Fans may not want to admit it, but it looks like Cowboy Bebop is getting a full-blown Hollywood treatment. The industry may not have a promising history with anime franchises, but that is not stopping Tomorrow Studios from taking a crack at the classic. Earlier this week, news broke that a live-action Cowboy Bebop series is in the works, and fans aren’t sure how to feel about the announcement.
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The Internet may have reacted with anger at first, but that hot feeling has simmered down into concern. When it comes to anime, Cowboy Bebop is considered a bonafide classic with one stunning, cross-genre narrative. It’s true that Hollywood has yet to prove itself to anime fans, but the Cowboy Bebop adaptation give the U.S. a unique opportunity.
Rather than a movie, Cowboy Bebop will be getting a live-action TV series, and fans are tentatively hopeful about that change. The anime ran for 26 episodes, so there is no way a feature film could condense its complex story into a 2-hour romp. A television adaptation will give Cowboy Bebop room to explore action as well as its introspective themes.
While fans aren’t convinced about Cowboy Bebop‘s adaptation yet, there are a few things Hollywood can do to woo audiences. The space western has infinite potential to start an anime revolution in the U.S, but the powers at be need to do the following first:
Do you have faith in Hollywood’s upcoming take on Cowboy Bebop? Let us know what you think over on Twitter @ComicBook or @MeganPetersCB!
Thoughtful Casting
If there is one thing that can kill an anime adaptation, it is casting. Hollywood has yet to roll out a live-action anime project that hasn’t been accused of white-washing. Dragonball Evolution elicited shock amongst fans for all of its casting, and Ghost in the Shell recently did the same with its take on the Major. While its true that Cowboy Bebop has a diverse cast, Hollywood needs to play up the story and its Japanese roots. Characters like Edward Wong seem to come from Asian descent, but Spike and Faye and the rest of the gang aren’t strictly white. At one point, Faye event claims she comes from Romani descent. The folks at Tomorrow Studios needs to take an in-depth look at Cowboy Bebop‘s futuristic world and choose to show how diverse its colonies truly are.
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Cowboy Bebop may only be 26 episodes, but there is a lot of story packed into those installments. The beloved series is known for its masterful plotting as it entices audiences with a slow-moving narrative. The anime’s first episode only introduces fans to Spike and Jet Black before Ein, Faye, and Edward eventually get their due. The rambling progression amps up the overall story’s tension, and it gives fans time to watch Spike (very) slowly create a ragtag family of choice. Let fans revel in the show’s mystery for a bit; They will survive a cliffhanger or five.
Dynamic Characters
Let’s face it: Spike is kind of a big jerk. The ex-syndicate member is not a people person, and his job as a bounty hunter makes him even more unapproachable. Still, there is something soft and loyal about Spike under his gruff, chain-smoking exterior. Cowboy Bebop boasts characters who are dynamic to the fullest, and fans will expect to see that unraveled in the live-action film. Yes, Faye Valentine is a bit of a vixen who’d sell anyone out, but she does consider Bebop to be her home. Each of the show’s leads have a complex reason for sticking by Spike, and fans will want to learn each of them slowly.
Don’t Straighten Its Genres
There are a lot of things which make Cowboy Bebop a genuine classic, but its genre-bending is a big part of it. Space westerns didn’t get their start until the anime paved a way for them, and Joss Whedon’s Firefly cannot compare to the intricate crossovers which Cowboy Bebop houses. The anime is more than just a western or sci-fi romp; Cowboy Bebop is the unholy blend of film noir, police thriller, slapstick comedy, and plenty more. It’s overt action often distracts fans from its philosophical musings on existentialism and loneliness – but they are there. Fleshing out Cowboy Bebop for live-action will be difficult, but the project has no greater task than finding the perfect blend of genres.
