View Full Version : Cowboy Bebop: Years later is it still as good?
Anime Freak
05-20-2007, 04:09 PM
I remember 6-7 years ago when Cowboy Bebop was first about to premiere on Adult Swim, it was quite hyped and considered to be one of the "best" animes out thereif not the best and it certainly did well in the ratings (if i'm recalling right). And honestly IMO, it definetly lived up to its repuation, it had standalone eps that were actually good and not nonsense filled and its comedy was dry but funny and well crafted. And its finale, well who can argue that it didn't have a good ending?
So now years later, and 500+ animes later. Do you still consider Cowboy Bebop to be the best of the best or has it lost its touch?
Funkmasta Zeph
05-20-2007, 04:36 PM
Pretty much.
Its just such a pleasure.
HG Revolution
05-20-2007, 04:38 PM
Yeah, it's still amazing. Only Paranoia Agent gives it a run for the money for title of best TV anime ever.
savedbythebell
05-20-2007, 04:51 PM
Its still my favorite.
Kurokawa41
05-20-2007, 04:53 PM
And its finale, well who can argue that it didn't have a good ending?
I can argue that the finale focused too much on Spike and not the other characters. Well... it was still a good ending, but it should have focused more evenly on the main cast. Anyway, I never considered Cowboy Bebop the best of the best. But I still do think it is really good.
GregX
05-20-2007, 04:54 PM
Yes, yes it is.
Cowboy Bebop is still one of the best anime shows around.
XOMiss_Samantha
05-20-2007, 05:43 PM
Cowboy Bebop will always remain one of the best animes ever. If I could fast forward time to 2015, I would still say the same thing.
Mynd Hed
05-20-2007, 06:14 PM
...its comedy was dry but funny and well crafted.
I don't know that I'd consider Mushroom Samba or Cowboy Funk "dry." Funny as hell, yes; dry, no. (-:
But in answer to your question, yes. Yes indeedy.
Desensitized
05-20-2007, 06:14 PM
It still holds up. Quite amazing, really.
While I still like it, I think Samurai Champloo's better overall.
Then again, I'm pretty much the only person who doesn't like Ballad of Fallen Angels and who does like Heavy Metal Queen and Boehemian Rhapsody...
Dead_Ninja_111
05-20-2007, 06:30 PM
There's a few episodes that stand out and a few others that I could care less about, but overall if it's on I'd just play it for background.
Gatomon41
05-20-2007, 06:33 PM
Yes, Cowboy bebop still remains fun to watch, feels fresh, great voices, and a good plot. It's timeless.
Anime Freak
05-20-2007, 08:23 PM
While I still like it, I think Samurai Champloo's better overall.
Then again, I'm pretty much the only person who doesn't like Ballad of Fallen Angels and who does like Heavy Metal Queen and Boehemian Rhapsody...
Wow :eek: That is kinda weird as I consider Balld of Fallen Angels one of the top 5 eps in the series. Especially the battle scene and Spike's fall with that great music playing at the end showcasing scenes of his past, that's one scene i''ll never forget.
Fresh V
05-20-2007, 08:42 PM
I don't understand what people see in this show. It's good, but I don't see what's so super special awesome about it. Maybe I just need to see more episodes.
Captain Highwind
05-20-2007, 09:08 PM
Jet's still one of my favorite characters.
It's just as good as it's always been. But the lack of airings is making me appreciate it more. In fact, I'm starting to come around to appreciating Champloo too, despite no explanation for the zombie episode.
LoneToonman
05-20-2007, 09:19 PM
I remember 6-7 years ago when Cowboy Bebop was first about to premiere on Adult Swim, it was quite hyped and considered to be one of the "best" animes out thereif not the best and it certainly did well in the ratings (if i'm recalling right). And honestly IMO, it definetly lived up to its repuation, it had standalone eps that were actually good and not nonsense filled and its comedy was dry but funny and well crafted. And its finale, well who can argue that it didn't have a good ending?
So now years later, and 500+ animes later. Do you still consider Cowboy Bebop to be the best of the best or has it lost its touch?
Yeah, it's still one of the best. Still one of my favorites and it's still one of the first choices in my DVD collection, when I'm not sure what to watch.
I'll say that much.
Desensitized
05-20-2007, 09:28 PM
In fact, I'm starting to come around to appreciating Champloo too, despite no explanation for the zombie episode.That episode still confuses the hell out of me.
