Cowboy Bebop strikes that perfect balance between artistic and entertainment that anyone can enjoy it, it’s one of my favorite comfort shows, so accessible and relaxing to enjoy
I know people who do not watch ANY anime... But love Cowboy Bebop. I talked about it once and a 55 year old co worker came in a few years ago and was like "last night that cowboy bebop show was on. I didn't have anything to do so I watched it. You're right its good"... I think that's what makes it stand out. It's not just a good anime it's just a good show.
@brennangum6236 Yes Im one of those people I watched DBZ as a kid and then watched Cowboy as an adult and I don’t watch most other anime. Bebop is so good
I think the best part of the stairway metaphor is although Spike made it to the top of the stairway to heaven, bathed in light, he still came down a few steps as if to remind himself (and the audience) that he doesn't deserve it.
"A VHS player VHS is a standard for Consumer level analog video recording on tape cassettes." "Why am I so old!" I felt that . . . I had to explain what a 'walkman' was to my 15-year-old nephew. 😆 😆
Jesus. Every time I go back, this series somehow manages to hit even harder. Yeah, a kids show for toys....tbf, the ships are pretty legit and I would totally buy one for my shelf.
I think about Jet's lesson from 'Toys in the Attic' a lot.. "...That's the lesson. Unfortunately, we quickly forget the lessons we've learned, and then we have to learn them all over again."
You showed it in the video, and I was a bit upset that you didn't talk about it, but when Spike falls out of the church and recalls his past, it focuses on his fake eye. It's one of those tiny details you can only get from rewatches of the show.
Cowboy Bebop's crazy mix of styles, iconic characters and deep storytelling make it an all-time classic! Probably one of the few anime loved tremendously even by non anime watchers
Bebop is the one anime that made me think about life differently. I can honestly say it left an impact on my life. Forever grateful for this masterpiece
@@MusicBlik Okay, you have the best three. But, there are 10 more CDs of Cowboy Bebop music, for a total of 13, and Yes I even have the Cowboy Ed CD boxed set ;)
At 10:48 I knew in my soul that the BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BA-DA was coming, to the extent that I hit the cue precisely and sang along, but it still didn't fail to satisfy. Excellent edit dude.
This is a wonderful breakdown of the show. Massive congrats on the script framing, starting with the fridge episode (I am pretty sure you have explained that episode before as a great microcosm of the show as a whole) and referring back to that for each character. So glad I have watched you for more than a decade.
Yes, I *did* enjoy this video... perhaps because of the subject matter, but I've been enjoying your videos for close to a decade at this point. Whatever it is, though, *please* keep on doing what you're doing. Thank You.
Damn this was incredible! I’m glad to see such love still being put out for this fantastic show. I’m loved to see your opinion on watch order change. I was literally thinking if you still believed in your original watch order and then you brought it up and I laughed so hard.
On one hand, a great long retrospective about one of my favourite animes of all times. On other, I'd only heard way back that they were making live action netflix...thing...and now I'm reminded of that it's out there.
Super interesting retrospective, as per usual with your content! At this point it is pretty much public knowledge, but the similarities with Firefly continue to really be uncanny (including their relationship with the studio producing them and screwing them over with airing time and how they did it). The fridge episode also reminds me of Firefly's "Out of Gas" episode, which does a fantastic job at summarizing a lot of the show's heart. Fantastic video. Thanks again for doing this :)
At Ballad of Fallen Angels we may not have a clear idea about the people involved in Spike's past, but also anime has a knack for foreshadowing details -- especially in the opening and ending credits. In the "The Real Folk Blues" ending sequence we're shown snaps of a woman, implied to be split between eloping with Spike or facing the consequences. And what do you know, Spike is then revealed to have parted ways with one of the deadliest murderers in the System. All because of a certain lady. Who is later revealed to be same woman in the credits, during Jupiter. Considering now the improvisational nature in the Bebop project, that the ending theme unambiguously frames the closure for the story is telling on what talented people were needed to shape Cowboy Bebop; one of the most memorable achievements in anime during the 90s. It was lighting in a bottle, everyone. We'll never get to see anything like it.
Absolutely love the in depth analysis on anime! Especially such important series that have so much behind them. I don't dissect them myself so I love getting to know more about my favorite anime!
I recently watched a different channel's video about "Noodle Incidents" (references to things that happened off screen that make sense to the characters, but not necessarily the audience, or some of the other characters), and this retrospective of Cowboy Bebop makes me think the series is a masterclass in how to use Noodle Incidents.
Lord of the Rings is also all about Noodle Incidents. It's based on an entire history that most of the characters are aware of, but which the reader only experiences as vibes and hints. This impression is strengthened because Tolkien uses the classic trick of giving us the POV of the characters with the least information. Eventually this was all published, but at the time of publication this was all a mystery
Cowboy Bebop is such a massive pillar in western anime essentially because two dudes liked it and they happened to run a cable network, airing it nonstop for years. It’s not to say it’s a bad series, I adore it, but that is what happened.
