Cowboy Bebop is without a doubt one of the best series ever. I’ve seen it up through the third DVD, so I can only comment on the first half of the series. There is a brief moment of nudity in one episode, but it isn’t done tastelessly. In other words, it isn’t nudity for the sake of showing someone naked (and in this instance, you’ll see how it isn’t particularly appealing anyways). Rather, it blends into the plot of that episode. And even though she doesn’t get naked, Faye Valentine can be a rather sexual character. There is violence in the series, but not a gratuitous amount. There’s some gunplay, some martial arts action, and some splattering of blood. I can't think of anything excessively violent or disgusting though. I’m sure by now you’ve seen violence and nudity of sorts in anime. Nothing in Cowboy Bebop will warp your mind. Besides, if you watch anime with your mother, I’m sure you'd both be adult enough to handle it, assuming the two of you watch anime that is more grown-up than, say, Pokemon.

Cowboy Bebop is such a great show, you can’t not watch it. It oozes style, from the characters, the world they live in, the music, everything. And as you may have heard, that music is absolutely fantastic, encompassing a wide range of styles from jazz to bluegrass, and doing so with sheer brilliance. The animation quality is top notch throughout the series, with no “lazy animation” anywhere. Cowboy Bebop seamlessly incorporates traditional cel animation with computer graphics. Computer graphics aren’t used as blatantly as in Blue Submarine No. 6. The computer animation fits in neatly with the traditional animation.

Each episode is a joy to watch. Cowboy Bebop is a mix of comedy, sci-fi, Westerns, drama, and a little of everything in-between. A common complaint about the series is that it is too episodic. Indeed, episodes dealing with the larger story, namely, Spike Spiegel’s past, occur sporadically. However, I don’t view the episodic plot as a detriment at all. It works with this series; the show is about a group of bounty hunters after all, so naturally they’re after some new bounty most every episode. And often, subtle clues will pop up in the occasional episode. Rewatching the series up until episode 14, I noticed that a character might occasionally make some vague comment that evidently has to do with the larger plot. So in that sense, it’s not completely episodic. And anyways, disparaging a series for being episodic is a pretty weak criticism in my opinion.

So by all means, watch Cowboy Bebop. It is a mature series, but not in the sense that it’s an adults-only sort of show. Rather, it’s grown up, thoughtful. It doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator. It references a great deal of pop culture, everything from Bruce Lee to blaxploitation, not to mention the various musical styles. Thus, it will make you think even as you become emotionally involved in the series.

The entire 26 episode series is available on six DVDs. It’s out on VHS as well, but I don’t see that as often. A Cowboy Bebop movie is in production now, titled “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” and it promises to be good. Incidentally, Kaiyodo, makers of the awesome Vash and Nicholas D. Wolfwood action figures, will release some Cowboy Bebop figures soon, starting with Spike Spiegel. Presumably, they’ll be just like the Vash and Wolfwood figures, which means that they will be extremely cool. I’ve seen a pic of the Spike figure, and it looks fantastic. Medicom previously released a 12-inch Spike Spiegel figure as part of their Stylish Collection line up. It looks really neat, and I just found one available for pre-order (which is odd, seeing as how it was released a few years ago. I assume it’s being reissued, maybe for the American market). Hopefully, I’ll receive it soon.

...and then there was 10.

yep, Cowboy Bebop is a great show. I hated those last 4 episodes so damn sad.

Ed is a great character!

I've seen it up through Session 14, "Bohemian Rhapsody," the last episode on the third DVD. I must get the rest of the series. So far, my favorite episode has to be "Ballad of Fallen Angels." "Ganymede Elegy" (the episode about Jet), "Waltz For Venus" (the episode with "be like water") and "Jupiter Jazz" Parts 1 and 2 are also good. What the heck, the whole thing is great.

I did indeed order a Stylish Collection Spike doll. It's usually pretty expensive (at least $68 or so), but I got it for $35. I'm hoping it will arrive later this month.

There is a 12-inch Faye doll, but it was made by Volks, not Medicom. It's more like a Barbie doll than anything else, with about the same amount of articulation. It was released as a kit and as a completed doll. Unfortunately, it's also ridiculously expensive, priced at over $90, and it's even harder to find than the Medicom Spike figure.

Anime Jump ( http://www.animejump.com/ ) did a review of both the Spike and Faye dolls, complete with some nice pictures. The guy didn't think very highly of them. The Faye doll may be kind of lousy, but I think he was unfair to the Spike doll. It certainly looks cool to me, and I can't wait to get mine. Click on "Toys" on the left side of the front page to see all their toy reviews.

