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Since its humble beginnings, anime has had a somewhat violent reputation. Although some series are comparatively tame, most anime are more violent than their Western counterparts. These savage anime series, like Solo Leveling, have become international icons. The isekai anime's second episode has more blood than some series do in their entirety.

Gore isn't necessary for an action scene to be more engaging. However, excessive carnage can leave a lasting impact on an audience. Certain scenes of Devilman Crybaby are so intense they are usually only viewed once. While not every action anime series needs to be grotesquely violent, certain anime aren't afraid of getting a little bloody.

Cowboy Bebop Can Be Surprisingly Violent At Certain Points Streaming on Crunchyroll

Cowboy Bebop is one of the most beloved sci-fi series of the late '90s. The crew of the Bebop and their adventures have captivated entire generations. However, the anime's...

Another week has gone by, so it's time for Bam Smack Pow to bring you this week's anime news recap. Plus, follow along to the end of the article to see this week's anime recommendation. This week, we'll be taking a look at one of the most popular comedy series from recent anime seasons.

The Bam Smack Pow team would also like to wish all our readers a very happy Valentine's Day weekend — which has nothing to do with classic Sci Fi series Cowboy Bebop's Faye Valentine, but we couldn't resist making that joke…

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Kaiba ©2024 Crunchyroll Various anime series celebrate Valentine's Day

Crunchyroll has compiled the special holiday art released by the official social media accounts of various anime series to commemorate Valentine's Day on February 14. We've included the art from the team behind popular Historical Fantasy series Demon Slayer below:

【本日はバレンタインデー！】

バレンタインを記念して、ufotable描き下ろしのミニキャライラストを公開しました。

ぜひご覧ください。

▼詳細はこちらhttps://t.

Mackenyu brings Roronoa Zoro to life in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece, and in a recent interview, the actor weighs in on his commitment to playing the character. As a stoic swordsman with unmatched loyalty to his captain, Zoro’s journey is central to the series’ plot. Mackenyu’s performance, complete with Zoro’s signature three-sword style, has received widespread acclaim, solidifying the actor’s place in one of the most ambitious adaptations of recent years. But with an overwhelming amount of source material to adapt, is it realistic to expect an actor to devote themselves to only one role?

Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is one of the best-selling manga series of all time, with a sprawling universe filled with memorable characters and thrilling adventures. Its anime counterpart spans over 1,000 episodes, captivating fans with its rich storytelling and imaginative world. Currently, One Piece has multiple adaptations in progress,...

Cowboy Bebop, the beloved anime that redefined the sci-fi genre, continues to captivate audiences decades after its debut. Its stylish blend of jazz, action, and existential musings has cemented its place as a classic. Despite fans begging for a sequel, however, the show’s creator, Shinichirō Watanabe, has remained firm that Cowboy Bebop’s story is done. His reasoning is not because he is not interested in a sequel, but because he wants to keep his artistic integrity.

In a recent interview with Polygon, Watanabe made his position on the subject clear. While he cherishes the show's legacy, he refuses to revisit it unless he feels inspired. For Watanabe, creating something as impactful as Cowboy Bebop requires genuine passion, not just the pressure of fans. His philosophy is a great look into the struggles between creative freedom and audience expectations.

Watanabe's Philosophy of Art Over Obligation Why Watanabe Won't Bend...

For years after Cowboy Bebop ended, the world has wondered if Shinichirō Watanabe, the anime's visionary creator, would ever expand upon his beloved sci-fi universe or craft something akin to its enduring spirit. When asked about revisiting the genre, Watanabe admits that external expectations can stifle his creativity. Instead, he’s chosen to channel his energy into a new project, Lazarus, a 13-episode anime debuting on Adult Swim in 2025. While the DNA of Cowboy Bebop lingers in its themes and tone, Watanabe insists that Lazarus is a unique new vision that stands firmly on its own.

Watanabe, a titan in the anime industry, is best known for his groundbreaking work on Cowboy Bebop, the 1998 series that became a cultural touchstone and contributed to the global embrace of anime. However, his filmography also includes other critically acclaimed projects like Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Netflix’s Carole & Tuesday. Despite his expansive influence,...