But what if they liked it, and aired it a lot (and people actually WATCHED it, unlike plenty of shows that got flogged to death, that went un-watched, and are either hated, or forgotten today), because it's REALLY GOOD? (Not that there aren't other really good shows from that era, that are under-appreciated because they DIDN'T get much Western promotion/exposure. eg Tsukikage Ran, Master Keaton, Sherlock Hound. But if airing a show a lot automatically made it become popular, then Teen Titans GO and late-season Spongebob would be the most beloved, highly-esteemed shows in TV history...)
Cowboy Bebop is a pillar because it contained a lot of western influence that allowed it to be a gateway for a lot of westerners into the world of anime. I remember collecting Newtype magazines that were translated from Japanese, and they would often rank the most popular characters and Spike was for a long time one of the more popular characters in Japan. So it wasn’t just a western thing either but also beloved internationally because it’s just plain and simple, a really fucking good series.
I think boogie woogie feng shui is about jet letting go of the need to control things and how life can be very bizarre and weird and somehow work out. The fuing shui really is just a philosophy that is used for, yeah sometimes life is just bizarre and its good to be open that , you dontr lways get clear answers but somethin that can work out. Not the strange astrology, and thatr letting go of the horoscopes lets him try to roll and apreciatewith what the hell life has in store and be open for that. It shows jet changed really a lot from his old self and does move on, slowly but surely drom his control needs.
I completely agree feng shui episode has meaning, firstly one of the major recurring themes of the series irony and coincidences, just a quirk of reality and fate, a factor used lightly as comedy in many brief clips, but also woven between the tragic lives of the Vicious, Julia and Spike backstory, as well as other characters. 100% on about Jett's growth in managing control in his life, that's also symbolized by the hobby of taking care of bonsai. This change in his character foreshadows his final sit down with Spike, where instead of pushing him away when he hears Spike is planning something dangerous, like he did the previous time in Jupiter Jazz, Jett understands and accepts it. The brilliant irony is that as Jett's growth allows him to accept how Spike must deal with his past at the peril of his life/future, now Faye's story and growth taught her that the past doesnt matter, dont allow it to inhibit the future- and is the one that cannot accept Spike's departure in the final episode.
sometimes it's difficult to get the time to watch a retrospective in full, but I love it when I'm able to sit down and do so, so I hope you do make more of these!
Bebop was life changing I don't care how boring of an answer it is my favorite anime is cowboy bebop, miles ahead and nothing even comes close. The cultural depth, the music, the characters and the storytelling is perfect
This was a masterful essay. Thank you for creating this, I have a few holds outs who resist my recommendation of Bebop because they don't watch 'those Japanese cartoons'. I may put the first segment of this video in front of them. one note on the finale. If you watch through the end of the credit, the blue star in the sky, that the old sage told Spike represented him, goes out. I believe that means he died.
I need them back,the music,the nostalgia the characters feel,the hand drawn episodes,the art,the comedy,the noir,the whole vibe of this anime is one of it's kind.
This is nearly a perfect explanation of what Cowboy Bebop is about. Its my favorite anime of all time and I haven't watched it in awhile. Watching this reminded me my love for it. Thank you for your work and analysis. It was hard to sit through the Netflix portion, I only watched two episodes of that and didn't even finish episode two before I stopped watching completely. It was really bad. Love your summary of the film too and over all how you brought up quotes that pretty much tied it all together.
I wonder ALL the Time if the "John Wick" Director wrote John & His story as an Adaption of Spike's story, it Genuinely feels like He did & Your Lovely vid reminded Me of that.. 💯💯🤟🏽🤟🏽 LOVED the Long Form Content, APPRECIATED APPRECIATED Brother ✌🏽✌🏽🤓🤓
I LOVE your analysis and takes. Not just bc they agree so much with my takeaways from this amazing show, but because you do it so smoothly, enthusiastically, completely and... Wholesomely, if that makes sense? This video just felt very pleasant and nice, which is a feat, considering the themes of this show. In short: subscribed. 😂
Amazing job here indeed. I can feel how much you love this anime. I really love your content. I have been following you for years now, and you keep improving your content. Keep going. So, next retrospective The end of Evangelion. Considering how complicated this anime can get and the amount of content that has been released since the original series ended, this might take him a while, like until next year (considering he doesn't loose his mind in the process). Another more doable option might be Rurouni Kenshin. Although it doesn't have the inner thoughts you can get with Cowboy Bebop, I think it would be interesting.
I love you doing long videos like this, analyses, rants, whatever, I just eat it up! Pls make more!! I especially love hearing you talk abt cowboy bebop as it's my all time favorite. An Arkada rant + cowboy bebop = the best videos on youtube!
Cool vid! The point of Jet is that he is the husband\father type,but it didn't work out. Such is the tragedy. We don't always become who we are meant to be.
Your first review of bebop was probbaly the first I ever saw of your content. I only looked it up after I got very confused over a streaming side that had put the episodes in order they were first aired in Japan and all left out episodes after the 13th episode. Lots has changed since then and I have since mostly moved awayy from animecontent on youtube but it is strangely comforting seeing this video now, remembering the place and person I was first watching cowboy bebop, the first entry into your content and what has changed over the years. Best of luck to you and thank you for your continous work!
