Vengeful Spirit why don't other shows take risks like this one...and I don't just mean how its directed....character...music...wise...... I mean with the realistic sad anit heroic pasts sad unlikeable main characters but yet still likeable.... true confusion.....they give you so little but so much.......the main plot episodes are so good but I like how its intertwined with silly stand alone episodes that you can watch in any order without seeing the previous episodes its so good
razkable Because modern anime studios are basing their programming around statistics rather than what they think is quality. As it stands, most shows are being written with wimpy lead characters and unfunny boob jokes, so they'll keep making that as long as it sells.
Vengeful Spirit Sorry for me fanboying, but one thing that made these series matter to me(and I'm sure many others too) is the fact that Cowboy Bebop has beginning and the end... *manly tears*
I read something about Bebop that has always stuck with me : "Cowboy Bebop is the epilogue to a story we never get to see." All of the events that shaped these characters have already happened, in many ways their heroes journey is already complete. We catch glimpses of the past that made each of these characters who they are, but the show itself is the final punctuation point to their story that has already been completed. Truly a great show that I keep coming back to year after year. It always treated me as an adult, even when I wasn't one yet. It has a great blend of humor, action, and characters that feel real. Many will point out that there are few episodes that actually advance the plot and that the main villain of the series hardly gets any screen time. While these criticisms are true, they miss the point of the show. One final point I would like to make, is how much the shows defies modern anime story conventions. If Cowboy Bebop were made today, there would have been a dozen awkward sexual tension moments between Faye and Spike with gratuitous fan service shots, Jet would have died for a cheap raising of the emotional stakes, and everything would be wrapped up in a nice neat bow with feel good ends to characters story arcs with openings for sequel seasons. Cowboy Bebop was special even for its day, and time has only been more kind to the show; a rare feat for any television show.
Also The Walking Dead to me, was similar to this. The show, not the comic, was really about the epilogue of the heroes story. They survive the apocalypse. The families have been reunited, the brothers in arms are together, the best friend and the hero are complete, in a sense. Now let's see how they do after the "happily ever after". Too bad the shows fallen off pretty hard. Can't stand it.
You're both right and wrong about the modern anime thing. The thing is, Cowboy Bebop was also defying conventions at the time, because really conventions haven't so much changed as been leaned into harder. However, you also have to consider that Cowboy Bebop has a real distinguishing quality in its production: It was made for adults. Cowboy Bebop is Seinen, unlike most anime that exists and about 90% of what gets localized. The reason it's so much more adult than most anime is that it was *actually made for adults.* Well, that and how good it is. At the same time, I do agree that Bebop couldn't have been made at any other time. It was an insane confluence of events, a gathering of ludicrously talented people under one roof, all lead by someone who had never directed solo before and somehow turned in the kind of masterwork that most directors try to create for an entire career. And I don't think Sunrise Studio 2 would have been given that kind of free reign to make something this insane at any other time. But this was the late 90s, and the industry was still recovering from the tactical nuke to any and all preconceptions of what anime was that was Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Auteurism was at an all-time high...
Actually Toys in the Attic was a VERY important episode just like every episode in Cowboy Bebop. If an episode isn't trying to progress the plot, it's trying to compliment the plot and that's exactly what it did. The message of it was basically don't leave things that forgotten, cause they could come back to bite you.
I Just Gave My Nigga Head I Just Gave My Nigga Head Thank you so much for contributing this thought. That episode always seemed so random to me. I mostly viewed Toys In The Attic was a homage to Alien, a sort of horror episode (like tree house horror) and seemingly unrelated out of place "lessons" (which did not seem like lessons at all, and seemed odd for the characters to say). Gaining this perspective gives 'Toys In The Attic' whole new meaning for me, thank you!
sanjay pallur When I first saw this scene, I had to play it over and over. I couldn't believe I was watching anime; one of the most artful transitions I've ever seen on film. And Green Bird fit perfectly!
Ok, is it just me, or is the episode where Ed goes back to her dad the saddest fucking episode ever? When I see them staring at her note, I just can't 😢
I’m surprised that no one mentions how Ed’s father is the only character in the show that can nonchalantly beat Spike up. Spike’s ready to give Ed’s dad a 2 piece combo and a biscuit with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, and Ed’s dad takes it like it’s a mosquito bite, and gives Spike the business with a head but. That being said, Cowboy Bebop is one of those shows where you remember where you were in your life when you saw it. The animation, the story, the music and the incredible English dub were impeccable.
@@rorywhelan_Popular fan theory is that Ed's father is so strong cause he lives in Earth gravity that is nearly 3x stronger than Mars. Makes sense, bit sadly it isn't something the show dives into detail about.
The ending of 'Speak like a Child' really pulled my heart strings! The metaphor of Kid Faye talking to older Faye gave me chills! Did you understand that part? :)
The moment Edward left: the painted face on the deck of the Bebop, Ein following her, Spike and Jet silently eating eggs, Faye laying on the ground of a ruin, the music. It was genius! I never felt any stronger connection with anime characters than that time. It was so sad, but so cool! The fridge with the alien from 'Toys in the Attic' makes a cameo in Space Dandy, another very good show. I believe it was in "The Lonely Pooch Planet, Baby" episode 8.
I just can't get enough of the soundtrack! The characters are so tangible I feel they are still out there. Thank you for reviewing this beautiful piece of art.
"It's got to be someone that will like me for myself, well I think it'll be tough being with me but... there's probably a man unlucky enough in the universe though" that what Faye said
it was one of my first anime, and I watched Cowboy Bebop right afterwards. Both are SO good. I can't quite decide which is better, but I think I'm leaning towards Champloo by just the slightest fraction of an inch, but both are transcendent, and some of if not the best anime out there. I think it's just cause I love Nujabes tho. Can't wait to watch Space dandy!
I recently watched cowboy bebop due to this review and loved it I just want to thank u for introducing me to cowboy bebop I'll carry this with me forever 😂
Rowan Govender I like the music parts alot on Kids on the slopes because I related to characters that way because I play music myself. But ones the romantic parts came it became the worst anime
I don't know about underrated, as literally everything he does is watched solely because he did it. He may not be globally considered among the greats like Miyazaki or even Hosoda, but he sure as hell has been properly appreciated. People may not understand all of his work, as the other commenter clearly demonstrated, but anyone with a decent mind understands and appreciates how great Watanabe is. Having watched Bebop when it first aired on Toonami, I found Zankyou no Terror to be the most beautiful return to form that I've ever witnessed.
This is an old review, five years going at this point. However, I stilled watched this just to hear a dialog on Bebop again. This series stands like a dynamo of bombastic power in so many ways in my head. The music, the story, the art, the marriage of it all. Calm chaos with explosions of serenity all about. It just comes through in the best way it can.
probably an unpopular opinion here but it was refreshing not having oversexualized females in Cowboy Bebop. Sure, Faye is a sexy character but it's never over the top like a lot of the animes these days. Hell i cant even watch an anime about food service without tits and ass every 3 minutes. Overall, this show was extremely good..maybe a solid 9/10. Im sort of sad leaving this universe so im just gonna watch it again and wait until the movie arrives from Amazon lol
+Mark's Gaming Adventures no fan service is what I loved about Cowboy Bebop. That show just didn't put any anime troupes in it, and I love it.. A complete original work. It's very fucking rare in the age of reboots.. The only recent show I've seen that comes close is Kekkai Sensen, but they did a poor job of it with that show.. Space Dandy is probably the best modern comparison to Cowboy Bebop.
I think he was thinking more of moe, not sexualization. I get annoyed with the puritanical complaining of this, but moe and fanservice can get annoying. This was done in a more mature way and didn't subtract from story.
This anime did something no other had down before. It made me cry and hit me on an emotional level I COULDN'T explain. When it ended, I IMMEDIATELY drove to my friend's house (who had already watched it) THAT NIGHT, minutes after watching Ep 26, and even though it was raining and almost midnight, we talked for HOURS about how much we LOVED the show. I've never watched a piece of media before or since then that has made me do that
Just started this show and, Chris, thank you for showing me something that induced a weird form of nostalgia in me but also provided something so fresh, exciting, and mesmerizing. This is everything an anime needs and should be. Your passion and excitement is contagious and I miss that in some of your recent videos, but again, thank you for this and all you do!