In June 2023, CoryxKenshin uploaded a video to YouTube where he reacted to the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie trailer. As a longtime gaming creator and Five Nights enthusiast, he was pretty stoked to reveal he’d gotten a cameo in the film. Fans swarmed the comments section with congratulations, and the video ended up pulling in nearly 18 million views. His channel overall brought in 100 million views that month. Things were looking good.

Then he vanished.

For the last 18 months, not a single video has gone up on his channel. Not a single Community post. His Twitter account? Silent. For viewers, it was an unexpected absence. CoryxKenshin (aka Cory DeVante Williams) had been on YouTube since 2009, and was a prominent voice for gamers and anime enthusiasts. He’d gained more prominence in 2022, after he challenged YouTube’s moderation team for allegedly playing favorites, and gained support from Markiplier. He hadn’t announced a planned break,...

Anime has evolved into a global phenomenon, with countless series capturing the hearts of viewers across decades. While some enduring classics like Naruto or Dragon Ball remain household names to this day, many equally compelling titles have slipped under the radar or faded from the zeitgeist. These hidden gems, once adored by fans, deserve a second life. Seasoned Otaku, and those new to the anime scene alike, should revisit these overlooked series that could uncover a masterpiece they’ve never experienced or rediscover an old favorite through a new lens.

From heart-pounding action to emotional storytelling, these forgotten anime highlight the diverse range of creativity the medium offers. They often represent unique narratives, experimental animation styles, or bold ideas that were way ahead of their time. Some are overshadowed by a more well-known doppelgänger, like Outlaw Star and Cowboy Bebop, while others simply fail to find their audience before cancelation.

Music is an essential part of Shinichiro Watanabe’s directorial vision. From Macross Plus to Carole & Tuesday, Watanabe has incorporated a wide variety of genres in his works. However, his collaboration with Yoko Kanno for Cowboy Bebop remains iconic to this day. Jazz perfectly complemented the retro and upbeat yet melancholic mood of the series.

A still from Samurai Champloo anime | Credits: Manglobe

Given how perfectly synchronized Watanabe’s vision and Kanno’s beats were, one would expect them to collaborate on subsequent projects without thinking twice. However, that wasn’t the case at all! The Cowboy Bebop director deliberately chose different composers in his next anime and even shared the reason why he didn’t get Kanno onboard. While the reason makes sense, the music featured in Samurai Champloo is a great topic of discussion on its own.

Shinichiro Watanabe Chose to Not Work With Yoko Kanno for Samurai...

If you haven’t already experienced Cowboy Bebop yet, you might be missing out on greatness. Weaving into an impeccable blend of multiple genres under one roof, Shinichiro Watanabe, the director, crafted a show that has captured audiences of all tastes. Science fiction, western, or space, Cowboy Bebop has everything to resonate with at least some aspect of your viewing.

Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop | Credits: Studio Sunrise

But what further makes Watanabe a truly visionary creator is his bold experimentation and innovative storytelling in one particular episode of the series. Episode 17, “Mushroom Samba,” has quite literally stood out as a testament to his brilliance: And you might be surprised to learn just how exactly Watanabe claimed he came up with this episode idea.

Shinichiro Watanabe’s Imagination Peaked in Episode 17 of Cowboy Bebop! A still featuring Ein the Dog | Credits: Studio Sunrise

In a rare, insightful interview with the...

As the visionary behind Cowboy Bebop's legendary action-packed anime, Shinichiro Watanabe might seem like the last person to seek guidance on crafting unforgettable action sequences that stand out to the audience. However, for his latest project - the anime series Lazarus - Watanabe's quest for fresh fight choreography insights led to an unexpected outcome.

While fans of Cowboy Bebop may easily recognize its influence on John Wick, a surprising revelation shows the inverse is also true: the John Wick franchise has significantly influenced Cowboy Bebop's director, Shinichiro Watanabe. This influence extends beyond inspiration, as the John Wick team has been tapped to choreograph action sequences for Watanabe's upcoming Lazarus series.

