Strangely, I'm finding it hard to start this review. I find, for those who know it, that talking about Cowboy Bebop is like talking about the Godfather. It has so much weight, and undeniable talent behind it, that the next things I say had better be spot on.
To begin with, it is the epitome of what is known to some as "dirty space". The dystopian and at times bleak view of human culture taking to the stars. An example, was the attempt by Joss Whedon with Fire Fly, but with no offence intended, Fire Fly has next to nothing in comparison to this incredible piece of anime. The action takes place entirely within the known solar system, with numerous moons and satelites, and some of the planets, becoming scenes of human interaction and noir like drama. Cowboy Bebop is a glorious mix of the afore mentioned film noir, mafia, sci fi and western, with even some zen lunacy thrown in for good measure. The technology shown is brilliantly designed, and with most anime, the attention to minor and seemingly mediocre detail really shows the artistic quality of it all, and brings the scene to life. Cowboy Bebop is littered with such details, from run down looking slums, to drunkards sat in doorways. Cowboy Bebop, like his name would suggest, is possessed of a immersive meloncholy matched only by the blues themselves.
The musical score by Yoko Kanno,(prodominantly swing, blues and jazz in its various guises) is nothing short of flawless and gels seemlessly with the action and drama. More often than not after watching Bebop, I have known people to scramble around the internet looking for the track lists after watching the very first episode. At times, the episodes seem to be written explicitly with the music in mind, and this is shown neatly by the title of each episode, in which they are a jazz song or album. The music arguably is what gives Bebop a bulk of its charm, making it in my opinion, art. Some of the imagery, coupled with excellent musical choice make for some incredibly potent scenes, both dramatically and emotionally for characters and by extention the viewer.
The characters are gritty and their flaws as much a requisite for their actions as their morals. As such, they become almost completely believable. They have, for fear of using this cliche, a very human quality to them. Though arguably these characters have been crafted for the sake of narrative and ultimately the wider and deeper plot, they are characters that the viewer can at times relate too and genuinely feel for. Further more, the characters all have intriguing and touching back stories that have a real impact on their actions within the single series. They have been living prior to these events, and by god to the creators want you to know it, via long lost friends, lovers and family, utilised alongside potent imagery and superb voice acting, the characters are possessed of very tangible and moving dimensions.
The interactions between the characters, though at times dark and charged, have also led to some of the best dark humour and slap stick in anime that I have ever seen. Usually between the rakish Spike and Faye, who maintain witty rapport throughout. The dialogue between characters is devilishly sharp and it cuts a smile into your face before you even realise it.
The endearing team of Ed and Ein makes for some of the most touching moments in later episodes, but also for some of the best slap stick and comic timing within the whole of Bebop. With characters that ultimately relate to one another on so many levels, there is a real sense that they care for eachother, and this gives some of the episodes incredible depth.
You will notice I have purposefully not given away any spoilers, mainly because I dont think I could do them justice, but also, go watch it yourselves if you havent already. You will not be disappointed. Just to sum up, Cowboy Bebop is what anime can be, not some watered down pokemon clone slapped on to childrens television that is a million episodes long, but 26 utterly sublime episodes that, are utterly well written with a plot and ending that could not be any other way. At the risk of being pretentious, I believe Bebop to be one of those defining pieces of our generation, that will stand the test of time, and will always seem stunning and unique when watched for the first time.
Cheers for reading. Even though I still don't think I managed to quite express what I wanted to =p
To begin with, it is the epitome of what is known to some as "dirty space". The dystopian and at times bleak view of human culture taking to the stars. An example, was the attempt by Joss Whedon with Fire Fly, but with no offence intended, Fire Fly has next to nothing in comparison to this incredible piece of anime. The action takes place entirely within the known solar system, with numerous moons and satelites, and some of the planets, becoming scenes of human interaction and noir like drama. Cowboy Bebop is a glorious mix of the afore mentioned film noir, mafia, sci fi and western, with even some zen lunacy thrown in for good measure. The technology shown is brilliantly designed, and with most anime, the attention to minor and seemingly mediocre detail really shows the artistic quality of it all, and brings the scene to life. Cowboy Bebop is littered with such details, from run down looking slums, to drunkards sat in doorways. Cowboy Bebop, like his name would suggest, is possessed of a immersive meloncholy matched only by the blues themselves.
The musical score by Yoko Kanno,(prodominantly swing, blues and jazz in its various guises) is nothing short of flawless and gels seemlessly with the action and drama. More often than not after watching Bebop, I have known people to scramble around the internet looking for the track lists after watching the very first episode. At times, the episodes seem to be written explicitly with the music in mind, and this is shown neatly by the title of each episode, in which they are a jazz song or album. The music arguably is what gives Bebop a bulk of its charm, making it in my opinion, art. Some of the imagery, coupled with excellent musical choice make for some incredibly potent scenes, both dramatically and emotionally for characters and by extention the viewer.
The characters are gritty and their flaws as much a requisite for their actions as their morals. As such, they become almost completely believable. They have, for fear of using this cliche, a very human quality to them. Though arguably these characters have been crafted for the sake of narrative and ultimately the wider and deeper plot, they are characters that the viewer can at times relate too and genuinely feel for. Further more, the characters all have intriguing and touching back stories that have a real impact on their actions within the single series. They have been living prior to these events, and by god to the creators want you to know it, via long lost friends, lovers and family, utilised alongside potent imagery and superb voice acting, the characters are possessed of very tangible and moving dimensions.
The interactions between the characters, though at times dark and charged, have also led to some of the best dark humour and slap stick in anime that I have ever seen. Usually between the rakish Spike and Faye, who maintain witty rapport throughout. The dialogue between characters is devilishly sharp and it cuts a smile into your face before you even realise it.
The endearing team of Ed and Ein makes for some of the most touching moments in later episodes, but also for some of the best slap stick and comic timing within the whole of Bebop. With characters that ultimately relate to one another on so many levels, there is a real sense that they care for eachother, and this gives some of the episodes incredible depth.
You will notice I have purposefully not given away any spoilers, mainly because I dont think I could do them justice, but also, go watch it yourselves if you havent already. You will not be disappointed. Just to sum up, Cowboy Bebop is what anime can be, not some watered down pokemon clone slapped on to childrens television that is a million episodes long, but 26 utterly sublime episodes that, are utterly well written with a plot and ending that could not be any other way. At the risk of being pretentious, I believe Bebop to be one of those defining pieces of our generation, that will stand the test of time, and will always seem stunning and unique when watched for the first time.
Cheers for reading. Even though I still don't think I managed to quite express what I wanted to =p