This video actually introduced me to cowboy Bebop and then went on to me discovering samurai shamploo I think those shows saved my life and in a way this video did. Those are my two favorite anime of all time.
Chris, I agree with everything you said in this review except your opinion about Spike and Vicious. They aren't polar opposites, they're several degrees apart. Spike has been through a situation and felt so terrible about it that he turned his back and walked away. Vicious took it and used it to further his ambitions, turning so black-hearted that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Spike is gloom with a side of slow burning anger. Vicious is death on a stick. They're connected in a very primal way and that's the glue holding all 26 episodes together. An anime that's funny, suspenseful, and tragic? Yes. It's a total work of art and well worth your time and money
Dude (Chris), thank you so much for enlightening me on the pure perfection that is Cowboy Bebop. Holy Shit this show is amazing. I'm 7 eps in and I'm totally hooked. It does Firefly better than Firefly, that's something I never thought I'd say, I've been watching anime on an irregular basis for a couple of year, but now that I've began to watch this masterpiece of entertainment, I'm keen to dive knee deep into the heart of anime. So I really appreciate it man, cheers
This is the very first anime I took seriously. I remember watching this while in my early teen years and just fell in love with it. It wasn't a baseless cartoon but something you could identify with and take something away from and I will always cherish it. Awesome review for one of the greatest anime ever made.
I miss old Chris’ videos. You can tell his enthusiasm is so obvious from these old videos. Compared to the new ones he seems bored, tired, angry... idk I don’t know you obvioulsy Chris but its just the vibes you send out. I hope you find whatever made you smile as you did on your old videos.
Finally watched this anime. Ive been searching for good newer animes but I watched pretty much all of them and I do not watch old animes but this one was ridiculously good! Enjoyed every second of it. It had everything and it was so original. Like a new genre. Its now my favorite anime. It truly is a bang!!
+Power Of Berzerker . Actually, "Cowboy Bebop" is so different from any other anime that completely jump over the concept of modern/classic anime. Is just out of time, it would still feel modern in 2050, in my opinion.Also, it has influenced almost every anime since 2000 to nowadays.
I’m currently watching Cowboy Bebop on Hulu right now. I usually have a hard time with anime in general, because for me, some of them feel out of focus a lot and I just can’t latch onto them that well. But, that isn’t the case for this show, because it got me hooked not only by it’s first episode, but also the kickass intro and theme. I can’t judge it way too quick, because I’m only a few episodes in, but Cowboy Bebop already gives off a lot of attention to detail to both animation and plot, something that I’ve been trying to find in anime for a long time. It easily has my attention, and I cannot wait to watch the rest of it.
I remember I had a faze in which I was obsessed with anime when I was 14 - 15. Not anymore though and I thought that I wouldn't like this show anymore when I stumbled across it in my old download files. Re-Watched the entire season and I fell in love with Cowboy Bebop all over again. Not just brilliant anime, but brilliant television in general!
i think that is a Statement which proves anime is not only for children or Teenager,but for everyone. it Makes me kinda sad that so many People dont watch it because they feel like being too old for it or that Its for little weeabos. anime and movies had a bigger impact on me than anything else, i wish People would stop being close minded.
The year is 2020 and I have just finished this amazing show. Holy crap, what a vibe, what characters, what storytelling! I can’t wait to watch the movie and probably this entire series again! Will most likely buy it on blue-ray. Excited to watch your review Chris!
Chris Stuckmann I love Cowboy Bebop and Metal Gear Solid. We are the same age and I think it is funny we both love the same movies, anime and games. Great Review.
+Grimneo I'm 28. and Cowboy Bebop and Metal Gear Solid are the best.. I think it has something to do with being born in the late 80s early 90s.. We hit our teens in the early 2000s when these things got insanely popular. kids these days don't get many good anime shows or even video games now. though video games have evolved a lot. I remember owning Morrowind in 2003.
This show came to me at a perfect time in my life, I was having a hard time and feeling very lonely, could relate to the characters a little too much, but something about this show warmed my soul and made me feel less alone. Definitely the type of show you watch every few years & each time will give you different perspectives
What makes me really respect Bebop among pretty much most mainstream anime is that it does a lot with its characters in 26 episodes. It definitely did more than Naruto or Bleach or whatever did with all its filler and the hundreds of episodes it had.
Cowboy Bebop is easily one of the best pieces of any form of media I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. I've met people who *detest* anime, but still site this series as their favourite show. It truly is a masterpiece. Thank you so much for always making such great reviews. :)
I love you for loving this effing show. It is one of the greatest anime of our time. Please, Please PLEASE do Death Note. There's intelligence suspense, you can't over hype Death Note.
George Ani24guy Very much better indeed. Monster isn't just a better thriller it's an incredible display of sheer skillful writing. From all I've seen to this day it's definitely among the top 3 most intricately created, intelligently written and well structured tv-show of all time but so grim, dreary and serious in tone that it does put off many modern anime fans. Btw I see you like everywhere on YT where Monster and Legend Of The Galactic Heroes are mentioned.
While I do agree that the second half to Death Note was lacking I disagree with anyone that says the show should have ended after the first half. You'd miss out on one of the most evil laughs in anime of all time =O
Matticus1229 It's not that the show should have ended after the first half. It's just the 1st half is much better written then the second. It's been a while since I saw Death Note, the second half isn't that bad but in contrast with the first half it really does feel bad.
Mark Bada-Bing yes, finally! someone! freaking talk about Evangelion already xD I see Chris talking about Cowboy Bebop and it's me talking about Evangelion.
Oh man, oh man, Mr. Stuckmann! We are two men in the same boat. Cowboy Bebop was the very first anime to trying captivate me and blow my teenage mind in so many crayz levels! This show was a revolution and really opened my eyes towards Japan. I remember it being the first anime I bought on DVD and for many years I would compare other anime to it. I also watch Trigun around this time and was very into that. DBZ may be epic but, it wasn't ever as enticing as Bebop. In my opinion, the show is completely poetic and practically flawless. I also own the soundtrack, the film, and some cool collectibles.
I’ve been recommended this anime before but I’m glad I just now watched it, it came at a time in my life where I can really relate to it, especially to Faye and Spike (maybe a little too much) it speaks to my soul and made me feel less lonely
+IccyTheOne Zankyou no Terror was pretty amazing. Only nitpick was the two protagonist/antagonist really didn't give me a huge reason to like or hate them.
+IccyTheOne you should watch gangsta too, all those anime are similar and actually i think that cowboybebop samurai champloo and gangsta was produced by the same company that is now closed :'(
Pierrot le Fou is great. An obvious tribute to the Batman Animated series style. But it’s actually one of more tense and frightening ones in a way. And the resolution is touching and a bit off putting at the same time. My favorites are Ballad of Fallen Angels,Pierrot le fou, and the two Jupiter Jazz sessions, 12 & 13 I think. Those two episodes stories reflect the overall backstory and current arc of the characters, and the way the stories intertwine tell us a lot about the main character, their arcs, and even foreshadows a lot. Pretty neat story telling.
Chris, can you please review Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood? It is easily one of my favorite anime series of all time! Also, do you remember Yu Yu Hakusho from classic Adult Swim? I used to watch that with Cowboy Bebop, and I loved them both!
Chris, I'd like you to check out The Legend of Galactic Heroes, known by those forbearing enough to endure the whole 150 episodes of philosophy, history and absurdly complex information as the best anime ever made. It's kinda the opposite of Bebop, it's a space opera about a great interstellar war, that focus more on the political side instead of the action, with complex strategies above explosions, and characters decisions over their personalities, at the core is a cynical and merciless documentary about human history, and has some of the most well written characters I've ever seen. It's old, it's long, and starts really slow, the first 20 episodes are basically an introduction, even I got hooked only after 30 episodes, but it's worth it, that I can promise you :D
Deathknight400 It also has two OVA series of 20-30 episodes each, and two movies as well (and Golden Wings, but that doesn't count). The point is, it's long, if you put the whole thing together you get a 4 days long movie xD
A bit late commenting. Appreciate all your work Stuckmann, and agree with you 75%-80%. This review is fantastic, and there is so much you do just for the fans! I did a 40+ page essay for this series in college, and you made so many similar points. Thanks for the nostalgia, even a couple years later!