Loved the vid, I never looked at Toys in the Attic like that before. Also, you almost made me cry at how perfectly you nailed Faye's arc. Here's a couple things I'd like to offer. 1) I feel Hard Luck Woman is absolutely an Ed episode. We find out the reason she ferried the Bebop was to help her find her dad, and she leaves with Ein at the end. Her departure leaves a big hole in Spike and Jet and they honor her with the pinwheel, representing a child who's left home. That episode is equally belongs to her and Faye. 2) I can't tell if you're making a Netflix joke about the syndicate code names thing 😅 3) I strongly believe the first 5 episode must be watched in order. The pay off of finding out more about what we see in those first few moments of session 1 is exactly what Cowboy Bebop is. Sessions 1 to 5 are book ends and represent the show in a microcosm. This is how the story is going to be told, so you're either are in or not. 4) It's heavily implied, especially in the ending credits and flashbacks that Julia and Viscious were an item, Spike and Julia started seeing each other and left Viscious "out of the loop". The comrade betray comes back in Jupiter Jazz 2 as well. Theres a line from the sub that's left out in Jupiter Jazz 1 that's spells it out. 5) Spikes eyes have everything to do with the Le Fou fight. Spike's constantly almost dying is like a cat with nine lives. Le Fou's weakness is a Clockwork Orange like fear of cats. So Le Fou sees the inner cat in Spike and he temporarily drops his guard. Spike's keen eyesight notices and he strikes
Masterfully done, really loved this! Brought back a lot of nostalgia and memories and a lot of closer looks at things that were just consumed way way back and not truly appreciated. Thanks!
Spikes eyes are different colors not just because one is replaced but what it represents is that Spike keeps looking at his past and thus can’t focus on his future. He can’t focus both eyes on what is ahead because of constantly looking back and thus he fails to move on in life, and is stuck in limbo, not heaven or hell, for a failed and “traitor” to the Yakuza crime world. Instead of a fallen angel, Spike is a fallen “demon” who instead of becoming corrupted by evil, he is a demon trying to redeem himself and is corrupted by “good” so to speak.
Hello @glassreflection! Thanks for sharing! About the length of the video... You guys could make a series with some episodes. Not necessarily all of them, but I think the series would deserve it! Love you guys!
I love that it's space grunge. I'm not a big fan of cyberpunk, or the rounded white futuristic look. give me this, give me old star wars, give me the grungy stuff. Clobbered together space ships like recycled war machines
Beebop and Trigun. Beebop and Yu Yu Hakusho are definitely top 10s in my book and those three are like the best INTRO TO ANIME. THEN you move on to the more ANIME OF ANIME, in Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z. EDIT: I was going to say that Beebop and Yu Yu was the first WELL DUBBED ANIME.
I have finished this retrospective, which was amazing btw, I'm sat here wondering... Why didn't you name this video, "Don't Leave Things In the Fridge - A Cowboy Bebop Retrospective"? It seems so fitting. Anyway wonderful video, can't wait for the next one man!
This was a great massive breakdown! It'd been a while since I've been on the channel, and what a way to get back into it. Excited to go watch the ones on Death Note and Spice & Wolf now!
Please keep doing these. Loved the Spicey Wolf one and this one was good too. I'd love to see more early 2000s anime get some spotlight, but I'd love one on modern classics too. Some ideas: A Champloo followup to this would be awesome of course, but a Haruhi one would slap. Tons of classics you could do, both new and old. Gurren Lagaan? Gundam? Oh god the GR Gundam Retrospective would be legendary.
Arcada, I've seen so many anime-essays and I rarely find them attractive nowadays... However, you're an exception. Well-written, just enough wit and as my girl-friend put so well while sitting next to me and pasively listening along: that guy has a nice voice!
Julia represents a salvation for Spike that he never got. Just like Jet is a fallen cop, Spike is a fallen Yakuza criminal. Spike has tired of the Yakuza life and Julia offers that bit of normalcy and goodness that he craves and hopes for but with her death, his hope also dies with her and so all he has left is revenge, to kill Vicious.
I first saw CB 20 years ago. I’ve watched it repeatedly since then. It’s a foundational bit of fiction for me. I have a CB tattoo on my arm. So I’ve thought about it a lot . . . You’re the first one I’ve seen to thematically contextualize “Toys in the Attic” so well.
Awesome analysis and a fantastic video overall. I'd love to see a deep dive on something like Inuyasha, but not if it would be detrimental to your health and wellbeing! Other suggestions: Natsume's Book of Friends, Yona of the Dawn, or even a video on how extreme some anime-only endings can be when the anime catches up to the manga.
The POV of the creature in Toys in the Attic reminded me of Polymorph more than anything else. This would not be the last time I would see an oblique reference to Red Dwarf in anime, but the next one would be 12 years later in Asobi no Ikuyo/Cat Planet Cuties.
Your videos like this (specifically the death note one) was what got me to sub. Would love more deep dives on older anime like this! Love the other content as well :)
On a late rainy night in the spring of 2003, I found Cowboy Bebop on the Adultswim anime lineup, along with Inuyasha, Trigun, Big-O, Lupin the 3rd, and The Venture Bros. Having grown up watching reruns of Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets, and also Voltron, Cowboy Bebop, and the others felt familiar and yet very different. My tastes in entertainment changed DRASTICALLY after that night. And even after all of these years, Cowboy Bebop is still my favorite anime and is arguably the greatest piece of media I've ever experienced. See you space cowboy...
