See You (now) Space Cowboy
July 7, 2009 7:50 PM Subscribe
This show as a whole piece is a work of beauty. The ending is just amazing.
posted by djduckie at 7:52 PM on July 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by djduckie at 7:52 PM on July 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
SPOILER ALERT: Spike dies... a little inside each time Jet cooks beef and peppers without the beef.
posted by Science! at 7:55 PM on July 7, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by Science! at 7:55 PM on July 7, 2009 [8 favorites]
Nice. It's been a while since I watched these. And they use the far superior subbed versions.
posted by P.o.B. at 7:57 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by P.o.B. at 7:57 PM on July 7, 2009
I've never really liked anime, but Cowboy Bebop is the exception. What a brilliant series.
posted by threetoed at 7:58 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by threetoed at 7:58 PM on July 7, 2009
jabberjaw: "Cool. In other news, Keanu Reeves as Spike Spiegel."
We have covered this embodiment of evil.
posted by Science! at 7:58 PM on July 7, 2009
We have covered this embodiment of evil.
posted by Science! at 7:58 PM on July 7, 2009
HOLEEE $#!!!!T They made a Blade of the Immortal anime? Well there goes my free time for the next couple of days.
posted by P.o.B. at 8:03 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by P.o.B. at 8:03 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love Cowboy Bebop. A lot. Thank you for this. I'm actually smack in the middle at the moment (for the umpteenth time). I've been streaming low quality episodes wherever I could rustle em' up.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:04 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:04 PM on July 7, 2009
A band I played with in college, Ole Sushi (inspired by the leftover kaiten-zushi I carted home from work every night for band practice), used to cover What Planet is This?. It will always be one of my fondest memories.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:11 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:11 PM on July 7, 2009
Ah... an excuse to say just how awesome is Yoko Kanno.
posted by grounded at 8:16 PM on July 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by grounded at 8:16 PM on July 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
They also have Samurai Champloo, which was Witten and Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe who also Directed Cowboy Bebop. They have a pretty good selection, like Samurai 7 which is also awesome.
posted by P.o.B. at 8:18 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by P.o.B. at 8:18 PM on July 7, 2009
It might just be me, but given how visually oriented Cowboy Bebop is I'd prefer to watch my DVD set on a good quality TV rather than mess around streaming the episodes from some slightly shady website. And you get the option of watching it with either subtitles or the English vocal track, which is quite possibly the best anime dub ever.
posted by fearthehat at 8:19 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by fearthehat at 8:19 PM on July 7, 2009
Wow! Copyright infringement is your best entertainment value!!
Titles cannot be copyrighted.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:22 PM on July 7, 2009
Titles cannot be copyrighted.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:22 PM on July 7, 2009
I actually prefer the dubbed version of this show. I admit that the Japanese voice actors are a bit better, but these subtitles are pretty dry translations ("You don't call a meatless 'beef with bell peppers' 'beef with bell peppers'"). The dubbed version is actually localized, so the writing sounds more natural to English speakers ("there's no beef in here").
posted by martens at 8:25 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by martens at 8:25 PM on July 7, 2009
English vocal track, which is quite possibly the best anime dub ever.
This may be true but voiceovers have gotten a crapton better in the past few years. It still doesn't make sense to me why some people prefer the mumbly depressed English voiced Spike to the expressive Japanese voiced Spike.
posted by P.o.B. at 8:28 PM on July 7, 2009
This may be true but voiceovers have gotten a crapton better in the past few years. It still doesn't make sense to me why some people prefer the mumbly depressed English voiced Spike to the expressive Japanese voiced Spike.
posted by P.o.B. at 8:28 PM on July 7, 2009
Ack. "There's no beef in here" is about what I'd expect from a completely characterless dub (ie: any dub). No thanks.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:28 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:28 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Take a page from the (umpteen) Akira versions -- you don't hunt for a better dub; you hunt for a better translation.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:29 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:29 PM on July 7, 2009
Thanks for this. Just got to replay one of my favorite moments, at 9:46 of episode 3.
posted by A dead Quaker at 8:32 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by A dead Quaker at 8:32 PM on July 7, 2009
I just died a little inside.
