Anime Review: Cowboy Bebop (1998)

 Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become devils.

 OK, 3,2,1, let’s review! The anime is made in the far past, and it is set in the distant future, yet it gives very nostalgic feelings about it. It constantly reminds us how big this universe is, and yet we are all alone. If the world is like the spaceship, we may be moving together, but we are on different journeys, and some of us are stuck in the past, can’t move forward nor backward, just drifting carrying weights aimlessly, pointlessly. The anime can easily fall in the category of true classics for its style, design, animation, music, and the depth of its lead characters. Its western sci-fi style with the balance of sombre and humour, excellent music, great cast, top-notch animation serves to glue it in the hearts of everyone who experience the series. 

It is presented with standalone episodes, with few strings which connect them with each other. But even in its episodic format, it perfectly manages to develop its characters so well, strengthening the whole anime. It gives space to the individuality of all of them and their relationships with each other, to their personal journeys and their adventures together. Spike, Jet, Faye, and Ed are among the best and memorable characters of the genre. They are as divergent as four different directions with different backgrounds, opinions, and many clashes, yet manage to work together, it can be considered one of the many wonders of the anime. In just 26 episodes of only 22-23 minutes, viewers develop a deep bond with them. Here the series achieves the mark of quality. 

The animation work of it makes it very special and super classy. I might have seen less anime, but anybody who has seen 100+ anime would defiantly agree that the animation gives a cinematic experience and makes it different from others, and even over two decades, it doesn’t become outdated but emerges as an evergreen piece of art. The places the crew of the spaceship Bebop visit, are imbued with vivid details, stunning colours, and a sense of surrealism.

The quality of the sound sets the anime apart from the other anime series. World-renowned Yoko Kanno is a music composer. Yoko formed a band named The Seatbelts, especially for the series, which performed music mix of jazz, rock, blues, etc., which perfectly blends with the characters’ easy-going attitude. Even after all these years, Cowboy Bebop has the most unique and stylish soundtrack. Also, the sound effects like noises of engines, crowds, gunshots, explosions are done very well. 

It’s interesting that all four characters, hunted by their past, are bounty hunters who can’t or don’t want to deal with the demons inside of them, trying to catch them outside. They all are bound by the chains of their pasts, and when they try to be free from them, the chains add more weight which they would carry on forever. The anime will get your nerve, and it will go deep down in your system, this is what I have felt, and if watching it is like a dream, you’ll never want to wake up from.  So, whatever happens, happens, and it should have happened that you have seen the anime at least once in your life. I will indeed watch it again in the future, till then, see you, Cowboy Bebop.

 

 

 

 

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