Cowboy Bebop
Bebop, Bebop TV, CB, CBB, CowBe, Csillagközi fejvadászok, Kaubojus Bebopas
In 2071, humanity has colonized several planets and moons in our solar system, leaving Earth's surface uninhabitable. The Intergalactic Police maintains peace throughout the galaxy with assistance from outlaw bounty hunters known as "Cowboys." Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are two such Cowboys who make their living chasing bounties and collecting rewards aboard the spaceship Bebop. Their contrasting personalities-Spike being laid-back and carefree, while Jet is boisterous and pragmatic-keep the team balanced. As they travel, they meet new members: Ein, a highly intelligent genetically engineered Corgi; Faye Valentine, an enigmatic trickster with memory loss; and Edward Wong, a computer whiz kid. These additions lead to thrilling adventures that gradually reveal each crew member's dark past. Cowboy Bebop combines high-density action with lighthearted comedy and is a space Western classic paying homage to the smooth and improvised music it's named after.
When Cowboy Bebop first aired in spring of 1998 on TV Tokyo, only episodes 2, 3, 7-15, and 18 were broadcast, it was concluded with a recap special known as Yose Atsume Blues. This was due to anime censorship having increased following the big controversies over Evangelion, as a result most of the series was pulled from the air due to violent content. Satellite channel WOWOW picked up the series in the fall of that year and aired it in its entirety uncensored. Cowboy Bebop was not a ratings hit in Japan, but sold over 19,000 DVD units in the initial release run, and 81,000 overall. Protagonist Spike Spiegel won Best Male Character, and Megumi Hayashibara won Best Voice Actor for her role as Faye Valentine in the 1999 and 2000 Anime Grand Prix, respectively.Cowboy Bebops biggest influence has been in the United States, where it premiered on Adult Swim in 2001 with many reruns since. The shows heavy Western influence struck a chord with American viewers, where it became a "gateway drug" to anime aimed at adult audiences.
