Official Anime Watch Thread [Currently Watching: Cowboy Bebop]

[Great Rumbler]

Y'all get in here, we're gonna do this thing! Okay, it's simple: one episode of Cowboy Bebop per day for 26 days. That's it. So get to watching episode one tonight and we'll talk about it tomorrow.

[youtube=560,345]T6zDfxZ4NcE[/youtube]

Here's a companion guide for anybody that want to look super-deep into every minute detail of each episode:

http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/11/09/overthinking-cowboy-bebop-introduction/

Shinichiro Watanabe - Director, Script, Storyboard - Macross Plus, Samurai Champloo
Masahiko Minami - Producer - Darker than Black, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Full Metal Alchemist, G Gundam, Gundam 0083, RahXephon, Soul Eater, Star Driver, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain
Keiko Nobumoto - Script, Series Composition - Macross Plus, Tokyo Godfathers, Wolf's Rain
Dai Sato - Script - Ergo Proxy, Eureka Seven, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain
Tensai Okamura - Storyboard - Darker than Black, Ghost in the Shell, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain
Yoko Kanno - Music - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Darker than Black, Arjuna, Escaflowne, Macross Frontier, Macross Plus, Wolf's Rain
Yutake Nakamura - Key Animation - Escaflowne, Full Metal Alchemist, Overman King Gainer, Scrapper Princess, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain
Toshihiro Kawamoto - Character Designs, Chief Animation Director - Blood: The Last Vampire, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Kurau Phantom Memory, Michiko to Hatchin, Gundam 0083, Wolf's Rain

[Himu]

I'll watch Asteroid Blues tonight. 

[Joe Molotov]

I'm in and this is my first time watching so I hope it will be good.

You're in a for a treat, best anime ever.

[Joe Molotov]

BTW, if you don't have it on DVD....

spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.animetip.com/cowboy-bebop-episode-1.html

[close]

[Great Rumbler]

Yeah, it's one of the best animes ever made. Just great TV all around, not just anime. It's got style, great animation, great music, great action scenes, and really good characters from the mains all the way down.

Episode 1 - Asteroid Blues:

Fellow bounty hunters Spike Spiegel and Jet Black head to the New Tijuana asteroid colony to track down a bounty-head who is trying to sell off a stolen cache of a dangerous combat drug called Bloody Eye.

[Mr. Gundam]

I got the Blu-ray of the movie the other day in the mail. Still fantastic.

[Great Rumbler]

We might fit that in between episodes 22 and 23 if everybody wants to do that.

[Mr. Gundam]

I'd be up for it. I'll watch episode one tonight before playing some RGG Of The End.

[Robo]

I'm in - CB is one of my favorite shows of any kind.  Wish I had my box set here at the apartment, tho.

[Joe Molotov]

Bell peppers and beef

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Jet provides the beef later, wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean?

[close]

[Great Rumbler]

Just got through watching the first episode. It's not one of the best, but I think it gets things started in the right direction and does a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the series [a mix of comedy, action, and drama]. And it's clear even from start that the series is going to have really strong direction, great action scenes [just look at how fluid and well laid out they are in the very first episode], and amazing music. Definitely a confluence of money and talent that doesn't happen often.

Shinichiro Watanabe - Director, Script, Storyboard - Macross Plus, Samurai Champloo
Masahiko Minami - Producer - Darker than Black, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Full Metal Alchemist, G Gundam, Gundam 0083, RahXephon, Soul Eater, Star Driver, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain
Keiko Nobumoto - Script, Series Composition - Macross Plus, Tokyo Godfathers, Wolf's Rain
Dai Sato - Script - Ergo Proxy, Eureka Seven, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain
Tensai Okamura - Storyboard - Darker than Black, Ghost in the Shell, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Samurai Champloo, Wolf's Rain
Yoko Kanno - Music - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Darker than Black, Arjuna, Escaflowne, Macross Frontier, Macross Plus, Wolf's Rain
Yutake Nakamura - Key Animation - Escaflowne, Full Metal Alchemist, Overman King Gainer, Scrapper Princess, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain

[pilonv1]

ffs I lent the dvds to my best friend years ago

I never watched the movie either

[Himu]

Cracking open COWBOY BEBOP REMIX BOXSET RIGHT NOW

[tehjaybo]

Pulling down my DVD and preparing to watch this now. 