I've seen the Banpresto figures, but I wasn't overly impressed. It's nice that they made the complete crew, including Julia, but it seems to me that the sculpting leaves something to be desired. They seem to be about as articulated as an SBC figure, and they have to be displayed along with their bases. I've seen them at some stores from time to time and on eBay, but as is customary with that place, the prices on the Banpresto figures are steadily rising. Bandai is set to release figures of Spike, Faye and the Swordfish II (along with figures from Big O, Outlaw Star, and others), but those don't look all that appealing either. I'll wait till those are released, or better yet, hold out for the Kaiyodo figures.

Wow, a lot of companies are involved with Cowboy Bebop toys: Medicom, Volks, Banpresto, Bandai and Kaiyodo, not to mention a myriad of garage kit companies. I guess that's a testament to the popularity of Cowboy Bebop.

Sounds like a great series. I've been listening ot the OP theme on my various anime mix CDs for months now. That, the fanfics I've read, and the trailer/music video on the EW DVD have made me decide to pick this up when I have the chance. The Kaiyodo Spike sounds like it's going to be a great figure.

BTW, speaking of Banpresto, has anyone played their Japanese Tenchi Muyo! RPG? I have the rom. It's a great game, although some of the characters are sorta hard to level up because they suck from the start (Mihoshi, Ryo-Oki, Mihoshi's little pink robot thing, Ayeka's two gaurdians [I know their names, but the duce if I can spell them]), but other than that, I highly suggest finding the rom.

I just saw the Miyazaki film, Lupin III: The Castle of Coglestrio. Best anime movie I've seen since EW. It reminded me of James Bond, and I can see why some sites say that Spike is "Lupin with a fro". Does anyone know if there are any other Lupin movies? I haven't watched the Japanese version yet, but I thought the VAs were very good.

i remember watching lupin when i was like 6, and i just watched it like 2 weeks ago, thin scrawny figured people, just one of the best comical anime out there.

i don't know if anyone mentioned this, yu yu hakusho is a pretty good anime series, at least i think so.

Newbies take note.

Kakalotto is working his way up to member the old school way. If at least half of YOUR posts have something intelligent to say nobody will richard on you for spamming.

Lupin is a cool series, Ive seen some of the movies and what I think where some TV episodes. Jingen is cool!

Whats every bodies favorite Gundam Series?

in reply to CLAND97, i have to say my favorite character on yu yu hakusho is Hiei since he's just so cool, not really a good or bad guy, in between doing whatever he wants. also his kokuryuha (black dragon wave) is such a cool attack, it even pumps up his power.

< lack of english comprehension response due to stupidity removed >

i also like to add Arale to the anime list.

------------------
i am a saiyan raised on earth

Newbies these days... You think YOU'RE giving someone a compliment and you get a rebuttal. Kakalotto, do yourself a favor and read my post again, this time slower and with a dictionary handy. Way to go buddy! I WAS LETTING NEWBIES KNOW THAT YOU ARE A MODEL NEWBIE; ONE TO BE LOOKED UP TO BY OTHER NEWBIES BECAUSE YOU DON'T SPAM AND GENERALLY(though that's slipping) HAVE SOMETHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY...

~sigh~

....Okay, I CAN'T hold it in any longer.

That's "couldn't care less", not "can care less". If you "CAN care less" you must already care SOME now... If you don't care at all you "couldn't care less"...or "Can care more"...

oh ok, as i said before, i am chinese, so the english language is really confusing for me.

i take all thrashings on my lack of comprehension of the english language

let the beatings begin

which part? the part about being chinese or the english language being confusing?

Back to Cowboy Bebop...
Anyway, just finished watching the last episode, and was it awesome. It was a little sad, but what happens isn't really unexpected. Don't know why people say the ending sucks though.

Hey kakalotto! Nice to see another Yu Yu Hakusho fan on the board. Yeah Hiei is a great character, I think his "3rd" eye just makes him really cool. Yu Yu Hakusho is a great series, everyone should watch it, great story,music and characters!

Hey Chi Master! I've seen The Slayers and Rurouni Kenshin. Both are excellent series. The Slayers is about a young female sorceress named Lina Inverse, who travels from town to town fighting monsters and finding good food to eat. It's a hilarious, action-packed series that is definitely worth watching. As a sidenote, many of the VAs from Pokemon play various characters in The Slayers.