John Wick's Fight Scenes Are So Good, Watanabe Could Not Resist John Wick Upgraded And Expanded The Style And Flair Of Cowboy Bebop's Spike Speigel

In a recent interview with Anime News Network, Watanabe shared details about collaborating with...

It's easier to rip the band-aid off: a Naruto live-action is very risky, but it can be done right. A live-action Naruto adaptation has been in the works since at least 2015, to be published by Lionsgate, but a lack of a suitable script held it back from moving to the next production stage. After a decade in development hell, a screenplay (written by Tasha Hou) was completed and announced.

Naruto is both easy and hard to imagine working naturally in live-action. Although little concrete information is yet available, it's a good sign that the film's lack of progress was apparently the result of restraint and care. Despite the warm reception of One Piece's live-action adaptation, cynical adaptations of other franchises like Death Note and Cowboy Bebop have left a bad taste in anime fans' mouths. There are a few things that could ensure Naruto's own live-action adaptation succeeds...

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In the West, animation has historically had a reputation for being a medium of kids entertainment. And while, in recent years, the popularity of adult-oriented animated TV shows and films has skyrocketed worldwide, Japan has been creating excellent mature animation content for decades. Anime has always been pushing the boundaries of storytelling, both thematically and visually, and many of the most enticing examples of the mediums creativity come in the form of violent, heavy, emotionally complex works unsuitable for general audiences, such as Paprika.

R-rated anime is not a rarity, with many popular TV series, like Chainsaw Man and Re:Zero, featuring an abundance of gore, explicit content, and mature themes. Yet, some of the most impactful R-rated anime comes in the form of feature films, which pioneered the international popularity of mature animation, and continues to be the source of some of...

Quick Links Netflix's Cowboy Bebop is Missing a Key Element The Series Shies Away from Social Commentary That Defined the Original Netflix's Changes Also Hurt the Messages of the Series Changes to Characters Undermine the Original's Social Commentary Cowboy Bebop Needs These Social Critiques to Succeed The Series' Social Commentary is a Key Part of Its Identity

There's no denying that Netflix's Cowboy Bebop had a reverence for the original, but that reverence didn't translate to a good understanding of what made the anime so special. While it has all the trappings of Cowboy Bebop, the Netflix series deviated in one key area that left the series feeling hollow in a way its inspiration never did.

Watching even just the first episode of the live action series, it's easy to notice that something just isn't quite right about the way the series is presenting itself. At times, it feels like Bebop,...

Live-action remakes of classic animated films may have made boatloads of money, but there is an understandable trepidation about them (if not outright hostility). The trend has grown exponentially this century, from 16 live-action Disney reboots of animated movies and a slew of live-action interpretations of anime to remakes of modern cartoon hits like Avatar: The Last Airbender and How to Train Your Dragon. Lilo & Stitch is being added to the list in 2025, though it may seem to be a rare example of an IP surviving the transition to live-action with dignity and ingenuity. First, because of the direction from the excellent Dean Fleischer Camp, but also because of the involvement of Chris Sanders.

Sanders is a legend in the field of animation, but we'll get to that. For now, you can appreciate him as the director and co-writer of the original Lol & Stitch movie from 2002, and also the long-time voice of Stitch,...

Firefly star Alan Tudyk has opened up on the TV show's unexpected cancellation and the enduring fandom. Created by Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Joss Whedon, the space Western follows the adventures of war vet Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his renegade crew of smugglers aboard the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity. Debuting on Fox in September 2002, the series received low ratings, and, after 11 of its 14 produced episodes were broadcast, Firefly was cancelled in December of that same year. However, it sold strongly on DVD and has developed a cult following.

In an episode of Mythical Kitchen on YouTube, Tudyk, who played pilot Hoban 'Wash' Washburne on the show, has reflected on the cancelation and the enduring fandom, as it continues to be held in high regard more than 20 years later. When asked, "What is it about Firefly that caused such a fervent fandom?" the star responded by dubbing it the "greatest TV show ever.

At the time of writing, the beloved One Piece anime has 1,122 episodes to its name, and the manga’s been going on since 1997. Such longevity comes from an almost unspeakable commitment to consistency, One that fans have come to trust out of the franchise’s creator and enduring creative lead, Eiichiro Oda.

