealing with the characters’ pasts.  Some of the episodes do end quite abruptly though.

Lasting Appeal- A wonderful accomplishment that will stick with you for years to come.  Truly one of the best.