Of happiness.
Metafilter and Cowboy Bebop, two of my favorite things, together!
P.o.B., I'm actually in love with and would want to wake up next to Steven Blum's disembodied voice. That or Kevin Conroy.
posted by twins named Lugubrious and Salubrious at 8:37 PM on July 7, 2009
Of happiness.
Metafilter and Cowboy Bebop, two of my favorite things, together!
P.o.B., I'm actually in love with and would want to wake up next to Steven Blum's disembodied voice. That or Kevin Conroy.
posted by twins named Lugubrious and Salubrious at 8:37 PM on July 7, 2009
Call me a philistine or whatnot, but I always preferred Samurai Champloo over Cowboy Bebop.
I mean Cowboy Bebop is cool and all, but it doesn't really have any moments that rival ~18:20 of this.
posted by juv3nal at 8:38 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I mean Cowboy Bebop is cool and all, but it doesn't really have any moments that rival ~18:20 of this.
posted by juv3nal at 8:38 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
I purchased a bundled set, with all of the episodes on DVD, the movie, and 5 soundtrack CDs; I consider it one of the best purchases I've ever made.
posted by FireballForever at 8:40 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by FireballForever at 8:40 PM on July 7, 2009
you just better start sniffin' your rank subjugation, jack. 'cause it's you against your tattered libido, the bank, and the mortician forever, man; and it wouldn't be luck if you could get out of life alive.
posted by the aloha at 8:41 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by the aloha at 8:41 PM on July 7, 2009
As bummed as I was to hear about Keanu, I am intensely curious as to who they'll cast as Ed.
posted by JaredSeth at 8:45 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by JaredSeth at 8:45 PM on July 7, 2009
Also...
Vicious: (screaming, after stabbing Spike his with sword): Then why won't you die?!?
Keanu Reeves (as Spike): Woah.
posted by FireballForever at 8:46 PM on July 7, 2009
Vicious: (screaming, after stabbing Spike his with sword): Then why won't you die?!?
Keanu Reeves (as Spike): Woah.
posted by FireballForever at 8:46 PM on July 7, 2009
As bummed as I was to hear about Keanu, I am intensely curious as to who they'll cast as Ed.
Boxxy would be PERFECT.
(ok maybe not)
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:48 PM on July 7, 2009
Boxxy would be PERFECT.
(ok maybe not)
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:48 PM on July 7, 2009
Call me a philistine or whatnot, but I always preferred Samurai Champloo over Cowboy Bebop.
OK: you're a philistine.
Like you didn't see that coming.
But seriously, I've seen that episode and I remain unconvinced. For lack of a better word, Bebop felt a lot deeper. SC always came across like a direct rip-off, but I give it credit for being well-animated and stylish, with good action scenes.
posted by Edgewise at 8:51 PM on July 7, 2009
OK: you're a philistine.
Like you didn't see that coming.
But seriously, I've seen that episode and I remain unconvinced. For lack of a better word, Bebop felt a lot deeper. SC always came across like a direct rip-off, but I give it credit for being well-animated and stylish, with good action scenes.
posted by Edgewise at 8:51 PM on July 7, 2009
Cowboy Bebop is good and all, but as grounded touched on, it will always be, above all, a Yoko Kanno vector for me.
posted by lekvar at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by lekvar at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2009
This makes me very happy and reminds me to get some of the soundtrack on the 10th meetup playlist.
posted by vrakatar at 9:33 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by vrakatar at 9:33 PM on July 7, 2009
Cowboy Bebop is the secret reason why Amy LaVere played "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at my wedding.
posted by vibrotronica at 9:34 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by vibrotronica at 9:34 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
For the full appreciation, check it on "remix" DVDs with 5.1 sound. Still a shame that the soundtracks don't have foreign pressings.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:44 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by filthy light thief at 9:44 PM on July 7, 2009
Cowboy Bebop is good and all, but as grounded touched on, it will always be, above all, a Yoko Kanno vector for me.
It's how I was first infected! Actually, I heard the soundtrack on some early web radio stream, and I was blown away and had to find out more. I eventually tracked down the anime and bought it, my first. CowBe introduced me to YK, and YK introduced me to anime.
