Cowboy Bebop - Anime TV Series

It's been 50 years since the lunar gate disaster. When the gate exploded, pieces of the moon crashed down on the Earth, making the surface uninhabitable. Humanity had two choices: to go underground or migrate to other planets and moons. With the aid of the gates, humans were able to colonize places in the further reaches of the solar system.

As these new societies developed, criminal activity increased in strength as well. Powerful crime syndicates, dealing in drug trade and other illegal activities, were formed. In order to combat these solar system-wide organizations, the ISSP (Inter Solar System Police) was formed; but soon they needed the help from outsiders. Thus the freelance bounty hunters were born. By licensing with the ISSP, these space cowboys could hunt down criminals and receive a reward for a successful capture.

The Bebop is the home of such cowboys. Only here can one find a ragtag group of individuals all gathered in one ship. Cowboy Bebop follows some of the adventures of these bounty hunters across the solar system. At the start, Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are the sole members of the bounty hunter team, but the group grows with the addition of Ein, the data dog; Faye Valentine, the sexy and deadly gambler; and Ed, the wacky super-hacker. The group travels from the various moons of Jupiter to the hostile environment of Venus, searching for bounty heads; often times they come out unsuccessful, but they've had their successes as well.

Not only do they hunt for bounties, but they each also uncover a part of their mysterious past during their journeys. Even though the characters are diverse in terms of their personalities and style, they all have something in common: they all have a unique past which the others don't really know about. But eventually the histories behind Spike, Jet, Faye and Ed are revealed.

The stories about the Bebop crew range from hilarious to solemn. They chase after dog-nappers, environmental terrorists, unknown space creatures, fanatical clan leaders, seemingly invincible assassins, bad mushroom dealers, and much more. As they travel together, their comradery grows...even though it's not obvious. One can even go as far as to say that they all need each other. They're all just people who're trying to find a place where they belong, it just so happens that the Bebop is it...at least for the time being.

Thanks to Yoko Kanno, one of the strongest traits of Cowboy Bebop is the music. Many of the songs have a jazz feel to them, but there's a mix of blues, rock, funk, and folk mingled in as well. Each song enhances the mood of the particular scene and it also directs the pace of the action.

The series first aired on April 3, 1998 in Japan. Because of some of the content, TV Tokyo cut some scenes and only 12 episodes were shown (plus a medley episode). But on October 23, 1998, WOWOW showed the series in its entirety (all 26 episodes without any cuts). It took nearly three years before Cowboy Bebop was brought over to US television. With the start of Cartoon Network's new late night block, Adult Swim, American audiences can now enjoy the series with minimal cuts and edits every Sunday and Thursday night at 12:00 AM ET (it's actually Monday and Friday morning).

Besides videos and DVD's, other Cowboy Bebop items are available for purchase. There are several soundtracks available, including three OST's from the series alone. Models of Spike's Swordfish II can be found at hobby stores or online retailers. A couple of statues, particularly of Faye Valentine, have been spotted. Kaiyodo Xebec, the creator of some Evangelion and Trigun figures, has just released a Spike Spiegel figure in Japan and it will be available in the US in 2002. There's even a Cowboy Bebop manga!

Probably one of the best news to come out recently relating to Cowboy Bebop is the movie, Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Bebop fans living in Japan were able to see the film starting September 1, 2001. US fans shouldn't worry, though; Columbia Pictures will be releasing the movie in US theaters sometime in 2002. Keep your eyes out for more news on the movie's release.

So whether you're a long-time Cowboy Bebop fan or you're just starting out, the series is definitely worth your time. Filled with intense action, outrageous humor, and complex human relationships, the series will grab you from the start and never let you go! Buckle up, Space Cowboy, you're in for a rough ride...