gren

Cowboy Bebop, set in the year 2071 A.D., is the tale of interstellar bounty hunters, the pasts they try to run from or catch up to, and the prey they chase for a few bucks. The spaceship these bounty hunters are aboard is called the "Bebop".

A huge success in the US, which then followed it's debut on Cartoon Network. Sony got wind of the success and created a movie titled "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", which is also now out on DVD.

COWBOY BEBOP AT A GLANCE

• Director: Shinichiro Watanabe
• Produced by: Sunrise Inc.
• English Adaptation: Bandai Entertainment
• Genre: Science Fiction, Comedy, Action, Drama
• Music: Yoko Kanno
• Main Character: Spike Spiegel - former member of the Red Dragon crime syndicate.

A poll conducted by magazine Newtype USA, asked it's readers to name the Top 25 Anime Series of all time. Number 2 on this list was Cowboy Bebop! So don't be surprised when you see Cowboy Bebop being rotatated in and out of the Carton Network each year. In fact, Cowboy Bebop was the first anime title to be shown as part of the U.S. Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block.

Due to it's enormous popularity, Cowboy Bebop has been shown around the world:

- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Poland
- Israel
- Spain

Cowboy Bebop was finally licensed in Europe in 2005 (7 years after it's release in Japan).

Bandai has also released Cowboy Bebop in it's list of PlayStation games.

Major Characters:

Spike Spiegel

Spike has a laidback cool that makes him instantly likeable. Tall and gangly with a green afro, he practices martial arts (Jeet Kune Do) with a cigarette dangling from his lips, and cracks wise as he fights his opponents - the bounty heads that keep him and his partner in business.

Spike has a past he's trying to forget, but something keeps calling him back...

Jet Black

A former member of the Inter Solar Systems police, Jet has a cybernetic arm that's a constant reminder of his past. The most sensible of the group, Jet often has to act as the diplomat after Spike's nonchalant recklessness or Faye's pushy ego has gotten the group in trouble.

He cultivates bonsai trees to relax, and his gruff demeanor hides his true feelings about his past and his companions.

Faye Valentine

A sexy, foul-mouthed, ill-tempered hustler. Faye has no memory of who she is or where she came from. Spike and Jet are initially interested in the bounty on her, but eventually come to see her as a comrade. However, Faye is still willing to double-cross anyone as long as it ends with cash in her pocket. Her goals in life seems to be finding out the mystery of her past, and making tons of money on the way.

Ed (Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky the Fourth)

A kid with a nearly unmatchable computer hacking skills, Ed is the most endearing and enigmatic character in the series; even her gender isn't revealed until the end of her introductory episode.

Adorable to a fault, Ed has a joie de vivre that seems to bring out sides of the other characters that they would rather have kept hidden. Ed has no real aim other than being happy and having friends and people do love her. This simplicity makes her essential to the series.

Official Cowboy Bebop Websites:

• Cowboy Bebop
• Adult Swim - Cowboy Bebop

Overall

Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime ever created; the characters are believable and entertaining, the storyline never loses one's interest, and the music... well, that's another thread I can't wait to start.

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Gren's Music

LenMiyata

Grumble Grumble Grumble

Other Official English Websites...

Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door Sony Pictures Website

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