Great Rumbler

[pilonv1]

Maybe I'll watch Martian Successor Nadesico instead

[Himu]

Pulling down my DVD and preparing to watch this now. 

Great Rumbler

It was my idea  :'(

[Madrun Badrun]

I've always liked how this eps' story parellels Spike's and Julia's.

[Himu]

Highly suggested, if you have the Remix dvds to watch the commentaries. Jet's Japanese voice actor forgets the name of his character and it's so hilarious. "Hi I'm ___________ and I play...uh...."

[Great Rumbler]

Pulling down my DVD and preparing to watch this now. 

Great Rumbler

It was my idea  :'(

But I was the one who brought up Cowboy Bebop first in that thread.  

Maybe I'll watch Martian Successor Nadesico instead

Nadesico > Eva

Gekigangar 4 life.

[Himu]

Nadesico is one of those shows I loved (and own) from when I was a teenager that I have an irking feeling I would hate now if I watched it.

[Great Rumbler]

Nadesico is one of those shows I loved (and own) from when I was a teenager that I have an irking feeling I would hate now if I watched it.

Yeah, I kinda feel the same way. But I also think that it's one of those shows that would make you realize how far anime has fallen in the last few years and enjoy it as a time capsule of when anime, as a whole, was much better.

[pilonv1]

I watched the dub when I was younger, I think if I watched the sub now I'd be ok with it. Well except for the overlays :

[tehjaybo]

Pulling down my DVD and preparing to watch this now. 

Great Rumbler

It was my idea  :'(

I don't read the other anime threads.  Sorry Himu


Himu
Great Rumbler

[Joe Molotov]

I never watched the movie either

$10 on Amazon on teh blu-gay.

[Shaka Khan]

I've never watched the show or the movie. Should I?

spoiler (click to show/hide)

lulz

[close]

[Joe Molotov]

No.

Wait until I do my Reign: The Conqueror rewatch thread.

[Shaka Khan]

Honestly it's been hyped to the moon and back. I don't think it'll ever live to my expectations now. Thanks internet.

[Joe Molotov]

That's why you should watch Reign The Conqueror instead, everybody hates it.

[Shaka Khan]

See that makes me want to watch it more than Bepop. What else do people hate?

[tehjaybo]

Locked and loaded.

[Mr. Gundam]

3, 2, 1, let's jam.



I bought the first volume during my freshman year of college in 1999. WHOA.



Anyone up for the "side stories" as well? I've also got the PS1 game, but it's total crap so no reason to include it.

[Himu]

I used to own those dvds! Just watched Asteroid Blues, post coming up!

[Himu]

Honestly it's been hyped to the moon and back. I don't think it'll ever live to my expectations now. Thanks internet.

It's still one of the best tv series made, I think. It's more than worth watching at least for the historical aspect of being one of most influential anime series ever.

[Mr. Gundam]

Crazy to think I've had them for 12 years now.

Just finished up episode 1. The parallels between Asimov and Katrina and Spike and Julia are great. Spike is desperately trying to save her as penance for losing Julia. The Desperado homage is pretty great as well. Speaking of homages, I love how Spike was created slightly as a tribute to Lupin III. That was one of the things I first noticed when watching the show back in the day.

Also, where the fuck did Toshihiro Kawamoto go? I love his character designs.

[pilonv1]

I never watched the movie either

$10 on Amazon on teh blu-gay.

I have the DVD but I never watched it.

[Himu]

I've always enjoyed the parallel between Spike/Julia and Asimov/Katrina. What happened between Spike and the Syndicate is never explicitly said, but I always figured it was implied in this episode.

This episode is great because it gets the set up and general style of the series down to a tee. It's a fantastic first episode and one of my favorites even it's not one of the best.

