Cowboy Bebop

Year: 2001

Grade: B-

Country: Japan

Director: Watanabe

Review

i’ve only seen a small handful of anime features so i’m not entirely qualified to judge this film on those merits. it’s directed by the same guy who directed the “kid’s story” scene in the animatrix. i loved the animation in that story because it was so expressionistic and freeflowing. unfortunately, cowboy bebop is more traditional and restrained. there are still strains of the lanky animation style that was featured in “kid’s story,” but it’s not nearly as freeflowing. the opening sequence to this film is really good and grabs you right away. after the opening sequence there is a title sequence which wears its television genesis on its sleeve. i don’t know how to describe it, but it becomes very clear during the title sequence that this film was based on a television series. energy-wise the rest of the film never really lives up to the promise of the opening sequence. the story is typical of the anime features i’ve seen – it takes place in the future and the fate of the world is in the balance. the soundtrack is mostly bad american rock, but some of the jazz pieces are good, though mismatched vis a vis the visuals. ghost in the shell is still the best action anime film i’ve seen. grave of the fireflies is the best of any genre of anime.