"Kaubôi bibappu" (1998) TV series

Creator:

Hajime Yatate
(more)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

8 January 2003 (Germany)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

The futuristic adventures of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Corgi | Ex Cop | Futuristic | Dark Past

Cast

Steve Blum	...	Spike Spiegel (26 episodes, 1998-1999)
Beau Billingslea	...	Jet Black (26 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Spike Spiegel (26 episodes, 1998-1999)
Unshô Ishizuka	...	Jet Black (26 episodes, 1998-1999)
Wendee Lee	...	Faye Valentine (24 episodes, 1998-1999)
Megumi Hayashibara	...	Faye Valentine (24 episodes, 1998-1999)
Melissa Fahn	...	Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV (16 episodes, 1998-1999)
Aoi Tada	...	Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV / ... (16 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Directed by
Shinichirô Watanabe		(26 episodes, 1998-1999)
Yoshiyuki Takei		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Writing credits
Keiko Nobumoto		(1 episode, 1998)
Sadayuki Murai		(1 episode, 1999)
Marc Handler		(unknown episodes)
Akihiko Inari		(unknown episodes)
Dai Sato		(unknown episodes)
Shinichirô Watanabe		(unknown episodes)
Ryota Yamaguchi		(unknown episodes)
Hajime Yatate		(unknown episodes)
Michiko Yokote		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Tsunetoshi Koike	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1998)
Ryo Miyaki	....	assistant producer (1 episode, 1998)
Jerry Chu	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Kazuhiko Ikeguchi	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Haruyo Kanesaku	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Kekahuna	....	assistant producer (unknown episodes)
Osamu Maseba	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Yutaka Maseba	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Charles McCarter	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Masahiko Minami	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Miyuki Ogino	....	assistant producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Yôko Kanno		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Yoichi Ogami		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Tomoaki Tsurubuchi		(1 episode, 1998)
Makoto Imazuka		(unknown episodes)
Shinichi Sugawara		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Jun'ichi Higashi		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Isamu Imakake		(unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yoshiyuki Takei	....	unit director (1 episode, 1998)
Shinichirô Watanabe	....	unit director (1 episode, 1998)
Hirokazu Yamada	....	assistant unit director (1 episode, 1998)

Series Art Department
Shinichirô Watanabe	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 1998)
Isamu Imakake	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Katsuyoshi Kobayashi	....	sound director (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Toshio Hasegawa	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Mami Kumasawa	....	photographer: Asahi Production (1 episode, 1998)
Youhei Sakurai	....	photographer: Asahi Production (1 episode, 1998)
Keiko Sato	....	photographer: Asahi Production (1 episode, 1998)
Yoshio Sugisawa	....	photographer: Asahi Production (1 episode, 1998)
Nobutaka Taguchi	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Masami Goto	....	animation director / key animator: opening / ... (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kôichi Horikawa	....	animator / key animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Yoshiyuki Itô	....	animator / key animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Koichi Iwanaga	....	animation checker (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Takahiro Komori	....	animation director / key animator / ... (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tadaaki Miyata	....	animator / key animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Yutaka Nakamura	....	animator / key animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Hiroshi Ôsaka	....	animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tsunenori Saitô	....	animator / key animator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Hideyuki Motohashi	....	animation director (2 episodes, 1998)
Tomoko Tanifuji	....	animator: Studio Live (2 episodes, 1998)
Kaori Fujii	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Seiichi Hashimoto	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Animeya Honpo	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Nobuaki Ishihara	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Kunihiko Ito	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Akira Itoman	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Nobuo Kajiwara	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Hironori Kanno	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Akira Matsunaga	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Sadako Minamisawa	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Yuji Mishayita	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Hiroyuki Mori	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Eiji Nakata	....	key animator (unknown episodes)
Shizuko Nakata	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Takahiro Omori	....	key animator: opening animation (unknown episodes)
Yasuhiro Seo	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Aya Shimizu	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Kenya Shimizu	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Tomoko Takahashi	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Toshiyuki Tokuda	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Kimitoshi Yamane	....	mechanical designer (unknown episodes)
Kohei Yoneyama	....	key animator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Ryoko Yoshimori	....	color key (1 episode, 1998)
C.P. Booth	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)
Bill Mochon	....	color timer (unknown episodes)
Shihoko Nakayama	....	color coordinator (unknown episodes)
Greg A. Simone	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn	....	voice director: English version (25 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tadaaki Goto	....	assistant painter (unknown episodes)
Takako Ito	....	assistant painter (unknown episodes)
Yoshiko Kishi	....	assistant painter (unknown episodes)
Takako Matsumoto	....	assistant painter (unknown episodes)
Mei Mizusawa	....	assistant painter (unknown episodes)
Takaaki Ushiyama	....	operator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Bandai Visual Company
• Sunrise
• ZRO Limit Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• AXN (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (on AXN Sci-Fi)
• Adult Swim (2001) (USA) (TV)
• Bandai Visual Company
• Cuatro (2005) (Spain) (TV)
• Locomotion (Brazil) (TV)
• Selecta Vision
• Sunrise

