Cowboy Bebop? More Like Gangster Rocksteady!

[spectralbovine]

In 1998, the work, which became a new genre itself, was called Cowboy Bebop: the world's first sci-fi noir kung fu Western mixtape.

Sci-fi: The Bebop is a spaceship! And, see, the story takes place in the future, and spaceships travel through hyperspace gates, and we've colonized the whole solar system, and it's all very well thought out, with

Comments

[etherealclarity]

And now you need to watch Samurai Champloo, because it's even better.

[spectralbovine]

Downloading as we speak, girly.

In what ways is it better?

[etherealclarity]

I found the backstories more engaging and the characters more relatable, basically. Plus the female character isn't as annoying as Faye. :)

[rachelmanija]

Same here. I never connected with the characters in Bebop, but I fell madly in love with the Champloo trio. After a certain point, the overarching plot became incredibly suspenseful-- largely because I cared so damn much about what was going to happen to everyone. And the animation and music is gorgeous.

[lodessa]

Oh Anime Firefly... my brother only got about five minutes in before noticing.
(of course when qt_ninja watched Firefly she was like "Live Action Cowboy Bebop...")

[loopychew]

You want Anime Firefly or Firefly = "Live Action ?" Try Outlaw Star on for size. The first episode even ends with an odd girl being taken out of suspended animation, not to mention the whole Chinese-culture-has-taken-over-the-'verse thing (although much more prevalent in OS than in Firefly).

Plus, any show where the first episode has a ten-year-old kid delivering the line, "looks like you just had your space cherry popped!" is automatically awesome.

[ocvictor]

Love, love, love me some Bebop.

Although the most prominent musical theme is jazz, the show is very focused on using multiple musical styles, usually highlighted by the title of the episode ("Heavy Metal Queen" and "Mushroom Samba," for instance

All of the music was arranged and produced by composer Yoko Kanno, and her band, The Seatbelts, which features among many fine musicians, including Steve Conte of The New York Dolls.

And the finale to the show kicked serious ass.

[spectralbovine]

I can't help thinking I might have loved Cowboy Bebop more if I actually liked jazz.

[kibarika]

Definitely. Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts are totally my hero rockstars.

Also, ED. ED ED ED ED ED. I'm so glad you watched it subbed because Ed needs to be in Japanese, it's a thing. I am so sad that I could never convincingly cosplay Ed because of my girlshape.

Ein is not just a dog, man. Ein is a DATA DOG. A WELSH CORGI. Now whenever Will and I see a Welsh Corgi we pretend we're Japanese and say it all "Oowelsh Cooorgee." It sounds cooler for real.

[spectralbovine]

I'm so glad you watched it subbed because Ed needs to be in Japanese, it's a thing.
I saw your comment to that effect last night, and I completely agree! I checked out the dubbed Ed, and while she's perfectly fine, she's only one-tenth as cute as Japanese Ed. English Ed doesn't even attempt to carry over her inflections, although she does get the voice and general personality right.

I am so sad that I could never convincingly cosplay Ed because of my girlshape.
Well, so few women are six inches wide.

Ein is not just a dog, man. Ein is a DATA DOG.
I was trying not to spoil!

Now whenever Will and I see a Welsh Corgi we pretend we're Japanese and say it all "Oowelsh Cooorgee." It sounds cooler for real.
Hee.

[enshanam]

Huh. I guess I really should watch the second half at some point!

[spectralbovine]

You really should! There are some great episodes, and, seriously, the finale is worth it. It's so awesome. (And, dude, that means you don't even know Faye's backstory. Or Ed's! And you're missing out on "Cowboy Funk," which is hilarious.) I had no idea you hadn't seen it all. How has Emily let you get away with that?

[spectralbovine]

It wasn't until years after the fact that I discovered that Bebop actually had back story and character development. All I ever saw were the one-shots!
Ha, right? You could watch random episodes and just think it was, like, ADVENTURES IN SPAAAAAACE! Which is fun enough but not required viewing.

While I am here let me recommend to you Baccano!
Nooooooooooo, I already have enooooooough. Besides, I'm doing Samurai Champloo next and then going back to live-action. And I think the next anime in my non-Emily queue after that is probably Paranoia Agent.

another series that sells itself very well by its opening.
I...see. It appears to be about three dozen characters playing cards and blowing stuff up. *Wikipedias* Okay, that does sound pretty cool, and I love the episode titles. It just came out last year, which is why I haven't heard of it, aha. I will keep it in mind! It's only thirteen episodes, after all. Unless it gets a second season (like Melancholy, hurrah!).