Why do people say Cowboy Bebop is awesome?

[manaman]

I like a grand total of three anime shows. This is one of them. Don't think I haven't given other shows the benefit of the doubt either. I have watch countless series and never really liked them.

To answer the question posed in the title: Because they like it.

Its the only anime I think is watchable. According to wikipedia it has almost universal acclaim. Starwars wasn't that great but look how it is recieved. How do you get on probation. Ive been trying but so far no luck.

I always get on probation for stupid reasons, like the mod saying that i didn't read the op when posting, when I did, and even though my post was completely related to the subject at hand.

I am thinking your user name doesn't help anything. Makes people think dumb kid more then anything else and that taints the way they perceive anything you write. Might take something you wrote as jokingly and read it as immature mocking, and report away.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

The music is awesome, the show is awesome and the movie is awesome, therefor ...
Cowboy Bebop is Awesome

 

[kurokotetsu]

To Narrow down my problem a bit more, here it is. I don't like how each episode is a separate story. I find that the best part of anime is that they can tell a story better then a movie because they can flesh things out, and not drag on for hundreds of episodes with no real story with an end like most TV shows.

Though some anime are like this, namely the most popular like Naruto, Dbz, Bleach. etc
I've never actually gotten into any of them except i got into Naruto for about 40 episodes and gave up because it was endless patting.

The episodic nature is part of what makes this show great. While there is no great overarching story (only six episodes are connected,if my recollection is correct), what they do with this is explore more of the characters without having to come with convoluted ways of linking it to the main story. You may simply drift to Jet and his past, or look at how Faye cares about other people. They don't interlink, but that isn't as other TV shows where they return to the status quo, the characters adavance even when there is no "story". I would say it is a character show.

It also follows greatly the show don't tell, and leaves a lot of the audience. The "main story" is vaguely explained, insinuated, but you still get it very well.

That, with beautiful animation and great music by Yoko Kanno, set a great atmosphere. Coupled with the few space westerns and how the tropes of both genres are played. I think that I could say more, but that are the basics.

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

It is Kanno. Yoko Kanno.

 

[DeAvatar]

Here is the frame that seems to capture the gist of this show's appeal for me. I hope it helps.

Each show is a jazz piece, stand alone, played by instruments.

The instruments are the characters, and we start with just Jet, and he quickly pairs with Spike, and a simple duet is formed, rhythm and bass so to speak. Faye, Edward and Ein all join in on subsequent episodes, and we have a quintet.

Each character, after they are introduced, plays along in combo with the whole, but then each gets a "solo", a show about mainly them and their back story. In Edward's case, her solo also forms her play off.

After the solos, each member drops out, and we are left with Spike and Jet, and then finally just Spike.

Fin.

Wow, now that you've put it that way, I've got to go and watch the series again. Never thought to look at it that way, and when put into that view, makes total sense.

For me, Bebop will always be the anime that pairs..dare I say...perfectly with the music that plays. (Even wrote an English paper on the meshing of Anime and Music.) Most music just touches the surface of the emotion, but when you combine what you know of the characters with the music playing, it touches a piece of you deep down.

 

[icame]

I am thinking your user name doesn't help anything. Makes people think dumb kid more then anything else and that taints the way they perceive anything you write. Might take something you wrote as jokingly and read it as immature mocking, and report away.

Well to tell you the truth I probably am a dumb immature kid

 

[nightowl195]

It's an anime that has as few anime tropes as possible, which makes it watchable to me (Though "Ed" makes me cringe).

It is also very well written, has good english actors, and is about Bounty Hunters IN SPAAAAAAAAAAACE.

EDIT- I should note that Bebop is one of only three anime shows that I have ever actually "liked", so I'm no expert on the subject. Hell, by anime-fan standards it may suck, but by "people who enjoy watching good television" standards, it was pretty enjoyable...except "Ed". God that kid was annoying.

Huh. Some one already posted essentially what I was going to say. That's a first. You're psychic!!!!

 

[hellswarmglow]

What makes Cowboy Bebop amazing for me is, aside from the storyline, animation style, and incredible depth of even the one-episode throwaway characters, the music. From the first few seconds of the theme song, the audience knows it's going to see something unique.

That, and I love Einstein.