Rurouni Kenshin is another praiseworthy series. It's about a samurai named Kenshin Himura, who has given up killing in order to lead a peaceful life. Alongside Karou Kamiya, inheritor of the Kamiya-Kashin style of fighting, Yahiko, a young wanna-be samurai, and Sanosuke, a fighter-for-hire, Kenshin sets out to maintain justice in feudal Japan during the Meiji era. If you ever get the chance, watch this series. I also highly recommend that you get the Samurai X OVAs as well, as it will not only give you a deeper understanding into Kenshin's tragic past, but also a higher respect for the series as a whole.

Slayers is alright, comical with a sorceress blasting everything in site with her powerful spells, a clueless swordsman that uses a powerful sword, a shrimpy, psycho girl that spreads the idea of justice, and a half/third golem (can't remember human/golem ratio) that travels along with them until he finds a cure. there are other characters but i am not gonna mention them, just watch it. i am sure you'll get a good laugh.

as for kenshin, it's a very good series. cool samurai sword fights. i prefered the manga b/c it explores more about his past then the series. the series doesn't include his past, only mention bits and pieces of it, then completely discontinues it in the 2nd/3rd season (stupid numbers). overall, it's 8/10 in my mind, the manga is 10/10, but grab translations online, unless you know japanese.

has any one seen the new figs that bandai is making of cowboy bebop?,they look really sweet,from what i hear cowboy bebop sounds like a great anime,im not so familiar with this series but is faye the the girl with the purpleish hair and the red jacket with the seleve-less yellow shirt?,and is spike the guy with the really spikey hair that wears the black or blue(not sure)jacket,just curious,if im right about faye or spike please tell me,i would like to say faye is hot,but im not sure if im right.

later
ps.BRUCE LEE RULES!!!!!!!!!,had to say that,now im really done,bye!

You got it right, Faye wears the yellow outfit. Spike wears a futuristic blue leisure suit and a yellow shirt, and he has wavy greenish-black hair.

I've seen pics of the Bandai figures, but I wasn't all that impressed. Their rendition of Spike's ship, the Swordfish II, looks pretty nice (Bandai made a model of the Swordfish as well, but it's pretty hard to find now). The figures themselves are decent I suppose, but the sculpting seems a bit off to me, particularly Spike's hair. And it appears that the Spike and Faye figures are little more than statues. Medicom's 12-inch Spike figure looks much better. Banpresto made some nice figures too, as prizes in those UFO games. However, both the Medicom and Banpresto figures are scarce these days. Wait around for Kaiyodo's Spike action figure. I've only see one tiny shot of it, but it's bound to be swell.

Kenshin manga rules, I will tell you why with one word: Enishi

couldn't agree more.

that's it.

yeah, Yahiko was great in the manga. I loved it because he became strong and he was finally able to fight along with the big boys (Kenshin and Sano). He became one of my favorite characters near the end of the manga, his fight with Kujiranami (I hope I spelled that correctly)was great.

First of all, my name is pronounced Insane Ben, not inane ben. Second, I really have no one favorite anime series. I like a ton of anime series (some of which are obvious choices, but others are lesser well-known). Here's a list of some of my favorite lesser-known anime:

Bubblegum Crisis (OVAs)
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (TV series)
The Slayers
Battle Athletes (OVA)
El Hazard (OVAs)
Super Atragon: The Movie
Those Who Hunt Elves
Here Is Greenwood
DUAL!
Area 88

Some of my other lesser-known favorites are:

You're Under Arrest (OVA)
Shinesman
Gunsmith Cats

Apology accepted, Chi Master. I knew it was a typo. Anyways, here are more of my lesser-known favorites:

I recently saw EVA vol. 1 on DVD. And guess what? I didn't like it. Hated it in fact. So then I talked to a few online friends who have seen it. They told me it got better. I checked out a spoiler site. It made it worse. Originally, I didn't like Shinji because he was spineless. Then I saw Lelith and heard about all the religious refrences and whatnot. I'm a Catholic, but usually I don't get too upset over religious jokes and refrences unless they're Anti-God, Jesus, etc. There is only one exception to this rule. Cruxfiction. I don't like it being put into anything, be it Xenogears, NGE, X-Men, anything. Dosen't matter what the situation is. Now, I've already agonized over this and had a several hour discussion with my cousin about this so long essay posts arn't nesscary here. I will give NGE the benefit of the doubt and watch the series whenever I'm at my cousin's house. But so help me, if it even looks at my faith with a tiny bit of spite, I'll never drop my angar against it