I love these retrospectives, they are fantastic videos that show how much you've grown. If you make an Eva Retrospective, i advise you not to waste your time on the manga, because just before watching 3.0+1.0 I watched and read everything, and didn't got anything new except the very last chapters of the manga.
Masterclass. I don my late father's dusty old hat, solely for the sake of taking it off for you, alone. 1:55:40 Thank you, sincerely. See you, internet man.
It just works on so many levels. I really don't care for anime in general and normally wouldn't be caught dead buying merch, but I just spent an embarrassing amount of money having Spike's grips made for my Tanfoglio hybrid Jericho 941F match gun. Which is ironic given the history of the show and merchandising. I would almost wager the show sold as many surplus Jericho pistols as it did ship models.
It happened so that i watched this show only last year and it just blew my mind. Specifically the soundtrack of it and all the musical references. It made me so obsessive that i digged for days to realise that ALL the names of the episodes are references for some songs or albums. Eventually i was able to find almost all of them and made a playlist. It fascinates me until this very moment that Cowboy Bebop's creators have paid so much attention even with details like that. One of the last and hardest songs to find was Mad Pierrot by Yellow Magic Orchestra because i translated Pierrot le Fou as Crazy Clown or Crazy Pierrot. The name of the episode could also refer to the french movie so I got hopeless and left it in the fridge until discussing all this stuff with my friends and relatives. They helped me find some of the songs. If anyone needs the list of songs i discovered i can attach it in reply section P.S. Thanks a lot for the video and YES, we need more of those
I Really like these long videos from you but I also like the shorter videos from you as well, don't box yourself into thinking you have to do it every time. This channel has clearly been a passion of yours for years and when that passion shines through it makes the videos better, regardless if it is a five minute rant on the silliest aspects of a show or feature-length breakdowns. It is your passion for your videos that keep me coming back, not the length.
I mean, Ark has been doing anime analyses since like 2008. He has a massive amount of context many other reviewers would likely lack. I've been watching him since way back when he was with the DesuDes Brigade with Jesu and Prof. Don't remember if he had a platform previous to that.
Yeah that's what got me into his videos because it felt like he was knowledgeable in the anime he talks about. Plus now I'm starting to feel like an old anime watcher and I need someone who speaks my language.
I miss the art style from these kinds of shows so so much. Cowboy Bebop without a doubt has my favourite art style in anime of all time
Cowboy Bebop strikes that perfect balance between artistic and entertainment that anyone can enjoy it, it’s one of my favorite comfort shows, so accessible and relaxing to enjoy
Their is a reason it was considered the gateway anime for so many new Otakus in the 2000s
The big 3 “space westerns”:
Cowboy Bebop
Trigun
Outlaw Star
Aren't they the only 3? Lol
All came out within the same period.
You forgot Firefly.
@@ScienceBabbleMusic lol, I’m sure there has to be more. Does Space Dandy count?
@@logansmall5148Firefly is the Cowboy Bebop we have at home.
Please, yes, give me 2 hour in depth analysis of one of my favorite animes of ALL TIME!! Arkada you are a saint for this ❤🙌🏾
I know people who do not watch ANY anime... But love Cowboy Bebop. I talked about it once and a 55 year old co worker came in a few years ago and was like "last night that cowboy bebop show was on. I didn't have anything to do so I watched it. You're right its good"... I think that's what makes it stand out. It's not just a good anime it's just a good show.
It's a 7/10 at best
@@rais6036that’s ok we all have crackhead takes sometimes
@@mookiestewart3776 yeah imagine thinking cowboy bebop is a masterpiece
@brennangum6236 Yes Im one of those people I watched DBZ as a kid and then watched Cowboy as an adult and I don’t watch most other anime. Bebop is so good
Bebop is one of the most American anime I've ever seen
I think the best part of the stairway metaphor is although Spike made it to the top of the stairway to heaven, bathed in light, he still came down a few steps as if to remind himself (and the audience) that he doesn't deserve it.
"A VHS player VHS is a standard for Consumer level analog video recording on tape cassettes."
"Why am I so old!"
I felt that . . . I had to explain what a 'walkman' was to my 15-year-old nephew. 😆 😆
Jesus. Every time I go back, this series somehow manages to hit even harder. Yeah, a kids show for toys....tbf, the ships are pretty legit and I would totally buy one for my shelf.
the loneliness , the togetherness... the crew the family. the heart and soul. the breath and the vacuum of space. bebop , the best
Jesus! This is a long ass video…
Perfect!
I think about Jet's lesson from 'Toys in the Attic' a lot..
"...That's the lesson. Unfortunately, we quickly forget the lessons we've learned, and then we have to learn them all over again."
1:24:19 Did he really fade away? You could say he... went out with a bang.
You showed it in the video, and I was a bit upset that you didn't talk about it, but when Spike falls out of the church and recalls his past, it focuses on his fake eye. It's one of those tiny details you can only get from rewatches of the show.