I just watched this show , and by God it's incredible as they say it is.......For me the best episode was when Fey found out who she was and part where she runs home it's just nobody there, I was just devestated (considering even that I didn't like her character coz she was snarky but it was just a turn around in that episode) it left depressed for a day constantly thinking what if that happened to me , nobody to return to..........this series is just tied at the top for me with, Mobile Suite Zeta Gandum.......
Syed Abdul Wasay that scene is amazing not just because of the visual realization that her old life is gone but because at that moment all her memories and the person who she was come rushing back to conflict with the person she's become. she returns to the bebop a hybrid of those two people. that is why she is finally able to be semi honest with spike about her feelings. :(
Thank you, Chris, for your amazing reviews. I started discovering anime just recently and watching your reviews has been really important. And you're right. Cowboy Bebop is superb! Absolutely brilliant! Sometimes we just forget they’re just "cartoon" characters. And the soundtrack? OMG.
i'm just gonna recommend some anime cuz i can! -Cowboy Bebop (in dub and of course Chris just did a review for this but hey this goes to show how great Bebop is!) -Samurai Champloo (both dub and sub is good) -Baccano! (in dub) -Durarara!! (both dub and sub is good) -Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (both dub and sub is good) -Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night (no idea about how good the dub is so sub) -Psycho-Pass S1 (only saw sub so idk how good the dub is and SKIP SEASON 2 JUST DO IT!!) -Gurren Lagann (both dub and sub are fine) -Ghost in the Shell (only saw dub so idk about sub) -Hunter x Hunter (sub only cuz there's no dub) -Yu Yu Hakusho (in dub) -School Days (in sub) -Parasyte (sub cuz there's no dub) -Hellsing: Ultimate (both dub and sub are fine) -Death Note (in dub) -Monster (both dub and sub is good) -Garden of Sinners (sub since there's no dub) -Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (sub) -Lupin the III (in sub) -D.Gray-Man (sub because only one season is dubbed and it may be weird to switch languages but the dub is good for what it is; oh yeah and beware; the anime never finished the story because the manga has been on hiatus) -Legend of Galactic Heroes (sub cuz idk about any dub and its extremely old just so you'd know) -Magi (sub don't really like the dub) -Rurouni Kenshin (sub) -Blade of the Immortal (sub) -Black Lagoon (in dub) -Tokyo Ghoul (sub cuz dub doesn't exist and warning: this anime did not exactly adopt the manga properly so just keep your expectations low) -Steins;Gate (both sub and dub are great) -Neon Genesis Evangelion (sub, i don't like the dub) -Claymore (i especially loved the dub because Stephanie Young plays as Clare
***** no those anime are actually good and they're some of my favorites (excluding Tokyo Ghoul because it did not do the manga justice but i know many people who loved the anime so i'd might as well recommend it)
***** i mostly rate a series based on 5 things: Art/Animation, Characters, Storyline (if it has one), Creativity (includes things like the concept, way the events transition to another, and what makes up the story and characters in it), and my personal enjoyment. If you're talking about the DEEN adaptation of Fate/Stay Night then yes that's a very bad series but the F/SN i'm talking about is the Unlimited Blade Works route by Ufotable. Garden of Sinners takes a lot of time to reach an understanding but once i'm able to fully comprehend it, i'd consider it to be a pretty good series. I already explained the Tokyo Ghoul anime and honestly i watch it for the eyecandy but lots of my buds loved it and i thought many more people would like it too. D.Gray-Man is personally one of favorites as far as shounens go. The character designs look fresh for it time of release, the storyline is simplistic yet interesting, the characters and the creativity is 8/10 worthy imo. Its a fine series. Magi starts off as a very light hearted series but once you get into more of it, the storytelling is great for a shounen, the characters are great once they get their character development, and the setting is quite unique as it based on the 1001 Arabian Nights. And as for Claymore, the anime of course strayed from the manga in the end but thanks to that i ultimately got into reading manga and while the storyline is simplistic, many of the characters are very interesting and the way the events transition is done pretty well. This is of course just my opinion. If you think they suck then fine we're all allowed to have our preferences
***** oh no i'm not like that XD there are many series i like even though they're badly written with pretty dumb characters like DBZ, Naruto, Bleach, Akame Ga Kill, Code Geass (i say its bad because it has too many elements from Legend of the Galactic Heroes), and lots of mainstream stuff everyone knows that i haven't mentioned lol
This show has the best artistic design and quality that I've seen in any animated series. It was a happy combination of an unusually high budget combined with the different artists all coming together to make something which just looks and sounds amazing. Visuals: A+ Sound and Music: A+ Story and dialogue: A-
Not a big fan of anime at all, always seems to be incredibly melodramatic, with either overly macabre or overly sexual in an attempt to be edgy, along with characters always explaining how they're feeling through forced narration or emotional outbursts with them talking about what they're doing or going to do instead them just doing it. But Cowboy Bebop (along with Miyazaki's works) feels very exempt from that (besides overly edgy vicious who feels really like a caricature) the characters never have to explain how they're feeling, it's visually portrayed brilliantly especially during the end where Jet is wiping down the ship, Spike's almost non acknowledgment after Julia's death and even when Ed's father leaves. Even the violence and sexualisation is tastefully done in a very noir style.
I am really not into Anime. I can't relate to it and don't watch it a lot. If I do, I usually get fed up fairly quickly and watch something else. The fact that I have watched all of the Cowboy Bebop series more than once and I loved every episode tells you how good it is. It is not merely a good Anime series. It is a great series. Period.
Chris Stuckmann Guys...disregard my previous comment! After rewatching Cowboy Bebop on my 1080p HD 120 HZ TV on Blu Ray instead of a little 60 hz monitor I feel that it's a lot better. In fact, it's my 2nd favorite anime(technically 3rd because both Fullmetal's are my first 2) . This show is so amazing. I think after watching a few animes after cowboy bebop I see what makes it so special. As a 90's anime, it has some of the best animation out there. In fact, it's still one of the most detailed animes i've ever seen. Every character and every background has so much detail it's amazing. Nowadays animes like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood have this really laze feel to them with their environments and animation at time. But Cowboy Bebop has such an amazing amount of detail. The directing is actually really great to. The camera work is amazing(you know what I mean, i know it's not a literal camera).The characters are also really amazing. Spike and Faye are a lot more detailed and layered than people give them credit for. Anyways, I don't know why I didn't like it at first. I think I didn't understand what made it so important. I heard what made it important, but after seeing about 10 other anime, I SEE what makes it important. Funny how opinions can change so much after just 2-3 months XD. Oh ya and again...anyone else think it's amazing how this has better animation than most new animes?
The Angry Little Alchemist You should try Akira and Redline. They both that amazing detail in the animation that you're talking about. Keep in mind that Akira was made in *1988* and that Redline and is completely hand drawn, took 7 years to make and drove madhouse to the edge of bankruptcy.
Jared Ko Yep, it's the reason Studio Mappa was made. The producer and studio head of Madhouse Masao Maruyama split off from Madhouse after it because of Redline. Now he's getting Mappa to do another movie with a famous budget that's probably not going to be successful. After almost crashing one studio he dusts he feet off and does the exact same thing.
I have not finished the series, but man...the final scene in the fifth episode came out of nowhere and left me with big impression. So much storytelling done in such a small moment. Even before episode 5, the show solidified to me it's greatness. I immediately noticed the lack of pet peeves I have with anime while watching Cowboy Bebop. All the typical problems plaguing anime today (long and sometimes boring exposition, fan service, stereotypical, or archetype characters, etc...) have not showed up since I've watched the show. A anime masterpiece. The best of the best.
Great review love Cowboy Bebop, did you like Samari Champloo? Another favorite of mine, if so could you do a review on that show too. Both are epic shows.