Since then, I've watched a lot of programs solely on the recommendation of a YK soundtrack. Some of them turned out really well: Escaflowne, Macross Plus, Ghost In The Shell SAC.
posted by grobstein at 9:44 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
It's how I was first infected! Actually, I heard the soundtrack on some early web radio stream, and I was blown away and had to find out more. I eventually tracked down the anime and bought it, my first. CowBe introduced me to YK, and YK introduced me to anime.
Since then, I've watched a lot of programs solely on the recommendation of a YK soundtrack. Some of them turned out really well: Escaflowne, Macross Plus, Ghost In The Shell SAC.
posted by grobstein at 9:44 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
By the way, Michiko to Hatchin series, even though is not directed by Watanabe, (he was only the music producer), but it does feel like a Watanabe creation. Can't recommend it enough. I think all three series - Bebop, SC, and Michiko to Hatchin are roughly equal. SC is not a ripoff of Bebop. They're all very different and are done extremely well.
posted by rainy at 9:57 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by rainy at 9:57 PM on July 7, 2009
Shucks Howdy! Great great series. Champloo just didn't have the depth for me. I wanted to love it, I wanted to sooooooooo bad, but it just wasn't up there for me.
Of course, as intimated, the absence of the astonishing Yokko Kanno may have played a part in that too.
posted by smoke at 10:05 PM on July 7, 2009
Of course, as intimated, the absence of the astonishing Yokko Kanno may have played a part in that too.
posted by smoke at 10:05 PM on July 7, 2009
I admired the production values of the American DVDs. The back of each box is designed in the fashion of 60's era liner notes. The discs themselves are pressed to resemble 45's.
They didn't need to do this. They did it because they loved the series.
posted by SPrintF at 10:08 PM on July 7, 2009
They didn't need to do this. They did it because they loved the series.
posted by SPrintF at 10:08 PM on July 7, 2009
Cowboy Bebop was my introduction to anime.
It was pretty much all downhill from there.
posted by aint broke at 10:56 PM on July 7, 2009
It was pretty much all downhill from there.
posted by aint broke at 10:56 PM on July 7, 2009
I remember the first time i saw Bebop on Cartoon Network on late night; I felt like I discovered a secret. i was struck by how deeply it enveloped me with its universe and left me longing for it when an episode ended. I haven't watched the series in many years, and had actually forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me. Its been long enough that i dont remember the episodes, so i get to watch again for the first time!
And, damn, the music is awesome: its retro jazz bosanova blues from the future.
posted by Merik at 10:59 PM on July 7, 2009
And, damn, the music is awesome: its retro jazz bosanova blues from the future.
posted by Merik at 10:59 PM on July 7, 2009
Do yourself a favor and pick this up on DVD -- the quality of this streaming source is pretty bad. The real thing is so much better.
posted by Malor at 11:15 PM on July 7, 2009
posted by Malor at 11:15 PM on July 7, 2009
Ah, Spike.
Aren't most young men like that? We start to fear death when we find someone to care about, and not a moment sooner.
I thought I was invincible, back then. Now, I'm afraid of everything.
posted by Ingenting at 1:52 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Aren't most young men like that? We start to fear death when we find someone to care about, and not a moment sooner.
I thought I was invincible, back then. Now, I'm afraid of everything.
posted by Ingenting at 1:52 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love Cowboy Bebop. It might be style over substance, but when you have more style than 10 other shows put together, all is forgiven. The bad guy (who's name is Vicious) brings a fucking sword to a gunfight! That's the kind of awesome that is usually saved for the good guys. And as has been mentioned several times, the Yoko Kanno soundtrack cannot be beat. I only hope they have sense enough to keep the same tone for the live-action movie.
My favorite thing about the show was that every main character (including the dog!) had a tragic and mysterious past that was slowly unravelled but never fully explained throughout the series. The series also doesn't provide any easy answers at the end and avoids the traditional happy ending.
Megumi Hayashibara (the Japanese voice of Faye) also has a voice that... does things to me.