 

[Deminobody]

To Narrow down my problem a bit more, here it is. I don't like how each episode is a separate story. I find that the best part of anime is that they can tell a story better then a movie because they can flesh things out, and not drag on for hundreds of episodes with no real story with an end like most TV shows.

I remember watching Cowboy Bebop after just finishing Death Note and Code Geass and being slightly dismayed that Bebop was more episodic than one big epic story. Stick with it and you'll find out that it is in fact one big great story just told a bit differently than other animes.

Cowboy Bebop isn't outstanding in the fact it has some epic struggle between good and evil over the fate of yata yata yata. The characters and their lives are the story, and its told well enough that that's all it needs.

The characters will fully flesh out, you'll hear about the cost of things in Woolongs so much you'll be able to grasp the value of everything, you'll run in to the same misplaced three amigos, and you'll be reminded at every turn there is no smoking allowed.

I've watched the final scene of Cowboy Bebop more than any other series I've ever watched. I wish I could discuss what it means to me, but I definitely don't want to spoil anything.

 

[manaman]

I am thinking your user name doesn't help anything. Makes people think dumb kid more then anything else and that taints the way they perceive anything you write. Might take something you wrote as jokingly and read it as immature mocking, and report away.

Well to tell you the truth I probably am a dumb immature kid

There really isn't anything wrong with that, you are free to express your opinion, but you can't express it however you want on the boards, don't say anything to anyone you wouldn't want them to say to you and you should be fine. Great way to avoid 90% of the trouble you could get into is to read what you wrote over again before you post.

 

[AugustFall]

Awesome characters, characterisation, pacing (It doesn't just jump into it) and a very cool universe.

If you don't like it you don't like it.

 

[Tanis]

You're 'just now watching it' could be part of the problem.

Cowboy Bebop, when it came out, was one of...if not the...first anime to combine Westerns, Sci-Fi, 'camera filming', and episodic storytelling that didn't feel stupid.

It's one of those thing...sort of like Pogs and Hair metal.

 

[ajb924]

Personally, I have no idea what makes it the "greatest anime evar!" that people make it out to be, but I did thoroughly enjoy it when I finally got around to watching it a few months back. As a series, it does almost everything right. As for why I don't consider it to be anywhere near my favourites, well, it may do everything right, but it's more a "jack of all trades and master of none". Other series have characters I like more, stories I find better, humour I find more entertaining, action I like better and so on.

Also, Ed. I don't like her and I never will. JUST FUCK OFF YOU WICKED AND VILE CREATURE!

How do you not like Ed? I cried when she wrote goodbye on the ship...
OT: It has a lot to do with nostalgia. Personally, I think Trigun did what Bebop was trying to do, and they did it a hell of a lot better.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

Everyone has their own opinion, it just so happens we all like Cowboy Bebop.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I loved the pacing, the way the story was told and the music. I still do, but yeah.

A big thing for me though is, it wasn't totally out there in terms of the sci fi. It was an anime I could relate to the world I live in, well relate to most then most titles. Filled with ups and downs, top ramen and kickass music.

It stumbles in a few places, but they are forgivable. Ed's western voice actor could have been a little better, and Spike INHALING in space (which would make you explode) bug me a little. But it also manages to be the only anime show I have watched that made me give a damn about the characters.

 

[thenoblitt]

good music, good characters, good writing, good voice acting, good story, not much more you can ask for

 

[Vohn_exel]

What it does, it does well. The characters are done well, the show has emotional impact, and actually while the episodes aren't always linked together, there is an overarching story, but you don't see it too many episodes consecutively. I have to say that I'm surprised you don't like Ballad of the Fallen Angels (episode 5) as thats my favorite episode of the series and usually the episode that really hooks everyone.

 

[Jorias]

To be fair I'm 5 episodes in. I am enjoying it, but it is by no means a masterpiece like i hear it is. For example anime news network has it in their top 10 anime list.

What is so special about this show?

Here's a question, why can't you form your own opinion on the game and not really care about what others think about the series?

I like CBB, i used to own all the DVD's until someone stole them.

I think you can blame the Otaku sub-culture (sub-human species is more like it) for inflating or deflating the likeness of "insert Anime here" seriously though if you like it great, i loved it i like Sci-Fi Anime's and i Dig Spike's attitude on things...bottom line it's entertaining which is the goal of a series like this right?