Cowboy Bebop's crazy mix of styles, iconic characters and deep storytelling make it an all-time classic! Probably one of the few anime loved tremendously even by non anime watchers
Bebop is the one anime that made me think about life differently. I can honestly say it left an impact on my life. Forever grateful for this masterpiece
Bebop introduced me to Yoko Kanno. Thats why its GOATed for me
Me too, then I had to collect all the Cowboy Bebop music. Not an easy thing. But I got it ALL.
@@longrider42 for me it was an easy task back in the day when he had no options 🏴☠️
@@longrider42 I bought the three main albums: Cowboy Bebop, No Disc, and Blue. How many others are there?
@@MusicBlik Okay, you have the best three. But, there are 10 more CDs of Cowboy Bebop music, for a total of 13, and Yes I even have the Cowboy Ed CD boxed set ;)
Her soundtracks for Escaflowne, Wolf's Rain and Stand Alone Complex, while not as iconic, are also amazing.
At 10:48 I knew in my soul that the BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BA-DA was coming, to the extent that I hit the cue precisely and sang along, but it still didn't fail to satisfy. Excellent edit dude.
This is a wonderful breakdown of the show. Massive congrats on the script framing, starting with the fridge episode (I am pretty sure you have explained that episode before as a great microcosm of the show as a whole) and referring back to that for each character.
So glad I have watched you for more than a decade.
This is a very good breakdown.
As Spike Spiegel once said: "Bang." 👉
See you space cowboy.
You’re gonna carry that weight
He said that twice actually
'You think like I look like I got money?!'
"Pierrot le Fou" was written by the same writer as Perfect Blue, which explains partially why it is so different.
Yes, I *did* enjoy this video... perhaps because of the subject matter, but I've been enjoying your videos for close to a decade at this point.
Whatever it is, though, *please* keep on doing what you're doing. Thank You.
Loving these big retrospectives of classic anime. Please keep them coming!!
Cowboy Bebop is one of my favorite anime series of all time I love it so much and the characters and the story and the amazing soundtrack
Great analysis on the many themes and characters in one of the most beloved anime in the west. Cheers
Guess my plans tonight have been changed to watch this
After watching, yeah it made me love a show I already loved even more
Damn this was incredible! I’m glad to see such love still being put out for this fantastic show. I’m loved to see your opinion on watch order change. I was literally thinking if you still believed in your original watch order and then you brought it up and I laughed so hard.
On one hand, a great long retrospective about one of my favourite animes of all times.
On other, I'd only heard way back that they were making live action netflix...thing...and now I'm reminded of that it's out there.
Stew monologue was perfect 👌. Very well done.
Love the longer format! Especially with a classic
Super interesting retrospective, as per usual with your content! At this point it is pretty much public knowledge, but the similarities with Firefly continue to really be uncanny (including their relationship with the studio producing them and screwing them over with airing time and how they did it). The fridge episode also reminds me of Firefly's "Out of Gas" episode, which does a fantastic job at summarizing a lot of the show's heart.
Fantastic video. Thanks again for doing this :)
At Ballad of Fallen Angels we may not have a clear idea about the people involved in Spike's past, but also anime has a knack for foreshadowing details -- especially in the opening and ending credits. In the "The Real Folk Blues" ending sequence we're shown snaps of a woman, implied to be split between eloping with Spike or facing the consequences.
And what do you know, Spike is then revealed to have parted ways with one of the deadliest murderers in the System. All because of a certain lady. Who is later revealed to be same woman in the credits, during Jupiter. Considering now the improvisational nature in the Bebop project, that the ending theme unambiguously frames the closure for the story is telling on what talented people were needed to shape Cowboy Bebop; one of the most memorable achievements in anime during the 90s.
It was lighting in a bottle, everyone. We'll never get to see anything like it.
Glass Reflection is goated.
Absolutely love the in depth analysis on anime! Especially such important series that have so much behind them. I don't dissect them myself so I love getting to know more about my favorite anime!
Watched it this past week. Such an amazing sympthony of themes and genres.
I recently watched a different channel's video about "Noodle Incidents" (references to things that happened off screen that make sense to the characters, but not necessarily the audience, or some of the other characters), and this retrospective of Cowboy Bebop makes me think the series is a masterclass in how to use Noodle Incidents.
ive never heard that term lol but i feel like that keeps things interesting
Overly Sarcastic Productions, solid video
@@mac4974 I was trying to not call out a different channel, but yes that is the one I was talking about.
Lord of the Rings is also all about Noodle Incidents. It's based on an entire history that most of the characters are aware of, but which the reader only experiences as vibes and hints. This impression is strengthened because Tolkien uses the classic trick of giving us the POV of the characters with the least information. Eventually this was all published, but at the time of publication this was all a mystery
Cowboy Bebop is such a massive pillar in western anime essentially because two dudes liked it and they happened to run a cable network, airing it nonstop for years. It’s not to say it’s a bad series, I adore it, but that is what happened.
But what if they liked it, and aired it a lot (and people actually WATCHED it, unlike plenty of shows that got flogged to death, that went un-watched, and are either hated, or forgotten today), because it's REALLY GOOD?
(Not that there aren't other really good shows from that era, that are under-appreciated because they DIDN'T get much Western promotion/exposure. eg Tsukikage Ran, Master Keaton, Sherlock Hound.