But I still find CB the superior show of the two.
I watched Bebop again recently and yeah, it's still just as freakin' awesome as it's always been.
Jet's still one of my favorite characters.
It's just as good as it's always been. But the lack of airings is making me appreciate it more. In fact, I'm starting to come around to appreciating Champloo too, despite no explanation for the zombie episode.
So you can suspend disbelief for beat-boxing, rapping, breakdancing, tagger samurai who wear glasses before they were invented, but you need an explanation for zombies? Realism is no fun.
I can argue that the finale focused too much on Spike and not the other characters. Well... it was still a good ending, but it should have focused more evenly on the main cast. Anyway, I never considered Cowboy Bebop the best of the best. But I still do think it is really good.
Hm? Each of the characters had their own finales (with the possible exception of Jet). Faye had as big a finale as Spike, it's just he's the main character so his had to come at the end.
elsie
05-20-2007, 09:42 PM
Cowboy Bebop has what to me is one of the best alltime anime scenes in it: the end of "Honky Tonk Woman" from the moment the song "Call me" starts up to the end of the episode -- just perfect.
KuwabaraTheMan
05-20-2007, 09:59 PM
Still very good, although Samurai Champloo is better.
But Bebop is one of those shows that will always be enjoyable to me. A truly timeless show.
Captain Highwind
05-20-2007, 11:12 PM
So you can suspend disbelief for beat-boxing, rapping, breakdancing, tagger samurai who wear glasses before they were invented, but you need an explanation for zombies? Realism is no fun.
Incomplete endings are even less fun. :\
Zeonic Freak
05-20-2007, 11:17 PM
I really dont have much of an interest seeing Champloo at all IMO...
Ever since my first episode which was Pierrot Le Fu (which to me is the most awsome episode ever), i have had a very good liking to the series, and had me pretty much start my intrest back into anime way back when in my Freshman year of HS.
As for Spikes past flashes and how it ends, i think its up to us how the story went, which those kinda stories are the best kind. You just fill in what you wanna think happend...
SpaceCowboy
05-21-2007, 12:15 AM
Still is the Citizen Kane of anime TV series.
YUP!! Long live the Bebop!! Jet, Spike, Faye an' Ed, they're in 'da house!!!!!!!
The Gunnshuu
05-21-2007, 12:49 AM
Bebop remains my favorite anime series, but my opinions of what I've enjoyed about it have changed over time (favorite character: Spike ----> Faye; favorite ep: RFB ----> HLW & Jupiter Jazz). However, I'll always relish the crew's witty repartee, the phenomenally detailed overworld (i.e. the existence of slums despite humanity's advancements into space & all the multilingual signs), and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Freedom Fighter
05-21-2007, 04:08 AM
It's still in my Top 10, even several years after ending. Sure, I've had other shows that have impressed me more, yet there's something to be said about the style and the cool characters Bebop brings. Not to mention some of the most off-the-wall moments and episodes you'll ever see in a serious drama that actually work.
It's pretty safe to say Bebop has lasting power because there's nothing else remotely like it. Save for Samurai Champloo, but that doesn't count since it's from the same creator. :p
Weatherman
05-21-2007, 11:05 AM
Then again, I'm pretty much the only person who doesn't like Ballad of Fallen Angels and who does like Heavy Metal Queen and Boehemian Rhapsody...
I always got a kick out of Heavy Metal Queen.
I think the show has held up fairly well over time. It helps that they suck a major load of money on the animation so it still looks really good even as technology has gotten better. Of course, we can't forget the music either. Long live Yokko Kano!
ObeliskNoKami
05-21-2007, 11:29 AM
I watched Bebop again recently and yeah, it's still just as freakin' awesome as it's always been.
So you can suspend disbelief for beat-boxing, rapping, breakdancing, tagger samurai who wear glasses before they were invented, but you need an explanation for zombies? Realism is no fun.
Hm? Each of the characters had their own finales (with the possible exception of Jet). Faye had as big a finale as Spike, it's just he's the main character so his had to come at the end.
Jet got his finale (remember the episode with the blonde guy with the revolver, I would call that a finale since it resolved the event in his past that had the greatest impact), it just came a bit sooner than the other main characters. I still wonder what became of the old guy after all "that" happened.