However, recently One Piece has been taking one of its rare hiatuses. It will not return until April of 2025. While you might think that Oda-san is taking a well-deserved rest, the truth is a little stranger. No, the real reason Oda has had to pause One Piece is...to make more One Piece. As reported by Comicbook.com, Oda has been in South Africa visiting the set of the second season of Netflix’s live-action remake of the classic anime.

It seems that the One Piece manga and anime are on temporary hold so Oda can attend to the live-action show.

With many of the most beloved anime films of the 1980s and 1990s being scattered, difficult to track down, or even outright unavailable, the latest news about Ninja Scroll coming to Hidive is a welcome development. According to a recent Hidive press release from November 6, 2024, Ninja Scroll will be available to watch on-demand via the streaming service on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon Edt. For fans of boundary-pushing anime from a different era, Ninja Scroll is commonly considered among the best films of the 1990s and a must-watch for fans of the classics.

Ninja Scroll follows rogue ninja Kibagami Jubei as he fights to stop the Devils of Kimon from overthrowing the Japanese government of the Edo period. Jubei is aided by Tokugawa Shogunate spy Dakuan and Kga kunoichi Kagero. The film is animated by Madhouse and received a follow-up anime, Ninja Scroll: The Series, in 2003 for one season, yet it...

Quick Links Jet's Words Describe Every Character on the Bebop Jet Has Always Been the Bebop's Resident Philosopher

Cowboy Bebop is widely considered one of the best anime series of all time, and one of the reasons why is how well-structured the story is. Each character undergoes their own journey in the series, but these individual storylines are joined together by powerful themes revolving around running from your past and eventually facing it. In fact, these themes are all nicely summed up by Jet Black in the penultimate episode, with one powerful quote.

In episode 25 of Cowboy Bebop, Jet says, "Everything has a beginning and an end. Life is just a cycle of starts and stops. There are ends we don't desire, but they're inevitable, we have to face them. It's what being human is all about." The quote is an accurate assessment of life, of course; there will always be endings--to relationships,...

(Welcome to Ani-time Ani-where, a regular column dedicated to helping the uninitiated understand and appreciate the world of anime.)

A big problem with recommending anime is that, from the outside in, they can all seem rather similar. The biggest animes ever tend to all be battle shonen shows from a single manga magazine — just look at Michael B. Jordan's list of favorite anime — much like how superhero movies dominate Hollywood. Of course, there is more to the medium than that, as this column often shows, from the thought-provoking and bleak sci-fi mystery "Pluto," to the Coen brothers-like oddities of "OddTaxi." Still, when it comes to mainstream action shows, they all tend to follow teens, like Deku, Goku, Yuji, Tanjiro, and Eren.

But not "Kaiju no. 8." This new blockbuster shonen action anime is set in a world plagued by giant monsters and follows an elite group of warriors that fight against them,...

The world of anime is vast and varied. Many series are able to forge on for years, like Naruto, while others are able to tell its story in a succinct number of episodes, like Cowboy Bebop. However, not every anime series is lucky enough to enjoy a complete run.

From budget constraints and production issues to declining viewership and source material shortages, many things contribute to the premature endings of these beloved shows. Some have been able to see a revival in recent years while others may never get a second chance.

Attempts To Revive Btooom! Failed Close

Related 10 Canceled Anime With The Best Beginnings Anime like Btooom!, No Game No Life, and Pandora Hearts started very strong, only to get canceled before they could reach their stride.

The survival horror anime, Btooom! made waves in 2012 but never achieved its full potential. The series follows Ryota Sakamoto, a top player of the online game "Btooom!,...

The Western film industry struggles with live-action anime adaptations due to difficulty in capturing the essence of the originals. Successful adaptations like "Alita: Battle Angel" and "One Piece" show that live-action anime can resonate with audiences when done right. Despite challenges, adaptations like "Death Note" and "Cowboy Bebop" fall short due to issues with casting, storytelling, and visuals.

With the rising popularity of Anime in the West, film studios have begun creating live-action adaptations to varying degrees of success. Anime was born in Japan in the early 20th Century, but it took time for the medium to become a widespread phenomenon. In the 1980s, anime experienced a boom in popularity thanks to the introduction of shows like Gundam, Macross, and Dragon Ball, which all became incredibly popular.

