Fans Celebrate 'Cowboy Bebop's 20th Anniversary

You ready, Space Cowboy? You may not believe it, but today marks the 20th anniversary of Cowboy Bebop. The anime made its low-key debut on April 3, 1998 and unwittingly ushered in a new era for anime. The artful series not only made fans fawn over its sci-fi action sequences, but its balanced themes turned Cowboy Bebop from an ordinary space Western to a full-on classic.

So, as you can image, fans have a lot to say about the anime's milestone anniversary.

In the slides below, you can find just a smattering of reactions fans have posted to social media over Cowboy Bebop. The anime's birthday has brought togethers fans from all walks of life as they celebrate what makes Shinichiro Watanabe's iconic series so touching. And, no — Ein and his immeasurable cuteness is not everyone's top reason.

From Bebop's crew to Spike's existential musings, everyone has a different reason to love Cowboy Bebop. Everything about the anime screamed ingenuity at its debut, and many consider the anime as a pioneer in the space Western genre because of its unique aesthetic. Not only did the seres widen the genre, but Cowboy Bebop went so far as to become the face of anime as a whole in the early 2000s. The show's unexpected debut in the US blew up, and Cowboy Bebop spearheaded the medium's western takeover alongside shows such as Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.

20 years later, Cowboy Bebop remains an integral part of the medium, and its legacy has only grown stronger since its debut. Spike Spiegel's ragtag crew has been immortalized by fans and critics who've come to call Cowboy Bebop one of the best anime series of all-time. The show's reach continues to grow as programs like Toonami air it on repeat, and western pop culture has embraced the deep nostalgia backing all things Bebop. So, it seems the least fans can do today is wish the anime a very happy birthday after all its done.

For those unfamiliar with Cowboy Bebop, the series was first created by Sunrise in 1998. It was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, with scripts written by Keiko Nobumoto, character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto, and songs composed by Yoko Kanno. Set in the year 2071, the series explores many existentialist philosophies as it follows the adventures of Spike Spiegel, and a group of bounty hunter misfits aboard the titular spaceship the Bebop.

Have you checked out Cowboy Bebop? When did you first get introduced to the anime?Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to talk all things comics, k-pop, and anime!