Samurai Champloo is one of those that I really need to just finish. I really enjoyed it (seen a handful of episodes and own one dvd of it) but I just kinda forgot about it.
3:37 oh my god you so goddamn right about Yoko Kanno. She wrote music for another outstanding anime Darker than Black and I felt in love with that OST. It's been almost 10 years already since I watched that anime first time and I still listen to that music.
Cant wait for you to finish attack on titan and do a review, that show got me into anime. the character development in season 2 gets really good... and the soundtrack is amazing too. It took me until about halfway through season 1 to get hooked and now I am dying waiting for season 3.
i remember finishing the series for the first time and crying at Spike’s death. i cried for so long that i got to the final message of, “You’re gonna carry that weight.” and that made me cry for a good 30-40 minutes.
I highly agree! pierrot le fou, toys in the attic, ballad of fallen angels. My favorite Anime of all time, I watched this when I was a teenager, it influenced a lot of my artwork in highschool. Always carries a special place in my soul.
The big three for me were Cowboy Bebop, Silent Mobius, and Serial Experiment: Lain. Those were followed by Blue Genre, Ghost In The Shell, Witchhunter Robin, and several others. That was ten years ago, and to this day I still can't get anybody to take these "cartoons" seriously. They'd rather watch the Disney shit, or nothing. Sad. America's anime is still obsessed with funny animals and such.
Wuhoo honestly you're right after like 10 times I should learn when avengers 2 comes out im going on lockdown mode no internet till I watch it to avoid spoilers
i just finished watching Cowboy Bebop for the first time and i really enjoyed it....Some episodes, to me seemd to drag on, but in honesty, i think a rewatch is in order now that i have the full story clear for me. I will admit that the only reason i finally sat down to watch it was because of the live action Netlfix show. I wanted to see what they potentially butcher as they have with so many live action films so far...your review was cool but i was hoping for more of slightly deeper dive into the show and not just a nostalgic praise for the show.
Didn't really think I was going to like this show, but I ended up loving it. It's such a fun show, but the slower, deeper episodes are the ones that hooked me. :P
![Eminem - Temporary (feat. Skylar Grey) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZaK9Wi5ho0o/mqdefault.jpg)
The fact that everyone sat through the final song in the finale to see that quote is a testament to how strong this show sticks with you.
Vengeful Spirit why don't other shows take risks like this one...and I don't just mean how its directed....character...music...wise...... I mean with the realistic sad anit heroic pasts sad unlikeable main characters but yet still likeable.... true confusion.....they give you so little but so much.......the main plot episodes are so good but I like how its intertwined with silly stand alone episodes that you can watch in any order without seeing the previous episodes its so good
razkable Because modern anime studios are basing their programming around statistics rather than what they think is quality. As it stands, most shows are being written with wimpy lead characters and unfunny boob jokes, so they'll keep making that as long as it sells.
Vengeful Spirit Sorry for me fanboying, but one thing that made these series matter to me(and I'm sure many others too) is the fact that Cowboy Bebop has beginning and the end...
*manly tears*
+Vengeful Spirit i actually used that time to cry my ass off, the most sincerely sad day of my life. I felt like my closest friend just departed
You're going to carry that weight..
this show ended with a bang.
Vezix Haikal
Quite literally.
Vezix Haikal yeah the show was like a dream
You're gonna carry that weight
Snerpy mcnerp
And before we even knew it the dream was over.
The word lol
I read something about Bebop that has always stuck with me : "Cowboy Bebop is the epilogue to a story we never get to see." All of the events that shaped these characters have already happened, in many ways their heroes journey is already complete. We catch glimpses of the past that made each of these characters who they are, but the show itself is the final punctuation point to their story that has already been completed.
Truly a great show that I keep coming back to year after year. It always treated me as an adult, even when I wasn't one yet. It has a great blend of humor, action, and characters that feel real. Many will point out that there are few episodes that actually advance the plot and that the main villain of the series hardly gets any screen time. While these criticisms are true, they miss the point of the show.
One final point I would like to make, is how much the shows defies modern anime story conventions. If Cowboy Bebop were made today, there would have been a dozen awkward sexual tension moments between Faye and Spike with gratuitous fan service shots, Jet would have died for a cheap raising of the emotional stakes, and everything would be wrapped up in a nice neat bow with feel good ends to characters story arcs with openings for sequel seasons. Cowboy Bebop was special even for its day, and time has only been more kind to the show; a rare feat for any television show.
well said. i'm so glad I picked Cowboy Bebop to be my first anime. finding one as special as this will be pretty damn hard.
This was very well put.
This is why I love Cowboy Bebop. I hope they don't do that to 'The Promised Neverland'.
Also The Walking Dead to me, was similar to this. The show, not the comic, was really about the epilogue of the heroes story. They survive the apocalypse.
The families have been reunited, the brothers in arms are together, the best friend and the hero are complete, in a sense. Now let's see how they do after the "happily ever after".
Too bad the shows fallen off pretty hard. Can't stand it.
You're both right and wrong about the modern anime thing.
The thing is, Cowboy Bebop was also defying conventions at the time, because really conventions haven't so much changed as been leaned into harder.
However, you also have to consider that Cowboy Bebop has a real distinguishing quality in its production: It was made for adults. Cowboy Bebop is Seinen, unlike most anime that exists and about 90% of what gets localized. The reason it's so much more adult than most anime is that it was *actually made for adults.* Well, that and how good it is.
At the same time, I do agree that Bebop couldn't have been made at any other time. It was an insane confluence of events, a gathering of ludicrously talented people under one roof, all lead by someone who had never directed solo before and somehow turned in the kind of masterwork that most directors try to create for an entire career. And I don't think Sunrise Studio 2 would have been given that kind of free reign to make something this insane at any other time. But this was the late 90s, and the industry was still recovering from the tactical nuke to any and all preconceptions of what anime was that was Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Auteurism was at an all-time high...
"And the work which has become a genre unto itself shall be called: *Cowboy Bebop*"
Or why not "Bebop Noir"
@@b3rz3rk3r9 it's a reference to some text you see in the opening. that's why it's not called Bebop Noir
Does Brick fall into this?
the work which will become an insult unto itself shall be called: Netflix Adaptation
In all honesty, never has the ending of a show made me so feel so bittersweet yet absolutely devastate me at the end... 10/10 show.
eerht same!
We carry the weight after all.
I really love Cowboy Bp and I do think it's great but yeah I hated that ending. And I also hated Edward leaving early.
...Death Note...
Game Nuked it’s got cancelled 😕
Actually Toys in the Attic was a VERY important episode just like every episode in Cowboy Bebop. If an episode isn't trying to progress the plot, it's trying to compliment the plot and that's exactly what it did. The message of it was basically don't leave things that forgotten, cause they could come back to bite you.
I Just Gave My Nigga Head I Just Gave My Nigga Head Thank you so much for contributing this thought. That episode always seemed so random to me. I mostly viewed Toys In The Attic was a homage to Alien, a sort of horror episode (like tree house horror) and seemingly unrelated out of place "lessons" (which did not seem like lessons at all, and seemed odd for the characters to say). Gaining this perspective gives 'Toys In The Attic' whole new meaning for me, thank you!
Cinema Slut Yes, but it's still considered filler. Albeit a perfectly awesome filler.
Lol nerd
Dumbest comment on the RUclips that I have ever read.
Cinema Slut thank you! It's actually one of my favourite episodes xD
that falling from church glass with music wasssss siiiiccckkkkkk
sanjay pallur one of the best scenes in any work of television or movies
I never cried at any movie or series except this scene
sanjay pallur When I first saw this scene, I had to play it over and over. I couldn't believe I was watching anime; one of the most artful transitions I've ever seen on film. And Green Bird fit perfectly!
dreimann agree
That scene and the music still gets me through my dark days...
Every time I hear "Cowboy Bebop", I get that teary-eyed-short-of-breath-smile.
JeiPlays When ever i hear Cowboy Bebop Spike's last line. "Bang" plays in my head.
what ever happens, happens.