The art form is distinctly different from Western animated cartoons as the style, focus on scenes and settings, and more mature stories are more common in anime.

Not all anime jerks are created the same. There are many reasons why a character may be rude, standoffish, cantankerous or even insulting. A brash veneer can hide a soft underside that the jerk character may only show to a select number of people, or only under very specific circumstances.

Often, anime jerks aren't villains, though sometimes they may be maligned or misunderstood. Many jerks have a heart of gold to go along with their terrible manners. They may have an excellent reason for being mean; they may be a good guy undercover, or they may be trying to show a strong front to protect someone else. An anime jerk with a heart of gold is only as good as their backstory and motivations.

Related 10 Most Charming Male Love Interests In Anime, Ranked Anime showcases various male love interests, but some possess more charm than others. Jet Black Is a...

City Hunter Live-Action Film Tops Netflix's Non-English Movie Chart - Main Image

It has now been a week since City Hunter’s release, and it’s officially a big hit. That’s because the new City Hunter live-action film topped the Netflix non-English movie chart worldwide in the past week.

According to Netflix’s charts, this new anime live-action adaptation from the streaming giant was confirmed to be the most-watched non-English movie on Netflix.

This is a big achievement, especially considering that it topped the charts based on data from April 22 to 28, even though it was released on April 25.

City Hunter Is This Week’s Top Non-English Film on Netflix

Netflix has tried to adapt many popular anime as live-action movies or series.

While its projects such as Death Note and Cowboy Bebop weren’t successful, it seems Netflix finally found the formula with shows like One Piece.

Now,...

Trigun and Space Dandy offer similar vibes to Cowboy Bebop with their space western themes and comedic elements. Bungo Stray Dogs and Michiko & Hatchin are anime series that capture the film-noir feel and individual character development seen in Cowboy Bebop. Black Lagoon and Gungrave have dark and complex storylines that fans of Cowboy Bebop will enjoy, with interesting characters and intense action.

Cowboy Bebop is often cited as a perfect starter anime for good reason, naturally leading many to seek out anime with the same vibe. With its jazzy music, deep characters, and witty plots, Bebop's magic is difficult to recapture. Given that even the series' big-budget Netflix remake couldn't even carry the torch by the estimation of many critics and fans, it's tempting to think there's nothing else out there like it. Though Bebop is indeed unique, that doesn't mean fans should give up hope of finding a similar series.

Netflix is developing a live-action Scooby-Doo series that will be an update of the classic cartoon. The show will be produced by Greg Berlanti's company and written by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg. Previously, Appelbaum and Rosenberg worked with Netflix on Cowboy Bebop, while Berlanti is best known for producing The CW's Arrowverse.

A live-action Scooby-Doo series is in development at Netflix. Focusing on a mystery-solving gang of teenagers and their talking canine, Scooby-Doo, the franchise began all the way back 1969 with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?. Since then, the property has continued across countless television shows, animated movies, and live-action features. Most recently, a more adult incarnation, Velma, has been airing on Max, with season 2 releasing on April 25.

Per Deadline, a new reimagining of the classic cartoon is coming to Netflix. This live-action Scooby-Doo series will be produced by longtime Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Productions for Warner Bros. Television.

Greg Berlanti and Netflix are going for a ride in the Mystery Machine.

The streaming giant is near a deal for a live-action TV series based on the beloved Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Scooby-Doo. The project has a script-to-series commitment at Netflix, meaning if the script is well received, it would trigger a straight-to-series order for what is considered a live-action update of the classic cartoon.

Reps for Netflix, producers Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions declined to comment, as a deal has not yet formally closed.

Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg — who previously adapted Cowboy Bebop for Netflix and High Fidelity for Hulu — are attached to pen the script and exec produce via their Midnight Radio banner’s André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner. Berlanti and his Berlanti Productions partner Sarah Schechter will exec produce alongside the company’s Leigh London Redman. Berlanti Productions’ Jonathan Gabay and Midnight Radio’s...