I could have seen him going along with Spike though and getting killed along the way since the Syndicate kind of did owe him one for turning his partner on him, but he got back at the partner so that is probably enough for that old dog. Edward probably returned with her father after all of that. Faye is a hard one for me to figure out and Jet I could see returning to the law again, but probably as a desk guy, but at the same time I can't and figure that if he had to do something that he and Faye could continue cowboying around.
Cowboy Bebop was definitely special to those that saw it the first time around on AS (especially after missing two episodes), it has it's own mark in my mind that doesn't necessarily overlap newer tastes, but certainly doesn't stay behind them (One Piece, Death Note, Berserk, Slam Dunk).
Mr.Kurtz
05-21-2007, 03:51 PM
Bebop will be my favorite anime til another show can dethrone it outright. But so far no show I've enjoyed as much watching the new episodes, and had the same combination of interesting characters, quality animation, kickin' music, great action, interesting plots and such a detailed world. And it's just oozing with style.
flcl and fma have come close, with gits:sac and champloo rounding out my top five, but none of them have been able to knock bebop out of my personal top spot.
Kurokawa41
05-21-2007, 04:35 PM
Hm? Each of the characters had their own finales (with the possible exception of Jet). Faye had as big a finale as Spike, it's just he's the main character so his had to come at the end.
Maybe there's something I'm not remembering (since I haven't seen the series in a while) but in the end Spike dies and Faye and Jet are still on the ship...? What happens to them after that, exactly...?
Weatherman
05-21-2007, 04:51 PM
Maybe there's something I'm not remembering (since I haven't seen the series in a while) but in the end Spike dies and Faye and Jet are still on the ship...? What happens to them after that, exactly...?
They go on bounty hunting. What else is there for them to do? They're nomads and always will be.
Kurokawa41
05-21-2007, 04:59 PM
They go on bounty hunting. What else is there for them to do? They're nomads and always will be.
Eh, but that's pretty much what I meant. Spike gets revenge on Vicious and dies an epic death. Faye and Jet keep bounty hunting, woo. The end.
Space Chief
05-21-2007, 05:00 PM
A thousand times yes. It is what got me into anime, after all. One of those rare series where every episode is great, and one of the few I've seen that can seamlessly blend drama and comedy that is actually funny. Toss in a great score and one of the best English dubs ever, and the rare anime ending that makes perfect sense, and you've got a classic.
Champloo was almost as good, though for me it didn't really pick up until after the 2-parter with Mukoro.
Anime Freak
05-21-2007, 06:51 PM
Eh, but that's pretty much what I meant. Spike gets revenge on Vicious and dies an epic death. Faye and Jet keep bounty hunting, woo. The end.
Yeah,thats the one thing i always wondered as well. I mean it seemed like Faye was always there because of Spike, same with Ed and Ein. They all came aboard the ship due to Spike in some form or fashion, so without him is there really that connection or relation for Faye to have stayed on board with Jet? Especially with how they didn't exactly get along...
purplehairedwonder
05-21-2007, 07:21 PM
I'd say yes.
Bebop was never my top favorite show but it was one of the best quality shows I've ever seen, though oddly I still have never seen the first episode. I've seen the rest, but have missed the first episode every time it's been on AS. It's a show that I'll eventually add to my collection because it's just timeless like that. No matter how long in the future before I end up doing that, I'm positive it'll still be as good as the first time I saw it.
I also like Samurai Champloo, but Bebop is still better to me.
Kagetsu
05-21-2007, 07:28 PM
despite no explanation for the zombie episode.
That was just a waste :anime:
Yes, though there is a few episodes of Bebop, the cowboy and teddy bomber. I don't like, the characters and show still hold a high place in my animated heart. It's the only reason I started watching [AS]
Gokou Ruri
05-21-2007, 09:18 PM
I liked it, but I'm surprised it's so popular. It seems like one of those shows the otaku would shun, like Pokemon, because of the episodic nature and how there's essentially no plot to the show.
I liked it, but I'm surprised it's so popular. It seems like one of those shows the otaku would shun, like Pokemon, because of the episodic nature and how there's essentially no plot to the show.
Ah, but Pokémon is a kiddy cartoon, and kiddy cartoons = root of all evil. Cowboy Bebop has guns and smoking and blood and hermaphrodites and stuff.
