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Cowboy Bebop

Original title: Kaubôi Bibappu
  • TV Series
  • 1998–1999
  • TV-14
  • 24m
IMDb RATING
8.9/10
164K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
650
32
Megumi Hayashibara, Unshô Ishizuka, Aoi Tada, and Kôichi Yamadera in Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Bandai Entertainment
Play trailer1:26
3 Videos
99+ Photos
JapaneseAdult AnimationAnimeCyberpunkHand-Drawn AnimationPsychological DramaSpace Sci-FiActionAdventureAnimation

The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.

  • Creator
    • Shin'ichirô Watanabe
  • Stars
    • Kôichi Yamadera
    • Unshô Ishizuka
    • Megumi Hayashibara
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.9/10
    164K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    650
    32
    • Creator
      • Shin'ichirô Watanabe
    • Stars
      • Kôichi Yamadera
      • Unshô Ishizuka
      • Megumi Hayashibara
    • 385User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #45
      • See the Top 250 TV shows as rated by IMDb users

    Episodes26

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season

    Videos3

    Cowboy Bebop
    Trailer 1:26
    Cowboy Bebop
    Cowboy Bebop
    Trailer 1:11
    Cowboy Bebop
    Cowboy Bebop
    Trailer 1:11
    Cowboy Bebop

    Photos701

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    + 694
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    Top Cast99+

    Edit
    Kôichi Yamadera
    Kôichi Yamadera
    • Spike Spiegel
    • 1998–1999
    Unshô Ishizuka
    Unshô Ishizuka
    • Jet Black
    • 1998–1999
    Megumi Hayashibara
    Megumi Hayashibara
    • Faye Valentine
    • 1998–1999
    Steve Blum
    Steve Blum
    • Spike Spiegel
    • 1998–1999
    Beau Billingslea
    Beau Billingslea
    • Jet Black
    • 1998–1999
    Kevin Seymour
    • Additional Voices…
    • 1998–1999
    Wendee Lee
    Wendee Lee
    • Faye Valentine
    • 1998–1999
    Isshin Chiba
    • Police…
    • 1998–1999
    Melissa Fahn
    Melissa Fahn
    • Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV
    • 1998–1999
    Aoi Tada
    • Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivruski IV
    • 1998–1999
    Hiroshi Naka
    • Jobim…
    • 1998–1999
    Tsutomu Tareki
    • Punch
    • 1998–1999
    Miki Nagasawa
    • Judy…
    • 1998–1999
    Toshihiko Nakajima
    • Carlos…
    • 1998–1999
    Jin Hirao
    • Antonio…
    • 1998–1999
    Skip Stellrecht
    • Vicious
    • 1998–1999
    Kazuhiro Nakata
    • Bodyguard 2…
    • 1998–1999
    Shinpachi Tsuji
    • Bodyguard 1…
    • 1998–1999
    • Creator
      • Shin'ichirô Watanabe
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews385

    8.9164K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Cowboy Bebop' is acclaimed for its genre-blending narrative, memorable characters, and high-quality animation. The show's unique fusion of space western, film noir, and action elements creates an immersive experience. Characters like Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine are celebrated for their depth. Yoko Kanno's jazz-inspired soundtrack enhances the emotional and action scenes, while the episodic structure maintains consistent viewer engagement.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    suffer-smart-magnet

    A Story Worth Watching

    CB is a happy blend of story, action, and characters.

    Set in the future, CB takes its name from the spaceship, around which the story loosely revolves. The main characters, Spike and Jet, try to make their living while not getting killed, traveling around looking for bounties.

    Technically, the animation is very good, though a friend pointed out that sometimes the frame rate is low, or they use a still in a shot. These didn't bother me because they were used tastefully, and were balanced by action shots that carried a lot of energy.

    The voice acting for the english version is great, and adds to character depth. They seem to understand who the characters are and how they would react.

    The story line is interesting. With each episode being around 25 minutes, the time is filled with a balanced blend of action, character development, and plot. The story within an episode develops rapidly, while the whole series moves more slowly, with the exception of the last few episodes (where they were trying to wrap things up).

    If you've never tried any anime, this would be my first choice. I watched it on DVD, and would definitely watch it again.
    10Xander77

    Probably the best anime ever.

    Cowboy Bebop is the best anime ever. I'm 21, don't tend to be fanboyish, and have seen plenty of others. And it's the best anime ever.