BlueJei I think of fridges.
Ok, is it just me, or is the episode where Ed goes back to her dad the saddest fucking episode ever? When I see them staring at her note, I just can't 😢
Whatever I'm Doing Feels hit for real 😭😭😭😭😭
I’m surprised that no one mentions how Ed’s father is the only character in the show that can nonchalantly beat Spike up. Spike’s ready to give Ed’s dad a 2 piece combo and a biscuit with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, and Ed’s dad takes it like it’s a mosquito bite, and gives Spike the business with a head but.
That being said, Cowboy Bebop is one of those shows where you remember where you were in your life when you saw it. The animation, the story, the music and the incredible English dub were impeccable.
It's because he eats all those eggs!
If he fought Vicious instead...
I aupposed it can be explained by Spike being surprised af/not really wanting to fight. Or he just got unlucky that time. I mean we all have bad days
@@1v966 nah I think Ed’s father is one of the most powerful beings in the bebop universe, and we’ll never know why
@@rorywhelan_Popular fan theory is that Ed's father is so strong cause he lives in Earth gravity that is nearly 3x stronger than Mars. Makes sense, bit sadly it isn't something the show dives into detail about.
Jupiter jazz part 2 with "space lion" just pulled on so many heart strings. so did pierrot episode. remember them so vividly
The ending of 'Speak like a Child' really pulled my heart strings! The metaphor of Kid Faye talking to older Faye gave me chills!
Did you understand that part? :)
Nice profile pic
Ballad of Fallen Angels.
The moment Edward left: the painted face on the deck of the Bebop, Ein following her, Spike and Jet silently eating eggs, Faye laying on the ground of a ruin, the music. It was genius! I never felt any stronger connection with anime characters than that time. It was so sad, but so cool!
The fridge with the alien from 'Toys in the Attic' makes a cameo in Space Dandy, another very good show. I believe it was in "The Lonely Pooch Planet, Baby" episode 8.
I just can't get enough of the soundtrack! The characters are so tangible I feel they are still out there. Thank you for reviewing this beautiful piece of art.
The gift that keeps on giving. The music is especially awesome.
Faye is clearly Chris' waifu.
what's this weeaboo language
mc_macapaca
These comments should be expected on anything anime related.
"It's got to be someone that will like me for myself, well I think it'll be tough being with me but... there's probably a man unlucky enough in the universe though" that what Faye said
When did she say that?
Sherratt Pemberton in the xx session, special episode
cowboy bebop is the best thing ever it's transcendent of anything ever.
Nah
Yah
Wah?
do you have any anime that I could watch that's good and has a lot of episodes more then 25 and more then one season
vlad the impaler *_ONE PIECE_*
Have you seen Samurai Champloo? It was created by the same person who did Cowboy Bebop, happens to be awesome, and also has amazing music.
it was one of my first anime, and I watched Cowboy Bebop right afterwards. Both are SO good. I can't quite decide which is better, but I think I'm leaning towards Champloo by just the slightest fraction of an inch, but both are transcendent, and some of if not the best anime out there. I think it's just cause I love Nujabes tho. Can't wait to watch Space dandy!
existed in the same universe fun fact
Mugen and Spike have the same voice actor and the same character design, and somewhat similar character traits
Cowboy Bebop has more mass appeal than Champloo.
I recently watched cowboy bebop due to this review and loved it I just want to thank u for introducing me to cowboy bebop I'll carry this with me forever 😂
You're gonna carry that weight.
Whether it's heavy or light, that's a weight that just keeps on giving!
See you Space Cowboy...
Cowboy Bebop is like Guardians of the Galaxy but if it was made by Quentin Tarantino.
***** how dare you insult Guardians of the Galaxy. Bebop is way to overrated
i cant take that seriously the moment you think Guardians of the Galaxy is better than Bebop
You're setting yourself up for disaster if you make a comment like that lol.
Hattori Hanzo never said it was.
Hattori Hanzo I know it is. Guardians way better characters, Bebop has annoying characters like Faye and Ed and its overrated like hell
Watanabe is one of the most underrated directors of all time! Cowboy Bebop is freaking *legendary.*
Underrated more like overrated. Bebop is okay. Champloo meh and Kids on Slopes is the worst romantic anime i've ever seen
Rowan Govender I'll say this every episode that had Vicious in it was a masterpiece. But the other episodes where not great
Rowan Govender I like the music parts alot on Kids on the slopes because I related to characters that way because I play music myself. But ones the romantic parts came it became the worst anime
Zenkyou no Terror is pretty good too!
I don't know about underrated, as literally everything he does is watched solely because he did it. He may not be globally considered among the greats like Miyazaki or even Hosoda, but he sure as hell has been properly appreciated. People may not understand all of his work, as the other commenter clearly demonstrated, but anyone with a decent mind understands and appreciates how great Watanabe is. Having watched Bebop when it first aired on Toonami, I found Zankyou no Terror to be the most beautiful return to form that I've ever witnessed.
This is not only my favorite anime, its my favorite show ever.
fuck yeah exactly
Same here bro
Same
Right next to Breaking Bad.
This is an old review, five years going at this point. However, I stilled watched this just to hear a dialog on Bebop again. This series stands like a dynamo of bombastic power in so many ways in my head. The music, the story, the art, the marriage of it all. Calm chaos with explosions of serenity all about. It just comes through in the best way it can.
"Weight that you're gonna carry". Shit Chris. Now I get what you mean and I'm definitely carrying it.
probably an unpopular opinion here but it was refreshing not having oversexualized females in Cowboy Bebop. Sure, Faye is a sexy character but it's never over the top like a lot of the animes these days. Hell i cant even watch an anime about food service without tits and ass every 3 minutes. Overall, this show was extremely good..maybe a solid 9/10. Im sort of sad leaving this universe so im just gonna watch it again and wait until the movie arrives from Amazon lol
+Mark's Gaming Adventures
no fan service is what I loved about Cowboy Bebop. That show just didn't put any anime troupes in it, and I love it.. A complete original work. It's very fucking rare in the age of reboots.. The only recent show I've seen that comes close is Kekkai Sensen, but they did a poor job of it with that show.. Space Dandy is probably the best modern comparison to Cowboy Bebop.
+Mark's Gaming Adventures
an that's sad because Space Dandy is a parody
+Dylan Hopson
space dandy is genius.
I would say Faye was pretty over sexualized. Nothing wrong with that though.
I think he was thinking more of moe, not sexualization. I get annoyed with the puritanical complaining of this, but moe and fanservice can get annoying. This was done in a more mature way and didn't subtract from story.
I discovered Cowboy Bebop because Avatar is my favorite tv show ever and Mike D. Martino and Bryan Konietzko are huge fans of Cowboy Bebop
This anime did something no other had down before. It made me cry and hit me on an emotional level I COULDN'T explain. When it ended, I IMMEDIATELY drove to my friend's house (who had already watched it) THAT NIGHT, minutes after watching Ep 26, and even though it was raining and almost midnight, we talked for HOURS about how much we LOVED the show. I've never watched a piece of media before or since then that has made me do that
Just started this show and, Chris, thank you for showing me something that induced a weird form of nostalgia in me but also provided something so fresh, exciting, and mesmerizing. This is everything an anime needs and should be. Your passion and excitement is contagious and I miss that in some of your recent videos, but again, thank you for this and all you do!
This video actually introduced me to cowboy Bebop and then went on to me discovering samurai shamploo I think those shows saved my life and in a way this video did. Those are my two favorite anime of all time.
Samurai Champloo...is...indescribable in its brilliance. Then Space Dandy. Wantanbe you bloody genius.
Chris, I agree with everything you said in this review except your opinion about Spike and Vicious. They aren't polar opposites, they're several degrees apart. Spike has been through a situation and felt so terrible about it that he turned his back and walked away. Vicious took it and used it to further his ambitions, turning so black-hearted that you can't see your hand in front of your face. Spike is gloom with a side of slow burning anger. Vicious is death on a stick. They're connected in a very primal way and that's the glue holding all 26 episodes together.