Classic Speedy
05-21-2007, 10:07 PM
Well the first time I saw Cowboy Bebop in its entirety was when the Remix DVDs came out, so I don't quite have as long of a gap to put the show into a "is it still as good as it was when it came out in Japan/aired on Adult Swim" perspective as many of you. But let's just say I liked it when I bought it, and I still like it. It's one of my favorites, and it's very easy to rewatch due to its episodic nature. Plus as countless people have said, it just oozes style, and that helps.
Pacman729
05-21-2007, 10:31 PM
Yes. Cowboy Bebop, is a good show. And it got me into Anime/Manga in gentral.
wingdarkness
05-21-2007, 11:53 PM
The greatness of Cowboy Bebop is that it created a new genre that is essentially timeless in it's artistic expressionism....So 100 years from now or 50 years ago Bebop will always have themes that transcend time...And yes it's still good...
Desensitized
05-22-2007, 01:02 AM
Ever since my first episode which was Pierrot Le Fu (which to me is the most awsome episode ever)
That is the best episode of the entire series. Everything about it is perfect.
TOTALLY underrated, too.
I got my dad into the show with that episode and he's not much of an anime fan.
Leaping Larry Jojo
05-22-2007, 01:18 PM
It is still a good show. But I get less out of it than most fans.
GWOtaku
05-22-2007, 01:50 PM
Lets see here: Top notch dialogue with an excellent VA cast, an awesome score drawing from all sorts of great music, great choreography and action, painful drama ("bang"), amusing humor and parody--all together in one 26-episode anime series.
Hell yes, BeBop is still just that good.
For the record, "Wild Horses" is my favorite session Cowboy parody, hilarious duels and dialogue between Spike and the cowboy wannabe, and a relentlessy mocked, incompetant terrorist that rails against capitalism and the system only to be constantly interrupted by Spike's hijinks. Classic episode.
rubberchicken
05-22-2007, 02:10 PM
I thought Wild Horses was the one where Spike runs out of gas and has to meet up with the guy who built the Swordfish?
Mr.Kurtz
05-22-2007, 02:36 PM
Wild horses is the episode where Spike meats the man who built the swordfish and faye is used for bait while Jet fishes for the three bounty-heads.
Cowboy Funk is the episode with the una-bomber terrorist wannabe.
Bebop is the only anime, maybe the only series, where I can name every episode.
Another testament to its quality is that even the people posting aren't big fans at least have something good to say about it. Nothing gets universal praise on the internet but that's not bad.
GWOtaku
05-22-2007, 02:43 PM
Wow you're right, my bad. Goes to show its been too long since I've seen it....
Mr.Kurtz
05-22-2007, 03:34 PM
Wow you're right, my bad. Goes to show its been too long since I've seen it....
I've seen the movie recently, but not an actual episode in a while.
I'm still on the fence on whether to buy the remix dvds since I have the whole series already. But Wendee Lee doing commentary is tempting.
Anyone know if the remix dvds are worth buying.
Beefy
05-22-2007, 03:39 PM
Other shows have come and gone, but Cowboy Bebop is still one of the best.
The series has great rewatchability (as long as you don't run it into the ground) and will always be one of my top recommendations.
Other series start to look old compared with today's shiny new animation, but Cowboy Bebop still looks good. The Seatbelts soundtrack adds to the greatness of the series.
My favorite episode: Toys in the Attic
Dark Fact
05-22-2007, 03:40 PM
I think the remix DVDs have DTS audio now if I'm not mistaken...which would absolutely rule with a series with awesome music like Cowboy Bebop. :)
I thought Wild Horses was the one where Spike runs out of gas and has to meet up with the guy who built the Swordfish?
Isn't that the episode with the salvaged Spaceship Columbia rocket?
As for the series itself, while I haven't seen the final three episodes, I loved what I've seen from it and the movie as well. The acting: awesome. The drama: awesome. The comedy: very awesome! :D
Besides, Tank! has to be the best anime opening of all time. I still haven't seen any anime series to date that can top it.
Anime Freak
05-22-2007, 04:36 PM
In regards to Toys in the Attic, was it originally supposed to be the last eppy? I say that because it makes it seem like every character dies in that one(but obviously they dont) and the whole ep just seems out of place compared to the rest of the series.