But if airing a show a lot automatically made it become popular, then Teen Titans GO and late-season Spongebob would be the most beloved, highly-esteemed shows in TV history...)
@@baconsarny-geddon8298agreed.
Cowboy Bebop is a pillar because it contained a lot of western influence that allowed it to be a gateway for a lot of westerners into the world of anime. I remember collecting Newtype magazines that were translated from Japanese, and they would often rank the most popular characters and Spike was for a long time one of the more popular characters in Japan. So it wasn’t just a western thing either but also beloved internationally because it’s just plain and simple, a really fucking good series.
Bebop is a masterpiece. Nice cope
@@666slateran666 reading is difficult apparently
I think boogie woogie feng shui is about jet letting go of the need to control things and how life can be very bizarre and weird and somehow work out.
The fuing shui really is just a philosophy that is used for, yeah sometimes life is just bizarre and its good to be open that , you dontr lways get clear answers but somethin that can work out. Not the strange astrology, and thatr letting go of the horoscopes lets him try to roll and apreciatewith what the hell life has in store and be open for that. It shows jet changed really a lot from his old self and does move on, slowly but surely drom his control needs.
I completely agree feng shui episode has meaning, firstly one of the major recurring themes of the series irony and coincidences, just a quirk of reality and fate, a factor used lightly as comedy in many brief clips, but also woven between the tragic lives of the Vicious, Julia and Spike backstory, as well as other characters. 100% on about Jett's growth in managing control in his life, that's also symbolized by the hobby of taking care of bonsai. This change in his character foreshadows his final sit down with Spike, where instead of pushing him away when he hears Spike is planning something dangerous, like he did the previous time in Jupiter Jazz, Jett understands and accepts it. The brilliant irony is that as Jett's growth allows him to accept how Spike must deal with his past at the peril of his life/future, now Faye's story and growth taught her that the past doesnt matter, dont allow it to inhibit the future- and is the one that cannot accept Spike's departure in the final episode.
sometimes it's difficult to get the time to watch a retrospective in full, but I love it when I'm able to sit down and do so, so I hope you do make more of these!
Bebop was life changing I don't care how boring of an answer it is my favorite anime is cowboy bebop, miles ahead and nothing even comes close. The cultural depth, the music, the characters and the storytelling is perfect
This was a masterful essay. Thank you for creating this, I have a few holds outs who resist my recommendation of Bebop because they don't watch 'those Japanese cartoons'. I may put the first segment of this video in front of them. one note on the finale. If you watch through the end of the credit, the blue star in the sky, that the old sage told Spike represented him, goes out. I believe that means he died.
I love your Retrospectives. Deep and full of insight. ❤
I need them back,the music,the nostalgia the characters feel,the hand drawn episodes,the art,the comedy,the noir,the whole vibe of this anime is one of it's kind.
I have literally been wondering why there hasn't been a video in awhile and now I know why....love it!!!
This is nearly a perfect explanation of what Cowboy Bebop is about. Its my favorite anime of all time and I haven't watched it in awhile. Watching this reminded me my love for it. Thank you for your work and analysis. It was hard to sit through the Netflix portion, I only watched two episodes of that and didn't even finish episode two before I stopped watching completely. It was really bad. Love your summary of the film too and over all how you brought up quotes that pretty much tied it all together.
Very much enjoyed this one. I'd love to see more deep dives like this.
I wonder ALL the Time if the "John Wick" Director wrote John & His story as an Adaption of Spike's story, it Genuinely feels like He did & Your Lovely vid reminded Me of that.. 💯💯🤟🏽🤟🏽 LOVED the Long Form Content, APPRECIATED APPRECIATED Brother ✌🏽✌🏽🤓🤓
He must've been working on this video since the Cowboy Bebop Movies was originally in theaters. 🤣
I LOVE your analysis and takes. Not just bc they agree so much with my takeaways from this amazing show, but because you do it so smoothly, enthusiastically, completely and... Wholesomely, if that makes sense? This video just felt very pleasant and nice, which is a feat, considering the themes of this show. In short: subscribed. 😂
Amazing job here indeed. I can feel how much you love this anime. I really love your content. I have been following you for years now, and you keep improving your content. Keep going.
So, next retrospective The end of Evangelion. Considering how complicated this anime can get and the amount of content that has been released since the original series ended, this might take him a while, like until next year (considering he doesn't loose his mind in the process).
Another more doable option might be Rurouni Kenshin. Although it doesn't have the inner thoughts you can get with Cowboy Bebop, I think it would be interesting.
I love you doing long videos like this, analyses, rants, whatever, I just eat it up! Pls make more!!
I especially love hearing you talk abt cowboy bebop as it's my all time favorite. An Arkada rant + cowboy bebop = the best videos on youtube!
I was ready for this to be a big video but 2 HOURS?! That's where out boi has been lol
Cool vid! The point of Jet is that he is the husband\father type,but it didn't work out. Such is the tragedy. We don't always become who we are meant to be.
Ooooo gonna have to watch this later. Loved the long form EVA vid. Cheers from a long time subscriber ^^
I really enjoy these retrospective videos. Im looking forward to more... hoping you make more on shows like trigun, and fma:B
Fun fact: the refrigerator shows up in Space Dandy, one of Watanabe's other series.