Other Companies

• Bandai Entertainment Inc.  English adaptation
• Sunrise  Animation Production

Also Known As:

Cowboy Bebop (International: English title) (USA)

Runtime:

25 min (26 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

French | German | Italian | Spanish | Tagalog | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Japan:R | USA:TV-MA | Singapore:Unrated | Spain:15 | UK:15 (some episodes) | UK:18 | Canada:14A (some episodes) | Brazil:18 | Peru:18 | Canada:18A | Australia:MA | Italy:VM14 (video rating) | New Zealand:R13 (some episodes) | New Zealand:R16 | Austria:18 | Argentina:18 | Germany:16 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating)

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

Alfredo, the man who approaches his ailing mother at the airport in "The Real Folk Blues", is Punch from Big Shots.

Quotes:

[usual title card at the end of most episodes]
Title Card: See You Space Cowboy...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Anime: Drawing a Revolution (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Blue

Classy as can be, an anime classic.

Cowboy Bebop is a series that should need no introduction to anime fans. However, for anyone unfamiliar with the show, it's basically about space bounty hunters set to an old time jazz music soundtrack with plenty of classy old time stories and dark morals along the way. If you like action, space, jazz, or comedy, you may like Cowboy Bebop. If you like old time bounty hunter, private eye, or detective movies, you'll probably like Cowboy Bebop. If you like dark stories with twists that really make you feel for the characters, you'll like Cowboy Bebop. This is one series you don't have to be an anime fan to appreciate, but you have to be willing to give it a fair chance.

A single episode of Cowboy Bebop packs more punch than several entire anime series I know of. If you're not a fan of the show by the end of episode one alone, you probably won't be. The characters are as real as any old time bounty hunter / detective movie, and every bit as interesting. The sci-fi space twist doesn't take away from the show in the slightest, it adds much. A good way of thinking about the show is Lupin the 3rd mixed with Outlaw Star, with more depth. With episode titles like Asteroid Blues, Honky Tonk Woman, Waltz for Venus, and Jupiter Jazz, the space, class, and jazz heavy style is quite apparent from the beginning. This isn't just some theme slapped on top of an anime, rather a critical part of the show.

The characters are well rounded and all very interesting. Unlike a lot of anime, there is no annoying character you wish they would have left out. Each character is given equal importance, though the show centers on the bounty hunter Spike.

Spike describes himself as an "old fashioned cowboy." He spends a lot of the series searching for someone he once knew, I'll avoid details so I don't spoil anything. He could be a master thief if he so choose, his dexterity and fighting skills are nearly unmatched. With a good 'whatever' attitude, he's great fun to watch.

Jet is more of an old time detective. He's the owner of the ship "Bebop", and best friend of Spike. He does his fair share in bounty hunting like Spike, mostly gathering information and providing backup to Spike.

Faye is pretty much the anime embodiment of the women from detective movies. A fiercely materialistic woman, she does whatever it takes to get what she wants. She's not against stealing from anyone or using anyone to get it, then leaving them cold. An incredible bounty hunter in her own right, she joins the team without invitation or welcome. Much hilarious bickering and bounty thefts come between Faye and Spike from the outset.

Ed is a hacker genius girl who joins the group after a promise from Faye to get information. They try to leave her dry after they get what they need. but Ed's hacking skills make that impossible. She's often comic relief, and may be insane. Who can tell? In any case, when hacking or computer skills are needed, Ed is there. When not needed, she's. still there, being a hilarious pain in the neck. She's often with Ein, a seemingly ordinary mutt that gets picked up along the way with a few not so hidden talents.

In any case, Cowboy Bebop is a series anyone should watch. It has some language, a lot of violence, and some dark stories, but nothing that any kid these days hasn't seen a hundred times over. Even if you're not a bounty hunter or jazz fan, give this series a shot. Don't be surprised if you start to take a liking to jazz music or Yoko Kanno's amazing music. Congrats to Cartoon Network for bringing over the incredible dub, but check out the sub if possible. Enjoy. I refuse to end this rant with that catchy ending of each episode. Sorry. ^_^

- Rirath_com