Best song featured in this episode

Spokey Dokey

[youtube=560,345]MduJjbcLSqE[/youtube]

Memorable quotes



"Special bells peppers and beef!"

"You were always planting seeds of another kind, though!"

"Keep those eyes opennnnn"

Favorite shot featured in this episode

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I always liked how the Bloody Eye bottles look like blood gushing from her stomach.

[close]

[Shaka Khan]

Btw, I like the title and vote for "Bebpo" to be censored into "distinguished weeaboo fellow."

[tehjaybo]

My first watch of this was when I was way younger, and I never really watched it for content after that.  I just noticed the Spike/Julia  -  Asimov/Katrina similarities.  Absolutely awesome.  Though I gotta say, if I recall correctly Spike wasn't quite the douchebag that Asimov is, but like I said it's been forever since I've watched for content.  I've forgotten complete episodes.  I'm excited to be involved in a group watch/commentary.  This should be really nice.

I've gotta say, my favorite song in this one is the jazz song during the Desperado fight scene.  This series is one of the influences in my younger years that got me into jazz, and therefore ska and swing.  Absolutely great.

"We will never get out of here now...  I will never see Mars..."    :'(

[Great Rumbler]

Also, where the fuck did Toshihiro Kawamoto go? I love his character designs.

The last shows he designed characters for were Ghost Slayers Ayashi back in 2006 and the current series Gosick.

Speaking of Kawamoto, he was another Bebop alum who worked on Wolf's Rain and Escaflowne.

[Himu]

I've gotta say, my favorite song in this one is the jazz song during the Desperado fight scene.  This series is one of the influences in my younger years that got me into jazz, and therefore ska and swing.  Absolutely great.

Same here. This show made a tremendous impact on my music tastes as a teenager.

Btw that song:

[youtube=560,345]l8wWa3O9cUo[/youtube]

[Mr. Gundam]

Speaking of Kawamoto, he was another Bebop alum who worked on Wolf's Rain and Escaflowne.

I remember when Wolf's Rain came out, I was so psyched since it was the spiritual sequel to Bebop with so many members of the team returning to the show. Not as good, but I still love it, even with the OMG KILL ME NOW string of clip shows that totally killed the pacing.

[Himu]

Speaking of Kawamoto, he was another Bebop alum who worked on Wolf's Rain and Escaflowne.

I remember when Wolf's Rain came out, I was so psyched since it was the spiritual sequel to Bebop with so many members of the team returning to the show. Not as good, but I still love it, even with the OMG KILL ME NOW string of clip shows that totally killed the pacing.

Wolf's Rain isn't as good as Bebop and in today's world people would call you a furry for liking it, but it's a very well written show. Not as good as Bebop but definitely up there, I think.

[Shaka Khan]

I loved Wolf's Rain, if only for the retro feel it evoked. Ok, now I'm interested in watching Bepop. Stay tuned for my Real Talk.

[Great Rumbler]

I've gotta say, my favorite song in this one is the jazz song during the Desperado fight scene.  This series is one of the influences in my younger years that got me into jazz, and therefore ska and swing.  Absolutely great.

Same here. This show made a tremendous impact on my music tastes as a teenager.

Btw that song:

[youtube=560,345]l8wWa3O9cUo[/youtube]

Yoko Kanno has done some great work since Cowboy Bebop, but I don't think she's done another soundtrack that's as varied and just so gosh darn good. Nearly every single track is just...WOW. Ya know?

Speaking of Kawamoto, he was another Bebop alum who worked on Wolf's Rain and Escaflowne.

I remember when Wolf's Rain came out, I was so psyched since it was the spiritual sequel to Bebop with so many members of the team returning to the show. Not as good, but I still love it, even with the OMG KILL ME NOW string of clip shows that totally killed the pacing.

Wolf's Rain isn't as good as Bebop and in today's world people would call you a furry for liking it, but it's a very well written show. Not as good as Bebop but definitely up there, I think.