Your first review of bebop was probbaly the first I ever saw of your content. I only looked it up after I got very confused over a streaming side that had put the episodes in order they were first aired in Japan and all left out episodes after the 13th episode. Lots has changed since then and I have since mostly moved awayy from animecontent on youtube but it is strangely comforting seeing this video now, remembering the place and person I was first watching cowboy bebop, the first entry into your content and what has changed over the years. Best of luck to you and thank you for your continous work!
Loved the vid, I never looked at Toys in the Attic like that before. Also, you almost made me cry at how perfectly you nailed Faye's arc. Here's a couple things I'd like to offer.
1) I feel Hard Luck Woman is absolutely an Ed episode. We find out the reason she ferried the Bebop was to help her find her dad, and she leaves with Ein at the end. Her departure leaves a big hole in Spike and Jet and they honor her with the pinwheel, representing a child who's left home. That episode is equally belongs to her and Faye.
2) I can't tell if you're making a Netflix joke about the syndicate code names thing 😅
3) I strongly believe the first 5 episode must be watched in order. The pay off of finding out more about what we see in those first few moments of session 1 is exactly what Cowboy Bebop is. Sessions 1 to 5 are book ends and represent the show in a microcosm. This is how the story is going to be told, so you're either are in or not.
4) It's heavily implied, especially in the ending credits and flashbacks that Julia and Viscious were an item, Spike and Julia started seeing each other and left Viscious "out of the loop". The comrade betray comes back in Jupiter Jazz 2 as well. Theres a line from the sub that's left out in Jupiter Jazz 1 that's spells it out.
5) Spikes eyes have everything to do with the Le Fou fight. Spike's constantly almost dying is like a cat with nine lives. Le Fou's weakness is a Clockwork Orange like fear of cats. So Le Fou sees the inner cat in Spike and he temporarily drops his guard. Spike's keen eyesight notices and he strikes
Masterfully done, really loved this! Brought back a lot of nostalgia and memories and a lot of closer looks at things that were just consumed way way back and not truly appreciated. Thanks!
Spikes eyes are different colors not just because one is replaced but what it represents is that Spike keeps looking at his past and thus can’t focus on his future. He can’t focus both eyes on what is ahead because of constantly looking back and thus he fails to move on in life, and is stuck in limbo, not heaven or hell, for a failed and “traitor” to the Yakuza crime world. Instead of a fallen angel, Spike is a fallen “demon” who instead of becoming corrupted by evil, he is a demon trying to redeem himself and is corrupted by “good” so to speak.
I'm gonna need some of Jet Black's Bell Peppers and Beef because this is a very long retrospective of Cowboy Bebop.
Don't forget to add the beef
Still the greatest anime I’ve ever seen.
Fantastic video about one of my favorite anime of all time. Thanks.
This is such a thorough and beautiful analysis of the series!
Hello @glassreflection! Thanks for sharing! About the length of the video... You guys could make a series with some episodes. Not necessarily all of them, but I think the series would deserve it! Love you guys!
I love that it's space grunge. I'm not a big fan of cyberpunk, or the rounded white futuristic look. give me this, give me old star wars, give me the grungy stuff. Clobbered together space ships like recycled war machines
A 2 hour video on Cowboy Bebop?! Whelp... guess I know what I'm watching for the next two hours.
so many things to love about bebop... I adore the art style and specifically the way they draw the human form.... it just pleases my eyes so much lol
A masterpiece. Both the anime and the review.
Beebop and Trigun. Beebop and Yu Yu Hakusho are definitely top 10s in my book and those three are like the best INTRO TO ANIME. THEN you move on to the more ANIME OF ANIME, in Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z. EDIT: I was going to say that Beebop and Yu Yu was the first WELL DUBBED ANIME.
I would say samurai champloo, if anyone likes any tarentino, or bmovies, black lagoon
@@marocat4749 I hated Champloo. Everything about it annoyed me. Art, characters, voice acting, story.
I have finished this retrospective, which was amazing btw, I'm sat here wondering... Why didn't you name this video, "Don't Leave Things In the Fridge - A Cowboy Bebop Retrospective"? It seems so fitting. Anyway wonderful video, can't wait for the next one man!
This was a great massive breakdown! It'd been a while since I've been on the channel, and what a way to get back into it. Excited to go watch the ones on Death Note and Spice & Wolf now!
Please keep doing these. Loved the Spicey Wolf one and this one was good too. I'd love to see more early 2000s anime get some spotlight, but I'd love one on modern classics too. Some ideas: A Champloo followup to this would be awesome of course, but a Haruhi one would slap. Tons of classics you could do, both new and old. Gurren Lagaan? Gundam? Oh god the GR Gundam Retrospective would be legendary.
Arcada, I've seen so many anime-essays and I rarely find them attractive nowadays... However, you're an exception. Well-written, just enough wit and as my girl-friend put so well while sitting next to me and pasively listening along: that guy has a nice voice!
Finally finished watching this, watched it in several pieces. Makes me want to rewatch Bebop again soon.
remember watching one of your vids very possibly over ten years ago at this point, was very happy to see you uploading still
Regarding the love triangle... didn't Vicious deliberately try to make Julia choose between him and Spike? By telling her to shoot Spike down?