Gokou Ruri
05-22-2007, 04:40 PM
In regards to Toys in the Attic, was it originally supposed to be the last eppy? I say that because it makes it seem like every character dies in that one(but obviously they dont) and the whole ep just seems out of place compared to the rest of the series. Maybe it was the last episode aired in Japan? I know Japan found the series to be too violent and didn't air all the episodes when it first ran on Japanese television.
Weatherman
05-22-2007, 04:46 PM
Maybe it was the last episode aired in Japan? I know Japan found the series to be too violent and didn't air all the episodes when it first ran on Japanese television.
Nahh, it was a total Halloween joke episode and they were alright in the end anyway.
Karl Olson
05-23-2007, 12:37 AM
The story certainly holds up (classic tragic hero, intelligently episodic and serial at the time, outstandingly cross cultural) and while it'd definitely receive much cleaner compositing and 3D-animation these days, it's hands down the best of the transitional anime visually (especially out of Sunrise,) and even in this fully digital era, it puts all but the most expensive and detailed modern projects to shame. Shoot, the storyboarding will probably always hold up as a go to example of how to board hand-to-hand, weapon-based and aerial combat.
Zechs
05-23-2007, 12:44 AM
It's one of the few anime that an stand the test of time. It's well done and dosen't use the same tired formulas most anime use.
Harvey Two Face
05-23-2007, 02:33 AM
I never get tired of it, it has done it's job as a great show and can continue to entertain others as well as those who know it well.
RAINMAN
05-24-2007, 03:49 AM
In regards to Toys in the Attic, was it originally supposed to be the last eppy? I say that because it makes it seem like every character dies in that one(but obviously they dont) and the whole ep just seems out of place compared to the rest of the series.
CB was originaly supposed to be 12 ep but sense it became a big hit sunrise made more. TITA was a spoof of aliens. And the ending was meant to make fun of animes having a bad habit of killing off all main characters when the series ends......and sometimes bring them back to life.:sweat:
Karl Olson
05-24-2007, 05:23 AM
CB was originaly supposed to be 12 ep but sense it became a big hit sunrise made more. TITA was a spoof of aliens. And the ending was meant to make fun of animes having a bad habit of killing off all main characters when the series ends......and sometimes bring them back to life.:sweat:
Wrong.
It was always 26, but 14 episodes were cut from the original Japanese terrestrial broadcast run do to the timeslot and standards and practices concerns. They ran 12 plus a compilation episode.
Space Chief, you know most of those Chick tracts are actually drawn by Fred Carter. Though your avatar looks like ass, so I can only assume that was done by Chick himself. Anyway, glad to see someone else aware of that bigot.
On-topic, I'm going to see Yoko Kanno next month. Neat, right?
Gokou Ruri
05-24-2007, 04:20 PM
Wrong.
It was always 26, but 14 episodes were cut from the original Japanese terrestrial broadcast run do to the timeslot and standards and practices concerns. They ran 12 plus a compilation episode. Do you know which 12, for curiosity's sake?
Grenzer
05-24-2007, 04:46 PM
Do you know which 12, for curiosity's sake?
The 12 episodes were 2-3, 7-15, and 18. From Cowboy Bebop.org (http://www.cowboybebop.org/english/session/story/index.html).
Space Chief
05-24-2007, 06:25 PM
Gonna go OT here, but:
Space Chief, you know most of those Chick tracts are actually drawn by Fred Carter. Though your avatar looks like ass, so I can only assume that was done by Chick himself. Anyway, glad to see someone else aware of that bigot.
Yeah, I have no idea how exactly drew it, but you can't deny that it doesn't look like someone hooked a bicycle pump up to the back of her head and went SCHWUMP.
Anyway, Toys In The Attic is one of my favorites, the end of that episode is just done perfectly, not to mention arguably the best quote of the series.
I prefer Gateway Shuffle and Mushroom Samba.
MR.MXYZPTLK
05-24-2007, 07:06 PM
I haven't actually seen the entire series, so I can't make any real judgement, but I have seen a significant portion of it, and I've never understood why its raved about so much.
It certainly had alot of style but I also found alot of the eps a bit dull. I often see Outlaw star compared to this, and thats a show I thought did the Space/Bounty Hunter genre alot better.
I should really watch the rest of the series before I make a proper judgement, and I wouldn't call it overated but there's something about the show I don't like...:shrug:
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