An anime that's funny, suspenseful, and tragic? Yes. It's a total work of art and well worth your time and money
Dude (Chris), thank you so much for enlightening me on the pure perfection that is Cowboy Bebop. Holy Shit this show is amazing. I'm 7 eps in and I'm totally hooked. It does Firefly better than Firefly, that's something I never thought I'd say, I've been watching anime on an irregular basis for a couple of year, but now that I've began to watch this masterpiece of entertainment, I'm keen to dive knee deep into the heart of anime. So I really appreciate it man, cheers
This is the very first anime I took seriously. I remember watching this while in my early teen years and just fell in love with it. It wasn't a baseless cartoon but something you could identify with and take something away from and I will always cherish it. Awesome review for one of the greatest anime ever made.
I miss old Chris’ videos. You can tell his enthusiasm is so obvious from these old videos. Compared to the new ones he seems bored, tired, angry... idk I don’t know you obvioulsy Chris but its just the vibes you send out. I hope you find whatever made you smile as you did on your old videos.
Finally watched this anime. Ive been searching for good newer animes but I watched pretty much all of them and I do not watch old animes but this one was ridiculously good! Enjoyed every second of it. It had everything and it was so original. Like a new genre. Its now my favorite anime. It truly is a bang!!
+Power Of Berzerker try Rurouni Kenshin..
What do u think about RK: Trust and betrayal?heaVenly_deMon 55
+Power Of Berzerker . Actually, "Cowboy Bebop" is so different from any other anime that completely jump over the concept of modern/classic anime. Is just out of time, it would still feel modern in 2050, in my opinion.Also, it has influenced almost every anime since 2000 to nowadays.
Ninja scroll if you haven't seen it already
César Fernández Herranz "Also, it has influenced almost every anime since 2000 to nowadays...."
This isn't even remotely close to being true.
I’m currently watching Cowboy Bebop on Hulu right now. I usually have a hard time with anime in general, because for me, some of them feel out of focus a lot and I just can’t latch onto them that well.
But, that isn’t the case for this show, because it got me hooked not only by it’s first episode, but also the kickass intro and theme. I can’t judge it way too quick, because I’m only a few episodes in, but Cowboy Bebop already gives off a lot of attention to detail to both animation and plot, something that I’ve been trying to find in anime for a long time.
It easily has my attention, and I cannot wait to watch the rest of it.
This show is the reason why I study film as an art.
A deserving, and awarded, masterpiece.
"Im not going there to die, i'm going there to find out if l'm really alive" -Spike Spiegel, 2071
Honestly, I knew I was completely hooked at the end of episode 1. You know like THAT scene
Samuel Conner i know exactly what your talking about. Its badass
All I could say was damn, this shows going to get dark
adios
Waiting to see what he thinks of the live action adaptation...
Same!
I remember I had a faze in which I was obsessed with anime when I was 14 - 15. Not anymore though and I thought that I wouldn't like this show anymore when I stumbled across it in my old download files. Re-Watched the entire season and I fell in love with Cowboy Bebop all over again. Not just brilliant anime, but brilliant television in general!
i think that is a Statement which proves anime is not only for children or Teenager,but for everyone. it Makes me kinda sad that so many People dont watch it because they feel like being too old for it or that Its for little weeabos. anime and movies had a bigger impact on me than anything else, i wish People would stop being close minded.
cowboy bebop truly was a show the inspired the best in all of us just like samurai champloo did for my style of drums and sampling technique
6:50 !!! Yes ! I was waiting for you to comment on this magnificent piece of art !
The year is 2020 and I have just finished this amazing show. Holy crap, what a vibe, what characters, what storytelling! I can’t wait to watch the movie and probably this entire series again! Will most likely buy it on blue-ray. Excited to watch your review Chris!
I actually just finished it yesterday too
Best anime ever.
Tied with DBZ I love both
You must not watch a lot of anime?
LancerJak the best the best the best. Totally agree!!
Death Note
Dragon ball is better then dbz for me
Chris Stuckmann I love Cowboy Bebop and Metal Gear Solid. We are the same age and I think it is funny we both love the same movies, anime and games. Great Review.
+Grimneo Cowboy Bebop and Metal Gear Solid are the best things to come out of Japan
How old is he
I think he's 26, no more than 27
+Grimneo
I'm 28. and Cowboy Bebop and Metal Gear Solid are the best..
I think it has something to do with being born in the late 80s early 90s.. We hit our teens in the early 2000s when these things got insanely popular. kids these days don't get many good anime shows or even video games now. though video games have evolved a lot. I remember owning Morrowind in 2003.
@@lordblazer early 2000 were the golden age of anime and games
This show came to me at a perfect time in my life, I was having a hard time and feeling very lonely, could relate to the characters a little too much, but something about this show warmed my soul and made me feel less alone. Definitely the type of show you watch every few years & each time will give you different perspectives
*Hugs*
Your doing a great job bud
Because of this review I started watching it (on episode 4 right now) and I already love it
Dido. SO good!
Just finished it, Chris. Loved it. Thank You for the suggestion.
Top 3 animes:
Berserk
Black Lagoon
Cowboy Bepop
The berserk anime sucks but the manga GOAT
DARIUS ANDERSON the only thing that sucks about the anime was the animation. Everything else was fine.
Maztuhmind it didn't have puck so horrible
DARIUS ANDERSON that makes sense though since puck wasn't really in the golden age arc any way.
Maztuhmind and they till haven't gone past golden age its been 20+ years come on now
Faye Valentine has the most interesting past in my opinion
fully agree
Fact
"Speak Like A Child"
What makes me really respect Bebop among pretty much most mainstream anime is that it does a lot with its characters in 26 episodes. It definitely did more than Naruto or Bleach or whatever did with all its filler and the hundreds of episodes it had.
A lot of shorter anime do the same.
Cowboy Bebop is easily one of the best pieces of any form of media I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. I've met people who *detest* anime, but still site this series as their favourite show. It truly is a masterpiece. Thank you so much for always making such great reviews. :)
PLEASE Review Deathnote
Yes!
I agree, one of the best anime ever.
naa it's kinda bad
I love you for loving this effing show. It is one of the greatest anime of our time.
Please, Please PLEASE do Death Note.
There's intelligence suspense, you can't over hype Death Note.
Naoki Urusawa's Monster is a better thriller, and it does it without magic.
Yes, you can over hype the show. I would argue it is over hyped. It holds up to the hype pretty well until the second half.
George Ani24guy
Very much better indeed. Monster isn't just a better thriller it's an incredible display of sheer skillful writing. From all I've seen to this day it's definitely among the top 3 most intricately created, intelligently written and well structured tv-show of all time but so grim, dreary and serious in tone that it does put off many modern anime fans. Btw I see you like everywhere on YT where Monster and Legend Of The Galactic Heroes are mentioned.
While I do agree that the second half to Death Note was lacking I disagree with anyone that says the show should have ended after the first half. You'd miss out on one of the most evil laughs in anime of all time =O
Matticus1229
It's not that the show should have ended after the first half. It's just the 1st half is much better written then the second. It's been a while since I saw Death Note, the second half isn't that bad but in contrast with the first half it really does feel bad.
Hey Chris can you do a Neon Genesis Evngelion Review?
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of my favorite animes EVER!
Bebop and Evangelion are art in its purest form
Mark Bada-Bing yes, finally! someone! freaking talk about Evangelion already xD I see Chris talking about Cowboy Bebop and it's me talking about Evangelion.
I know this is old but i hate Evangelion. Not really the show its self but for what it did to the anime industry.
Japan has the best games What do you mean?
Oh man, oh man, Mr. Stuckmann! We are two men in the same boat. Cowboy Bebop was the very first anime to trying captivate me and blow my teenage mind in so many crayz levels! This show was a revolution and really opened my eyes towards Japan.
I remember it being the first anime I bought on DVD and for many years I would compare other anime to it.
I also watch Trigun around this time and was very into that. DBZ may be epic but, it wasn't ever as enticing as Bebop.
In my opinion, the show is completely poetic and practically flawless. I also own the soundtrack, the film, and some cool collectibles.
