How Well Did Cowboy Bebop Age?

Still a Must-Watch Series?

Considered by many to be a timeless masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop is one of the most famous anime from the 90s that is still admired by anime fans today. This space-adventure anime is an original with only 26 episodes, and it is filled to the brim with action and comedy.

While there is no doubt about the fact that Cowboy Bebop used to be a must-watch masterpiece when it first started airing, today, we’ll be taking a closer look at how well this series aged. Can this series still be considered a must-watch classic for all the anime fans today despite its age?

Plot & Story Progression

Our main protagonist in the story is a guy named Spike Spiegel, who works as a bounty hunter together with a guy named Jett Black. The year is 2071, and humans have now managed to make multiple planets all across the Solar System inhabitable. Spike and Jett are bounty hunters that look for criminals all over the Solar System.

Some episodes in the series just feature a random adventure of these cowboys, while some focus on the main storyline, which involves the past of Spike Spiegel. As the story progresses, we get to meet all kinds of interesting characters. Out of which, three end up becoming a part of the main cast.

While the story can get a little repetitive at times, Cowboy Bebop still manages to give us a good amount of unpredictability in each episode which makes even the side-adventures more entertaining. What I truly love about the show is the way in which the main story gets presented in bits and pieces.

Best Animation Quality for its Time!

Animation is definitely one of the strongest suits of Cowboy Bebop. Despite getting animated back in 1998, the anime still looks extremely beautiful. Studio Sunrise has made sure that none of the scenes lack quality in any way at all. The transitions between scenes are also pretty crisp, and the fight scenes have been choreographed with extreme care.

Whether it’s hand-to-hand combat, a classic shoot-out or a grand battle between multiple spaceships, Cowboy Bebop has it all!

Some of the Most Memorable Characters Ever Created

Now, let’s move on to the characters in the series that are instantly recognizable and loved by millions of fans all across the globe. What I really love regarding this aspect of Cowboy Bebop is that the show explicitly focuses on all the main characters in the story giving us a proper understanding of their personalities. All the major characters get special episodes in the series that get us further invested.

Let’s take a closer look at our four main characters:

Spike Spiegel

Spike is the charismatic and lovable main character of the series that knows how to react in every single situation. This bounty hunter doesn’t play by the rules, and he’s able to outsmart almost every single criminal. While he doesn’t usually act like it, Spike is a very good person at heart that deeply cares for his friends and all the innocent people around him.

Jett Black

Jett is a bounty hunter that has been working together with Spike since the start. This 36-year-old former cop with a muscular build is always there to save the day whenever Spike messes up.

Faye Valentine

Faye is a woman that joins this crew of bounty hunters later on in the story and instantly becomes one of the most valuable members of the team. Faye is usually seen wearing pretty revealing outfits, and she knows how to properly use her womanly charm. Faye is lazy and brash, but she is still pretty helpful at the end of the day.

Edward

Edward is another girl that ends up joining the crew. She is only 13-years-old and looks like a very harmless individual from afar. However, don’t let the looks fool you, as Edward happens to be one of the most talented hackers in the entire Solar System.

The OSTs are Awesome!

Lastly, let’s also mention the OSTs of the story that are just marvelous. Every single soundtrack in the series is unique, memorable and further enhances the viewer’s experience. Of course, the most iconic OST is the opening theme that you can’t ever seem to skip whenever you watch Cowboy Bebop.

Conclusion

Though, I wouldn’t really call Cowboy Bebop a must-watch for every single anime fan today. In my personal opinion, it definitely is just as great as it was back when it first aired! The anime is a perfect watch for anyone that loves shows which involve space, action or adventure.

The side-adventures in the story are also great, but they can still get a little boring at times. I think that Cowboy Bebop is not an anime series that you should binge-watch in a single go because of the way in which the story is presented. Instead, the anime is best enjoyed by watching a few episodes every single day.

Thank you for reading!