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WhenCowboy Bebopwas first conceptualized, few could have predicted its lasting influence on anime and pop culture. Even with modern animation and many CGI techniques, the anime feels like the picturesque representation of the future.
There is an intriguing origin story behind the legendary anime. The timing of its production during the late ’90s coincided with the resurgence of theStar Warsfranchise because of the release ofThe Phantom Menace.
Cowboy Bebopis ‘a galaxy far, far away met jazz’
The unique feature of Star Wars was its futuristic spaceships and other technological vehicles which could be made into miniature models and sold as toys to capitalize on the popularity. Bandai had the idea to make money off of this boom.
Bandai’s original intent forCowboy Bebopwas very simple; to create an anime with spaceships. So that the company couldcapitalize on the anticipatedStar Warsboom.
The timing for Cowboy Bebop was when Star Wars was coming back with The Phantom Menace. That meant Bandai thought another Star Wars boom was likely on the way and spaceships would be key. So they wanted to sell new plastic models of original spaceships. That resulted in their order to make an anime where spaceships would show up. So as long as there were spaceships, we could do whatever we wanted.– Shinichiro Watanabe
This freedom to do whatever was like turbo fuel for the minds of the creators. It became the catalyst forCowboy Bebop’sgenre-defying narrative, which would have felt like a horrible mess on paper.
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However, the freedom Watanabe enjoyed didn’t last long. Once Bandai realized the series’ unique direction and genre-breaking narrative, they decided to pull out their investment as they doubted its ability to sell plastic models.
Bandai Visual saved the day
Just asCowboy Bebopfaced cancellation, Bandai Visual which was a newer division of Bandai at the time stepped in to fund the project. This unexpected blessing allowed Watanabe and his team to continue developing the series as they wished.
One ofCowboy Bebop’smost iconic parts is its spaceship designs, despite the backing out of Bandai. The spaceships themselves were chosen through a competitive process. Ultimately, Kimitoshi Yamane’s designs were selected due to their realism and feasibility.
The ship designs were actually chosen through a competition. Many famous artists, including Kawamori and Hajime Katoki, attended the competition but in the end, we went with Kimitoshi Yamane. This was because Yamane’s designs looked the most realistic, something that could actually exist and people could use. It wasn’t just about the designs looking cool; they needed to be believable and realistic.
The gritty feel of the anime is what made it so special. It was made with the blending elements of Westerns, noir, and science fiction all together, during the peak of jazz.
Shinichiro Watanabe Refused to Get Legendary Cowboy Bebop Composer for Samurai Champloo as It’d Feel Like an “Imitation”
Bandai missed the best opportunity to sell their models sinceCowboy Bebopbecame one of the greatest anime ever. The selection and creation of the series was very particular.
Cowboy Bebopis available to stream on Netflix.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
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