I’ve been recommended this anime before but I’m glad I just now watched it, it came at a time in my life where I can really relate to it, especially to Faye and Spike (maybe a little too much) it speaks to my soul and made me feel less lonely
I wonder how he feels about Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Zankyou No Terror.
+IccyTheOne space dandy :)
+IccyTheOne Zankyou no Terror was pretty amazing. Only nitpick was the two protagonist/antagonist really didn't give me a huge reason to like or hate them.
+LancerJak They really didn't explain enough to get behind the character's motivations.
Yeah, that was sadly the worse part of what I thought could be an instant classic.
+IccyTheOne you should watch gangsta too, all those anime are similar and actually i think that cowboybebop samurai champloo and gangsta was produced by the same company that is now closed :'(
My copy finally came in the mail cant wait to watch this.
Just finished cowboy bebop for the first time. Its the first anime i have ever watched and it was amazing
Pierrot le Fou is great. An obvious tribute to the Batman Animated series style. But it’s actually one of more tense and frightening ones in a way. And the resolution is touching and a bit off putting at the same time.
My favorites are Ballad of Fallen Angels,Pierrot le fou, and the two Jupiter Jazz sessions, 12 & 13 I think. Those two episodes stories reflect the overall backstory and current arc of the characters, and the way the stories intertwine tell us a lot about the main character, their arcs, and even foreshadows a lot. Pretty neat story telling.
Chris, do more reviews on Anime TV shows. I, and others, would love to see more. : )
Chris, can you please review Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood? It is easily one of my favorite anime series of all time! Also, do you remember Yu Yu Hakusho from classic Adult Swim? I used to watch that with Cowboy Bebop, and I loved them both!
The Word of Bond ooff that’s depressing. 3 year old comment and still nothing Chris hasn’t even given his thoughts on the show.
Chris, I'd like you to check out The Legend of Galactic Heroes, known by those forbearing enough to endure the whole 150 episodes of philosophy, history and absurdly complex information as the best anime ever made.
It's kinda the opposite of Bebop, it's a space opera about a great interstellar war, that focus more on the political side instead of the action, with complex strategies above explosions, and characters decisions over their personalities, at the core is a cynical and merciless documentary about human history, and has some of the most well written characters I've ever seen.
It's old, it's long, and starts really slow, the first 20 episodes are basically an introduction, even I got hooked only after 30 episodes, but it's worth it, that I can promise you :D
Pretty sure it's 110 episodes, but I agree with everything else you are saying.
Deathknight400 It also has two OVA series of 20-30 episodes each, and two movies as well (and Golden Wings, but that doesn't count).
The point is, it's long, if you put the whole thing together you get a 4 days long movie xD
This is the first time ever I hear that the English dub is superior. It normally is quite the opposite.
The falling scene in episode 5 is just beautiful I love this anime
A bit late commenting. Appreciate all your work Stuckmann, and agree with you 75%-80%. This review is fantastic, and there is so much you do just for the fans! I did a 40+ page essay for this series in college, and you made so many similar points. Thanks for the nostalgia, even a couple years later!
"best tv ost ever" i said the same thing for years.
Hey Chris can you do a spoiler talk about this show?
+Naniun. 2014 is not that long ago. but I guess in youtube time it is.
+Alex Marko The show's been on the air for over ten years...
+Justin Jacobs approaching 20.
Sure buddy, when do you want it
I just watched this show , and by God it's incredible as they say it is.......For me the best episode was when Fey found out who she was and part where she runs home it's just nobody there, I was just devestated (considering even that I didn't like her character coz she was snarky but it was just a turn around in that episode) it left depressed for a day constantly thinking what if that happened to me , nobody to return to..........this series is just tied at the top for me with, Mobile Suite Zeta Gandum.......
Syed Abdul Wasay that scene is amazing not just because of the visual realization that her old life is gone but because at that moment all her memories and the person who she was come rushing back to conflict with the person she's become. she returns to the bebop a hybrid of those two people. that is why she is finally able to be semi honest with spike about her feelings. :(
ok now you have shown the opening title sequence .I am so glad you like this
Thank you, Chris, for your amazing reviews. I started discovering anime just recently and watching your reviews has been really important. And you're right. Cowboy Bebop is superb! Absolutely brilliant! Sometimes we just forget they’re just "cartoon" characters. And the soundtrack? OMG.
i'm just gonna recommend some anime cuz i can!
-Cowboy Bebop (in dub and of course Chris just did a review for this but hey this goes to show how great Bebop is!)
-Samurai Champloo (both dub and sub is good)
-Baccano! (in dub)
-Durarara!! (both dub and sub is good)
-Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (both dub and sub is good)
-Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night (no idea about how good the dub is so sub)
-Psycho-Pass S1 (only saw sub so idk how good the dub is and SKIP SEASON 2 JUST DO IT!!)
-Gurren Lagann (both dub and sub are fine)
-Ghost in the Shell (only saw dub so idk about sub)
-Hunter x Hunter (sub only cuz there's no dub)
-Yu Yu Hakusho (in dub)
-School Days (in sub)
-Parasyte (sub cuz there's no dub)
-Hellsing: Ultimate (both dub and sub are fine)
-Death Note (in dub)
-Monster (both dub and sub is good)
-Garden of Sinners (sub since there's no dub)
-Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (sub)
-Lupin the III (in sub)
-D.Gray-Man (sub because only one season is dubbed and it may be weird to switch languages but the dub is good for what it is; oh yeah and beware; the anime never finished the story because the manga has been on hiatus)
-Legend of Galactic Heroes (sub cuz idk about any dub and its extremely old just so you'd know)
-Magi (sub don't really like the dub)
-Rurouni Kenshin (sub)
-Blade of the Immortal (sub)
-Black Lagoon (in dub)
-Tokyo Ghoul (sub cuz dub doesn't exist and warning: this anime did not exactly adopt the manga properly so just keep your expectations low)
-Steins;Gate (both sub and dub are great)
-Neon Genesis Evangelion (sub, i don't like the dub)
-Claymore (i especially loved the dub because Stephanie Young plays as Clare
***** no those anime are actually good and they're some of my favorites (excluding Tokyo Ghoul because it did not do the manga justice but i know many people who loved the anime so i'd might as well recommend it)
***** i mostly rate a series based on 5 things: Art/Animation, Characters, Storyline (if it has one), Creativity (includes things like the concept, way the events transition to another, and what makes up the story and characters in it), and my personal enjoyment. If you're talking about the DEEN adaptation of Fate/Stay Night then yes that's a very bad series but the F/SN i'm talking about is the Unlimited Blade Works route by Ufotable. Garden of Sinners takes a lot of time to reach an understanding but once i'm able to fully comprehend it, i'd consider it to be a pretty good series. I already explained the Tokyo Ghoul anime and honestly i watch it for the eyecandy but lots of my buds loved it and i thought many more people would like it too. D.Gray-Man is personally one of favorites as far as shounens go. The character designs look fresh for it time of release, the storyline is simplistic yet interesting, the characters and the creativity is 8/10 worthy imo. Its a fine series. Magi starts off as a very light hearted series but once you get into more of it, the storytelling is great for a shounen, the characters are great once they get their character development, and the setting is quite unique as it based on the 1001 Arabian Nights. And as for Claymore, the anime of course strayed from the manga in the end but thanks to that i ultimately got into reading manga and while the storyline is simplistic, many of the characters are very interesting and the way the events transition is done pretty well. This is of course just my opinion. If you think they suck then fine we're all allowed to have our preferences
oh sh!t my bad about the long paragraph i didn't realize how much i was typing......
***** oh no i'm not like that XD there are many series i like even though they're badly written with pretty dumb characters like DBZ, Naruto, Bleach, Akame Ga Kill, Code Geass (i say its bad because it has too many elements from Legend of the Galactic Heroes), and lots of mainstream stuff everyone knows that i haven't mentioned lol
Captain Gintoki Dude !! School Days ?? Really ??
Chris Yoko is amazing but the band that played them "The Seatbelts" is well-listenable on its own!
Yoko Kanno also did the Macross Plus OST... she is simply the best!