    What other anime features a mix of the best choreographed/energetic/ kick-ass fighting scenes - hand-to-hand, hong-kong gun fights and air-space battle?

    An unbelievable mix of comic, tragic, violent and fairy tale style episodes...

    An incredible sound track - Yoko Kanno is a genius that can do memorable and emotional jazz, blues, classical, fantasy-style, j-pop and even heavy metal. I wouldn't even consider buying the soundtrack to any other anime.

    It quite literally oozes "cool" - characters (Spike is probably the coolest - not awsomest, but stylishly coolest) music, action and narrative.

    Hell, it's the only show that has both a "cute animal" character and a "cute annoying kid" character that I don't wish a horrible death upon. And if that doesn't convince you, then nothing will.
    10marktomato

    Even if you hate anime, give this one a go.

    I used to generally dislike anime due to it's distinct character design which I am not fond of.

    Still, I've tried watching series like JoJo, but it just wasn't my jam.

    Cowboy Bebop however, despite the classic character style, is just waaaay to good - the music, the aesthetic, the animation, the story, everything is just too amusing not to watch it.

    Give it a try!
    mattwakeman

    so good its just not real

    a series that is so good it is just a shame that so few people will ever get to see it. its not the thing to get around loads of people and there are so many others that would refuse to watch it because: 'it's just a cartoon'.

    well they are the unlucky ones. because this series is not only the best anime series that i have ever seen but it is the best series of any kind that i have ever seen. the characters, the dialogue, the awesome music, but most of all the writing. this is food for adults. for people that will be able, and willing, to empathise with what is in front of them.

    and the end, my god the end. get a hold of this series. watch it. it really is that good.

    "bang"
    jaden-1

    Superb... Fantastic... Finally... a REAL anime feature.

    Cowboy Bebop is by far the best anime series I've ever had the pleasure and privilege of experiencing. This is not a kid's show, by any means. Finally, a REAL anime feature that doesn't involve something dealing with putrid children's themes and overly flagrant characters. Cowboy Bebop is none of these. It has its share of comical scenes, but it seamlessly integrates them into a web of other predominant emotions; drama, action, thriller, suspense...

    Cowboy Bebop is the epitome of cool and intelligent anime. An art I thought had long since been forgotten.

    You will enjoy the witty dialog as well as the action scenes, dramatic sequences, and most of all the incredible musical integration; jazz and other cultural music that allows for an incredibly open palette of emotions as you view the action on the screen. (Expect the unexpected.)

    The voices they chose to play the dubbed, English version of the Original series couldn't have been planned better. It strays from the stereotypical high-pitched whiney and otherwise annoying voices that usually plague a good anime port. Not this one. The roles are taken seriously and were performed VERY well.

    This series is definitely speaking to an older audience, something rare in ported/dubbed anime series these days. I am grateful for having the opportunity to experience this wonderful masterpiece.

    Cowboy Bebop is, by definition, art.

    IMDb's Top 50 Anime Series

    IMDb's Top 50 Anime Series

    See which anime series our fans recommend the most. Titles with more than 10,000 votes are featured in our ultimate anime watchlist.
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    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The city of Faye's memories is recognizably Singapore.
    • Goofs
      Spike's hair changes from green to black repeatedly throughout the show.
    • Quotes

      Spike Spiegel: Hunger is the best spice they say.

    • Crazy credits
      Most of the episodes end with an intertitle that reads "SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY..." However, certain episodes end with different text: Session #03: EASY COME, EASY GO... Session #11: THE END Session #12: TO BE CONTINUED Session #13: DO YOU HAVE A COMRADE? Session #15: SLEEPING BEAST... Session #17: LIFE IS BUT A DREAM... Session #22: SEE YOU SPACE SAMURAI... Session #24: SEE YOU COWGIRL,SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE! Session #25: TO BE CONTINUED Session #26: YOU'RE GONNA CARRY THAT WEIGHT.
    • Alternate versions
      In "Session 22 Cowboy Funk" Spike, Jet and Faye go to a costume party to catch a bounty head. Jet is dress up as an hippy with a marijuana leaf on his shirt.In the TV version Cartoon Network edited out the leaf and replaced it with a peace sign.
    • Connections
      Featured in Cowboy Bebop: Session XX - Mish-Mash Blues (1998)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 2, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Kovboy Bibop
    • Production companies
      • Sunrise
      • Bandai Visual Company
      • Sunrise
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 24m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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