Samurai Champloo helped the heartache I've been feeling ever since the show ended/the film came out, but it was nowhere near as good.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:01 AM on July 8, 2009
My favorite thing about the show was that every main character (including the dog!) had a tragic and mysterious past that was slowly unravelled but never fully explained throughout the series. The series also doesn't provide any easy answers at the end and avoids the traditional happy ending.
Megumi Hayashibara (the Japanese voice of Faye) also has a voice that... does things to me.
Samurai Champloo helped the heartache I've been feeling ever since the show ended/the film came out, but it was nowhere near as good.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:01 AM on July 8, 2009
Additionally, Ein tripping balls on magic mushrooms might the funniest thing ever.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:45 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by slimepuppy at 5:45 AM on July 8, 2009
Wanna have a good time? Alternate episodes of Cowboy Bebop with Firefly. It's awesome.
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:50 AM on July 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by WolfDaddy at 5:50 AM on July 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
All things CB aside.... did you notice all of the other goodies this site has to offer?!?!?! Dear God. I hate work. I really really do right about now.
posted by Mastercheddaar at 5:53 AM on July 8, 2009
posted by Mastercheddaar at 5:53 AM on July 8, 2009
I am not a big anime watcher. Cowboy Bebop is one of my most favorite pieces of entertainment ever. How it managed to cross the streams... well.... shucks howdy!
Two things tickle me here
1) "Free Legal" streaming? Huh. So now I can bitch like the friends who bitched that I got the whole series for some $45ish in the remix package when they bought it at the $80 or so a disc price.
2) Does anybody notice that the streaming is being provided by MYSPACE? Unless myspace is leasing out its content distribution network, errrr, what?
posted by cavalier at 6:20 AM on July 8, 2009
Two things tickle me here
1) "Free Legal" streaming? Huh. So now I can bitch like the friends who bitched that I got the whole series for some $45ish in the remix package when they bought it at the $80 or so a disc price.
2) Does anybody notice that the streaming is being provided by MYSPACE? Unless myspace is leasing out its content distribution network, errrr, what?
posted by cavalier at 6:20 AM on July 8, 2009
Indeed, it's a great Yoko Kanno vector (awesome soundtrack all throughout it), but it's also just spectacular. From the slightly more glib episodes (Mushroom Samba is fantastic) to the serious, like the last couple, and Jupiter Jazz part way through, it's always on form. Certainly my favourite anime, with Trigun I think falling a fairly close second.
That said, I'm just about to, at last, get round to Samurai Champloo.
posted by opsin at 7:45 AM on July 8, 2009
That said, I'm just about to, at last, get round to Samurai Champloo.
posted by opsin at 7:45 AM on July 8, 2009
TANK! is a secret mixtape weapon for me.
posted by klangklangston at 9:37 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 9:37 AM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
I've been missing this since I got rid of the cable.
Looks like i have the next few nights planned out for me.
posted by Capt Jingo at 9:58 AM on July 8, 2009
Looks like i have the next few nights planned out for me.
posted by Capt Jingo at 9:58 AM on July 8, 2009
The series also doesn't provide any easy answers at the end and avoids the traditional happy ending.
Happy endings are hardly traditional in anime. At least in my experience.
posted by AdamCSnider at 10:05 AM on July 8, 2009
Happy endings are hardly traditional in anime. At least in my experience.
posted by AdamCSnider at 10:05 AM on July 8, 2009
TANK! is a secret mixtape weapon for me.
Heh. A few of us were rolling around the (Hokkaido) countryside in a van listening to my mp3 player when TANK! came on. We laughed, but to my surprise, the other two pulled out their mp3 players -- and it was on them, too.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:48 AM on July 8, 2009
Heh. A few of us were rolling around the (Hokkaido) countryside in a van listening to my mp3 player when TANK! came on. We laughed, but to my surprise, the other two pulled out their mp3 players -- and it was on them, too.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:48 AM on July 8, 2009
Happy endings are hardly traditional in anime. At least in my experience.
They cost a little more, but man, is it worth it.
posted by educatedslacker at 11:05 AM on July 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
They cost a little more, but man, is it worth it.
posted by educatedslacker at 11:05 AM on July 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
The series also doesn't provide any easy answers at the end and avoids the traditional happy ending.