I've made several attempts to get through Wolf's Rain, but I still haven't made it. One day I will!

[Mr. Gundam]

The song Strangers from Wolf's Rain is brilliant.

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
Very Bebop-esque at times.

Shit. I want to rewatch Wolf's Rain now.

[Himu]

Yoko has made a lot of fantastic soundtracks but none of them make an emotional impact on me (as cheesy as that sounds) as Bebop's does.

Maybe Escaflowne is close. The ost to the Escaflowne movie is amazing as well.

[Human Snorenado]

One of the few anime series I have nothing bad to say about.

[Beezy]

I'll watch this before I go to sleep. I miss good anime.

Masahiko Minami - Producer - Darker than Black, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Full Metal Alchemist, G Gundam, Gundam 0083, RahXephon, Soul Eater, Star Driver, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain

10 out of 11 ain't bad.

[Shaka Khan]

I just remembered that Wolf's Rain's OST was one of the first, if not the first, anime soundtracks I bothered downloading.

[Himu]

I'll watch this before I go to sleep. I miss good anime.

Masahiko Minami - Producer - Darker than Black, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Full Metal Alchemist, G Gundam, Gundam 0083, RahXephon, Soul Eater, Star Driver, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain

10 out of 11 ain't bad.

RahXephon > Eva

[Great Rumbler]

Masahiko Minami - Producer - Darker than Black, Escaflowne, Eureka Seven, Full Metal Alchemist, G Gundam, Gundam 0083, RahXephon, Soul Eater, Star Driver, Sword of the Stranger, Wolf's Rain

10 out of 11 ain't bad.

I liked RahXephon.

[Himu]

I love it!

[Mr. Gundam]

I'm very torn on RahXephon. Still haven't bothered to watch the movie even though I bought it the day it came out. The PS2 game is interesting. Well, it's only interesting since I paid $5 for it.

I just remembered that Wolf's Rain's OST was one of the first, if not the first, anime soundtracks I bothered downloading.

Psh. I dropped $40 on each of the OSTs for Wolf's Rain, along with the $150 Cowboy Bebop OST Box Set and all the Stand Alone Complex OSTs ($30-$40 each).

YOKO KANNO

[Shaka Khan]

I just remembered that Wolf's Rain's OST was one of the first, if not the first, anime soundtracks I bothered downloading.

Psh. I dropped $40 on each of the OSTs for Wolf's Rain, along with the $150 Cowboy Bebop OST Box Set and all the Stand Alone Complex OSTs ($30-$40 each).

YOKO KANNO

[Great Rumbler]

I just remembered that Wolf's Rain's OST was one of the first, if not the first, anime soundtracks I bothered downloading.

Psh. I dropped $40 on each of the OSTs for Wolf's Rain, along with the $150 Cowboy Bebop OST Box Set and all the Stand Alone Complex OSTs ($30-$40 each).

YOKO KANNO

I bought the Stand Alone Complex OST and it had many excellent tracks.

[Mr. Gundam]

The Bebop music box set is way cool. I remember it being delivered on a Sunday morning since it was shipped from Japan via EMS.

[sigh]Back when I was a student and could blow crazy gobs of money on frivolous stuff.[sigh]

[Himu]

I haven't seen RahXephon movie.

You know what? We should more of this. What show should we do after Bebop? Since it got a recent re-release, my vote is for Fooly Cooly.

[Beezy]

I liked Rahxephon until I got near the end. I don't remember why.

Actually I won't be watching this tonight. The link posted by Joe doesn't work.

I haven't seen RahXephon movie.

You know what? We should more of this. What show should we do after Bebop? Since it got a recent re-release, my vote is for Fooly Cooly.

I already rewatched this when they put it on netflix.

[Mr. Gundam]

As soon as I finish Votoms, I'm going to start re-watching the original SDF Macross. We could make it also a comparison with Robotech.

[Pringo]

Has there been an HD release of Cowboy Bebop by any chance (not talking about the movie)? I'd be into this and it sounds like a good time to rewatch especially if it's in HD now.