To Jet Black and Beyond: Examining Cowboy Bebop's Sci-fi Western Genre
A Voyage For Every Space Cowboy
The year was 1998, and a groundbreaking anime by Japanese animation studio Sunrise had just debuted. It was called Cowboy Bebop, and it quickly rose in popularity due to its unique blend of styles which resulted in something unique and thrilling. Here lay the web that was the science fiction western genre: A twanging wild west soundtrack, hard boiled detective tropes, and ray-guns and seething bounty hunters all melded together in a thrilling story about a handful of literally out of this world characters.
The main protagonist, Spike Spiegel, along with his fellow bounty hunters Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and Ein the Corgi form the core of the series. As the four passengers of the spaceship ‘BeBop’ they soar from one adventure to the next, each one as thrilling as the last.
In Space, No One Can Hear You Yee-Haw
Cowboy Bebop didn’t just mix genres, it set new standards for them. It combined noir conventions with drama and shot them into the future. People across the world have been captivated by the series ever since, and for good reason; After all, who can resist a rocket-fueled romp through space and time, all soundtracked by some of the greatest jazz songs ever made?
The Future Is Filled With Fists & Faith In The Unknown
The art of Cowboy Bebop is also an extremely important part of the series. Taking inspiration from the old Hollywood western movies, the series uses a warm, vivid palette of colors and fluid animation to paint a picture of a frontier filled with bounty hunters, bad guys and heroes. This aesthetic coupled with incredibly likable characters makes the series truly something to behold.
Jive Talkin' Along The High Speed Rail Road
The setting of Cowboy Bebop, although incredibly vast, is also well explored. Each episode is filled with detail, from the day to day life of the characters to the underlying mysteries of the show’s cast and plot. All of this exploration gives the show a real sense of place, as if you’re following along the characters on their journey as they go from one place to the next.
Onward To The Edge Of The Galaxy
Finally, one of the biggest appeals of Cowboy Bebop is its ability to tell stories that are familiar, yet completely unique. While the plot may revolve around the quest of a never-ending race to catch bad guys, each episode tells a story all its own, with its own unique twists and turns. The characters too, are always on their own quest, exploring and learning things about themselves in the process. It’s this ability to make an old genre feel fresh and exciting that has earned Cowboy Bebop its place as a classic science fiction western.
The beloved series has had a giant influence on the world of anime, both in its own medium and in the world of live action television. With its catchy soundtrack, exciting action sequences, and captivating stories Cowboy Bebop is a show that is still talked about even 20 years after its release, and is sure to keep its legacy alive for years to come.