Happy endings are hardly traditional in anime. At least in my experience.
Yeah, I don't know of too many with happy endings either.
I absolutely love this series, and only partly because it introduced me to Yoko Kanno. I haven't found an anime series I like as much. I'd mention Miyazaki but he makes movies, and everyone already loves him.
I never watched the Cowboy Bebop movies though… I guess it's time to do that.
posted by spitefulcrow at 11:13 AM on July 8, 2009
Happy endings are hardly traditional in anime. At least in my experience.
Yeah, I don't know of too many with happy endings either.
I absolutely love this series, and only partly because it introduced me to Yoko Kanno. I haven't found an anime series I like as much. I'd mention Miyazaki but he makes movies, and everyone already loves him.
I never watched the Cowboy Bebop movies though… I guess it's time to do that.
posted by spitefulcrow at 11:13 AM on July 8, 2009
Wow, I can't believe how I inverted that. It was my g/f's mp3 player that we were listening to. The driver and I both had it on our mp3 players as well.
Bizarre mis-remembering. I blame the Red Eye.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:18 AM on July 8, 2009
Bizarre mis-remembering. I blame the Red Eye.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:18 AM on July 8, 2009
Yeah, anime is not known for Hollywood style happy endings, but even by anime standards Cowboy Bebop is pretty bleak. (In a way it's darker than the hilarious miserablism of Neon Genesis.)
*MEGA-SPOILERS BELOW*
I mean, beyond just Spike's fate, the crew just kind of... wander off their separate ways with most of their problems and issues unresolved. It's a realistic ending but for a show so based on cool and fun it's a real downer. I think Spike is pretty much the only one who gets what he was after, which makes the prospects of everyone else seem that much darker... I am also Finnish and have a genetically miserable outlook on life, so maybe someone else had a more positive read on the whole thing.
posted by slimepuppy at 1:10 PM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
*MEGA-SPOILERS BELOW*
I mean, beyond just Spike's fate, the crew just kind of... wander off their separate ways with most of their problems and issues unresolved. It's a realistic ending but for a show so based on cool and fun it's a real downer. I think Spike is pretty much the only one who gets what he was after, which makes the prospects of everyone else seem that much darker... I am also Finnish and have a genetically miserable outlook on life, so maybe someone else had a more positive read on the whole thing.
posted by slimepuppy at 1:10 PM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
You shouldn't feel so sad, slimepuppy, your great nation gave us these.
posted by vrakatar at 1:43 PM on July 8, 2009
posted by vrakatar at 1:43 PM on July 8, 2009
I don't watch anime anymore, but Bebop remains by far one of my Top 10 favorites. It irritated me to no end with it being described as a "space western," which is a title far better applied to Trigun (which came out about the same time here in the States). One of great aspects of Bebop was the manner in which the characters cared for each other (for example, when the guys went back to fetch a Beta player to replace the VCR they'd lugged out for Faye). You had characters who all had a great sense of depth, with Ed being the near exception (there wasn't a lot to Ed, but that was enough to make Ed fun). The past played such a critical role toward informing the present for all the characters, without dragging down the story unnecessarily.
Bebop was essentially a tragic journey dressed in action, humor and fun. I strongly agree with everyone else, don't do yourself a disservice and watch some poor streaming version of the show online. March down to your local store, and you can pick up the entire series for fairly cheap. That's 13 1/2 hrs of mostly awesomeness for maybe the price of two dvds or so, depending on where you get it. From the music to the cinematic animation, it's worth the price.
posted by Atreides at 5:52 PM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
Bebop was essentially a tragic journey dressed in action, humor and fun. I strongly agree with everyone else, don't do yourself a disservice and watch some poor streaming version of the show online. March down to your local store, and you can pick up the entire series for fairly cheap. That's 13 1/2 hrs of mostly awesomeness for maybe the price of two dvds or so, depending on where you get it. From the music to the cinematic animation, it's worth the price.
posted by Atreides at 5:52 PM on July 8, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by the dief at 7:51 PM on July 7, 2009 [1 favorite]