This show has the best artistic design and quality that I've seen in any animated series. It was a happy combination of an unusually high budget combined with the different artists all coming together to make something which just looks and sounds amazing. Visuals: A+ Sound and Music: A+ Story and dialogue: A-
Chris you need to definitely do more anime reviews! You are absolutely brilliant and you inspire me
Me as father :
- Here, hold this.
- Uh, what do you want me to do with this?
- You're going to carry that weight son.
Chris, you have to see "Legend of the Galactic Heroes." Its the greatest space anime ever made. You won't regret watching this anime.
Chris, want something to analyze the hell out of? Neon...Genesis...Evangelion. Dooooiit
+Holo The Hogan Johnson Yess
Mello Carrier Chabra, donworybouyit
Want something harder to analyze. Tekhnoloyze.
+Holo The Hogan Johnson hell yes
Lain would be pretty damn challenging as well.
Rewatched Cowboy Bebop again and I totally agree with your review. The characters are just fantastic.
I have the privilegie of see the entire series in a theater near my house here in Argentina. A life changing experience.
soy de argentina yo también, cómo fue esa experiencia?
Not a big fan of anime at all, always seems to be incredibly melodramatic, with either overly macabre or overly sexual in an attempt to be edgy, along with characters always explaining how they're feeling through forced narration or emotional outbursts with them talking about what they're doing or going to do instead them just doing it. But Cowboy Bebop (along with Miyazaki's works) feels very exempt from that (besides overly edgy vicious who feels really like a caricature) the characters never have to explain how they're feeling, it's visually portrayed brilliantly especially during the end where Jet is wiping down the ship, Spike's almost non acknowledgment after Julia's death and even when Ed's father leaves. Even the violence and sexualisation is tastefully done in a very noir style.
I am really not into Anime. I can't relate to it and don't watch it a lot. If I do, I usually get fed up fairly quickly and watch something else. The fact that I have watched all of the Cowboy Bebop series more than once and I loved every episode tells you how good it is. It is not merely a good Anime series. It is a great series. Period.
Chris Stuckmann Guys...disregard my previous comment! After rewatching Cowboy Bebop on my 1080p HD 120 HZ TV on Blu Ray instead of a little 60 hz monitor I feel that it's a lot better. In fact, it's my 2nd favorite anime(technically 3rd because both Fullmetal's are my first 2) . This show is so amazing.
I think after watching a few animes after cowboy bebop I see what makes it so special. As a 90's anime, it has some of the best animation out there. In fact, it's still one of the most detailed animes i've ever seen. Every character and every background has so much detail it's amazing. Nowadays animes like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood have this really laze feel to them with their environments and animation at time. But Cowboy Bebop has such an amazing amount of detail.
The directing is actually really great to. The camera work is amazing(you know what I mean, i know it's not a literal camera).The characters are also really amazing. Spike and Faye are a lot more detailed and layered than people give them credit for.
Anyways, I don't know why I didn't like it at first. I think I didn't understand what made it so important. I heard what made it important, but after seeing about 10 other anime, I SEE what makes it important. Funny how opinions can change so much after just 2-3 months XD.
Oh ya and again...anyone else think it's amazing how this has better animation than most new animes?
The Angry Little Alchemist You should try Akira and Redline. They both that amazing detail in the animation that you're talking about. Keep in mind that Akira was made in *1988* and that Redline and is completely hand drawn, took 7 years to make and drove madhouse to the edge of bankruptcy.
The story of this show let me down. Style was purrtyy but it gets old after a while
ARandomGuy Redline is amazing. It actually reminded me a lot of Cowboy Bebop. It drove Madhouse to the edge of bankruptcy? Wow!
Jared Ko Yep, it's the reason Studio Mappa was made. The producer and studio head of Madhouse Masao Maruyama split off from Madhouse after it because of Redline.
Now he's getting Mappa to do another movie with a famous budget that's probably not going to be successful. After almost crashing one studio he dusts he feet off and does the exact same thing.
The Angry Little Alchemist thank you someone who agrees that both 2003 and Brotherhood are great. You don’t need to pick one.
Gotta have Chris review the live action version on Netflix this November :D
I have not finished the series, but man...the final scene in the fifth episode came out of nowhere and left me with big impression. So much storytelling done in such a small moment. Even before episode 5, the show solidified to me it's greatness. I immediately noticed the lack of pet peeves I have with anime while watching Cowboy Bebop. All the typical problems plaguing anime today (long and sometimes boring exposition, fan service, stereotypical, or archetype characters, etc...) have not showed up since I've watched the show. A anime masterpiece. The best of the best.
"Weight you're gonna carry....."
Too soon dammit! (sniff)
“I-it’s crying ..crying T-tears ok” I can’t
Great review love Cowboy Bebop, did you like Samari Champloo? Another favorite of mine, if so could you do a review on that show too. Both are epic shows.
Samurai Champloo is one of those that I really need to just finish. I really enjoyed it (seen a handful of episodes and own one dvd of it) but I just kinda forgot about it.
Both, Champloo and Bebop, made by the same person.
Pierrot le fou is my favorite episode and i loved the cover of pink floyd´s run
3:37 oh my god you so goddamn right about Yoko Kanno. She wrote music for another outstanding anime Darker than Black and I felt in love with that OST. It's been almost 10 years already since I watched that anime first time and I still listen to that music.
Cant wait for you to finish attack on titan and do a review, that show got me into anime. the character development in season 2 gets really good... and the soundtrack is amazing too. It took me until about halfway through season 1 to get hooked and now I am dying waiting for season 3.
oh boy aot is really another level now
@@EthanNuuu right? Crazy I commented this back 5 years ago lol now look at where AoT is and still no review from Chris :(
@@Lambofgod2316 yeah its so amazing how aot has evolved so seamlessly over time. Just keeps building upon itself becoming better and better.
i remember finishing the series for the first time and crying at Spike’s death. i cried for so long that i got to the final message of, “You’re gonna carry that weight.” and that made me cry for a good 30-40 minutes.
GOD DAMN YOU!
Cowboy Bebop is definitely in my Top3, along side Planetes and Monster.
I highly agree! pierrot le fou, toys in the attic, ballad of fallen angels. My favorite Anime of all time, I watched this when I was a teenager, it influenced a lot of my artwork in highschool. Always carries a special place in my soul.
bro when you said that last line "youre going to carry that weight" my heart lit on fire with the feels!
Cowboy Bebop is the only anime I would define as a masterpiece!
Need more anime in your life dude
How dare you disrespect the word masterpiece.
No Cowboy is boring.Ashita no joe and legend of the galactic heroes are the real masterpieces.
Watch code geass
lol triggered weeaboos
The big three for me were Cowboy Bebop, Silent Mobius, and Serial Experiment: Lain. Those were followed by Blue Genre, Ghost In The Shell, Witchhunter Robin, and several others. That was ten years ago, and to this day I still can't get anybody to take these "cartoons" seriously. They'd rather watch the Disney shit, or nothing. Sad. America's anime is still obsessed with funny animals and such.
Lain was so truly amazing. So sad that the creator died long time ago.
I just saw the last episode today it made me cry but at least spike went out with a bang. See you space cowboy 😥
i literally came on here because i just finished it. god dammit
i was gonna watch it but now thx for spoiling it
jack atlas why would you read the comments? That's just asking for spoilers.
Wuhoo honestly you're right after like 10 times I should learn when avengers 2 comes out im going on lockdown mode no internet till I watch it to avoid spoilers
jack atlas good thinking there mate x)
still one if your best Reviews. love this Video man!!
i just finished watching Cowboy Bebop for the first time and i really enjoyed it....Some episodes, to me seemd to drag on, but in honesty, i think a rewatch is in order now that i have the full story clear for me. I will admit that the only reason i finally sat down to watch it was because of the live action Netlfix show. I wanted to see what they potentially butcher as they have with so many live action films so far...your review was cool but i was hoping for more of slightly deeper dive into the show and not just a nostalgic praise for the show.
Didn't really think I was going to like this show, but I ended up loving it. It's such a fun show, but the slower, deeper episodes are the ones that hooked me. :P