My New Life as an Anime Fan: Cowboy Bebop

“You’re Gonna Carry That Weight”

My New Life as an Anime Fan is a new segment from yours truly, Red Lanyard, where I talk about older anime series that I missed out on and I’ve gone back to watch. I never got into anime until very recently, so join me on my journey as I watch some old gems and try to cultivate my newly found anime palate. Don’t worry; I’ll be putting spoiler warnings where needed so all you late-bloomers like me can read without concern.

When I told one of my dear friends and anime enthusiasts about the My New Life as an Anime Fan project, his response was pretty interesting to me.

“Wait, so you’re gonna start this thing with Cowboy Bebop?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard it’s really good. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. You’ll figure it out.”

Keep this exchange in mind; it’ll be important later on. Anyway, I started my recent foray into anime with Cowboy Bebop because, like I said, I had heard it was a great anime. And sure enough, the hype surrounding it was well-deserved: Cowboy Bebop is a wonderfully crafted show that tells incredible stories about characters who, despite their differences and eccentricities, strike some of the most human chords and ask some of the most poignant questions in all of media. There have been few shows I’ve enjoyed as much.

For anyone unfamiliar with the series, Cowboy Bebop is a Japanese animation series from 1998 created by Shinichiro Watanabe and Keiko Nobumoto of Sunrise studios. It tells the story of a group of bounty hunters operating in a near-future solar system chasing down criminals while outrunning their personal ghosts. The series is mostly episodic with recurring central plots about the cast, and it’s simultaneously easy to pick-up and drop as needed and to binge in one or two sittings.

There’s honestly so much to love about this show. I can’t praise the music enough; the soundtrack seamlessly blends jazz with pop and blues to create an atmosphere that feels both futuristic and retro, adding significant character to the world within which the series occurs. The animation, while carrying that older late-90s visual, still looks sharp and utilizes color in clever ways to create both vibrant and understated visuals appropriate for the scene. The characters have incredible depth, but due to the storytelling via flashbacks and retrospectives we watch that depth unfold in unique ways that not only attach us to the characters but also force us to consider how much of ourselves we seen in them. The series creators are masters of moderation when bringing their cast of characters to life. Spike is a strong, conflicted protagonist whose conflict never feels edgy; Faye is a beautiful woman whose sex appeal never overshadows her brilliance or emotional development; Edward is a child whose silliness never drowns out her fascination with people and life. The episodicism of the series gives new and exciting sequences that do more than entertain us; the world of Cowboy Bebop is easy to get immersed in, and its characters easily yet subtly wiggle their way into your heart before you even realize you’re invested in them.

SPOILER WARNING FOR THE NEXT PARAGRAPH

The last three episodes of the series constitute some of the best media I have ever seen, point blank. After a ton of ridiculous adventures and hints at each character’s past, the final three episodes bring the entire series home in a flawless fashion. Edward and Ein’s farewell broke my heart, and the profound emptiness of Faye lying in the ruins of her old home carry such emotional weight that I had to walk away from my computer for a few minutes before continuing. Finally, Spike and Jet finish up their stories perfectly: with Jet letting Spike go and accepting the fact that he cannot control his partner and Spike embracing the opportunity to finally see if he is awake and alive enough to confront his past. In the final three episodes, each of the three main characters have lines that, in my opinion, perfectly capture their character arcs throughout the show into the finale:

“Belonging is the very best thing there is.” –Faye

“Men only think about their past right before death, as if they were searching frantically for proof they were alive.” –Jet

“I’m not going there to die. I’m going to find out if I’m really alive.” –Spike

Spoilers over; enjoy the rest!

As I finished the last episode of Cowboy Bebop, I understood what my friend meant. If I have one complaint about the series, it’s that it has given me way too high of standards for every anime I will ever watch from here on out. Every line will be compared to the characters’ closing monologues; every scene will be scrutinized according to its smooth, eye-catching animation; every musical theme will be weighted against that chill, vibing “OK 3, 2, 1 let’s jam.” And in a way, it’s an appropriate legacy for the show. For all of us who watch it, it’s quality and immersiveness will be a weight we’re gonna carry with us. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Watch this show. Buy it, invest in it, savor it.

See you, space cowboy.