This needs more views!! You did a brilliant job.
Thanks for the hard work man! I miss these reviews and retro active analysis. God bless!
Julia represents a salvation for Spike that he never got. Just like Jet is a fallen cop, Spike is a fallen Yakuza criminal. Spike has tired of the Yakuza life and Julia offers that bit of normalcy and goodness that he craves and hopes for but with her death, his hope also dies with her and so all he has left is revenge, to kill Vicious.
I first saw CB 20 years ago. I’ve watched it repeatedly since then. It’s a foundational bit of fiction for me. I have a CB tattoo on my arm. So I’ve thought about it a lot . . . You’re the first one I’ve seen to thematically contextualize “Toys in the Attic” so well.
Awesome analysis and a fantastic video overall. I'd love to see a deep dive on something like Inuyasha, but not if it would be detrimental to your health and wellbeing! Other suggestions: Natsume's Book of Friends, Yona of the Dawn, or even a video on how extreme some anime-only endings can be when the anime catches up to the manga.
Thank you for this awesome content! Great essay!
Absolutely love these videos! Keep up the good work!
God i love Cowboy Bebop so much. Spike is one of the best characters ever made.
You didn’t have to go this hard. But you did and I’m glad you did.
The POV of the creature in Toys in the Attic reminded me of Polymorph more than anything else. This would not be the last time I would see an oblique reference to Red Dwarf in anime, but the next one would be 12 years later in Asobi no Ikuyo/Cat Planet Cuties.
Your videos like this (specifically the death note one) was what got me to sub. Would love more deep dives on older anime like this! Love the other content as well :)
On a late rainy night in the spring of 2003, I found Cowboy Bebop on the Adultswim anime lineup, along with Inuyasha, Trigun, Big-O, Lupin the 3rd, and The Venture Bros.
Having grown up watching reruns of Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets, and also Voltron, Cowboy Bebop, and the others felt familiar and yet very different. My tastes in entertainment changed DRASTICALLY after that night. And even after all of these years, Cowboy Bebop is still my favorite anime and is arguably the greatest piece of media I've ever experienced.
See you space cowboy...
Holy crap. Is Ed the Foil character to the rest of the Bebop? Cause she simply just eats the sin enjoying the moment.
This video is almost as long as cowboy bebop itself...
I love these retrospectives, they are fantastic videos that show how much you've grown.
If you make an Eva Retrospective, i advise you not to waste your time on the manga, because just before watching 3.0+1.0 I watched and read everything, and didn't got anything new except the very last chapters of the manga.
Masterclass. I don my late father's dusty old hat, solely for the sake of taking it off for you, alone. 1:55:40
Thank you, sincerely.
See you, internet man.
You know what’s Crazy I Never Watched Cowboy Bebop but now I am because of you
You won’t be disappointed! It’s truly fantastic!
@@Goatse-monogatari_no_homo like what? haha cowboy bebop is great!!!
@@Goatse-monogatari_no_homomust be amazing to get your media takes strictly from being a contrarian lol
Can you do a retrospective on Code Geass next? Love your choices.
I finished rewatching cowboy bebop around a month ago and I see this video in my recommended, today is a good day
It just works on so many levels. I really don't care for anime in general and normally wouldn't be caught dead buying merch, but I just spent an embarrassing amount of money having Spike's grips made for my Tanfoglio hybrid Jericho 941F match gun. Which is ironic given the history of the show and merchandising. I would almost wager the show sold as many surplus Jericho pistols as it did ship models.
It happened so that i watched this show only last year and it just blew my mind.
Specifically the soundtrack of it and all the musical references. It made me so obsessive that i digged for days to realise that ALL the names of the episodes are references for some songs or albums. Eventually i was able to find almost all of them and made a playlist. It fascinates me until this very moment that Cowboy Bebop's creators have paid so much attention even with details like that.
One of the last and hardest songs to find was Mad Pierrot by Yellow Magic Orchestra because i translated Pierrot le Fou as Crazy Clown or Crazy Pierrot. The name of the episode could also refer to the french movie so I got hopeless and left it in the fridge until discussing all this stuff with my friends and relatives. They helped me find some of the songs.
If anyone needs the list of songs i discovered i can attach it in reply section
P.S. Thanks a lot for the video and YES, we need more of those
I Really like these long videos from you but I also like the shorter videos from you as well, don't box yourself into thinking you have to do it every time. This channel has clearly been a passion of yours for years and when that passion shines through it makes the videos better, regardless if it is a five minute rant on the silliest aspects of a show or feature-length breakdowns. It is your passion for your videos that keep me coming back, not the length.
I knew we were in good hands when Arkada started off with explaining Bebop. A lot of people know the title but not it's meaning.
I mean, Ark has been doing anime analyses since like 2008. He has a massive amount of context many other reviewers would likely lack.
I've been watching him since way back when he was with the DesuDes Brigade with Jesu and Prof. Don't remember if he had a platform previous to that.
Yeah that's what got me into his videos because it felt like he was knowledgeable in the anime he talks about. Plus now I'm starting to feel like an old anime watcher and I need someone who speaks my language.
Who else wants the 5h directors cut version of this video?