One Piece, the live-action adaptation of the popular manga series by Eiichiro Oda, will receive a new season on Netflix. However, the staff behind Season 2 will be different from Season 1.

According to Deadline, Joe Tracz is joining the live-action One Piece series as co-showrunner. Matt Owens, writer, executive producer and co-showrunner of One Piece Season 1, will be working with Tracz on Season 2. Steve Maeda, who previously served as co-showrunner and developed the Netflix TV series with Owen, will remain as executive producer. One Piece Season 2 will begin filming in June for a 2025 premiere.

Related Review: One Piece Chapter 1,112 Gets Chaotic (and Clumsy) as the Five Elders Close In In One Piece's Chapter 1112, the Five Elders gain the upper hand and are poised to thwart Vegapunk's plans, all while a messy fight rages on. Close

Tracz comes hot on the heels of the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians,...

Disney’s “Space Mountain” has been reignited.

Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, whose credits including “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and the two Michael Bay-produced live-action “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” films, have been hired to write a new screenplay based on the beloved Disney Parks attraction, TheWrap has learned.

Jonathan Eirich from Rideback is producing the feature, along with Joby Harold (who wrote an earlier iteration of the project) and Tory Tunnell of Safehouse. Ryan Halprin of Rideback is executive producing.

The original Space Mountain opened as the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom’s version of Tomorrowland in 1975, part of the expansive Walt Disney World resort outside of Orlando, Fla. The ride is known for its strikingly graphic design — comprised of a cone and spires that jut heavenward (and can be seen as part of John Hench’s early concept art) — and its thrilling, coaster-in-the-dark aesthetic. A version of...

Ergo Proxy uses gothic fashion to enhance its deep themes of identity and reality. The series' atmosphere perfectly captures a dark and grim tone, with a muted color palette and a quiet soundtrack. Fans looking for a goth science fiction anime owe it to themselves to give Ergo Proxy a try.

Crunchyroll is well known for housing a wide variety of anime series, and one of their most underrated is the goth anime classic Ergo Proxy. As the gothic fashion style spread across the 2000s, more and more anime used the fashion trend to stand out from the crowd. While some of those series ended up just using the trend as an aesthetic, anime like Ergo Proxy used the goth look to enhance their themes and dive deep into questions of identity.

One of the best post-apocalyptic anime, Ergo Proxy initially takes place in the domed city of Romdeau following a planet-wide environmental collapse.

War, spy games, political intrigue, social commentary, and plenty of 1970s style -- all wrapped up into one exciting limited series.

In July 2021, HBO announced it had ordered The Sympathizer as a series, with Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar signed on as co-showrunners.

The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a communist spy during the Vietnam War and his eventual life in the United States.

In 2021, Nguyen announced his novel was optioned by production studio A24. Robert Downey Jr. soon joined as a producer and costar.

The Sympathizer will be executive produced and directed by filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who also worked on Snowpiercer, Oldboy, and The Little Drummer Girl.

Other directors for the show include Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, known for City of God, and English director Marc Munden, known for Utopia and National Treasure.

Notable writers for The Sympathizer include Mark Richard (The Man in the High Castle...

Sailor Moon is by far one of the most popular shojo and magical girl anime. Main characters like Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, and Sailor Mercury are some anime fans' very first favorite characters. The series spans over five seasons and has several movies, so there are many, many characters to enjoy.

Some of the Sailor Moon characters are highly underrated. It's easy to forget some priceless side characters or unique characters that were only featured in one season or a few episodes among so much content. These characters deserve a shout-out, though, for their well-written personalities and thoughtful character design.

Related 20 Best '90s Anime That Get Even Better With Age '90s anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop explore modern topics, helping them hold up in today's animation landscape. Motoki Furuhata Is More Than Eye Candy

Species

Human

Character Type

Ally

Personality

Brotherly

Motoki Furuhata works at...

A new collaboration is coming to Overwatch 2 , and this time it's director Shinichiro Watanabe and Sunrise's classic Cowboy Bebop anime. The collaboration is set to go live across all platforms on March 12, 2024, bringing themed skins, emotes, intros and more along with it. Among the unlockable Legendary Skins are Spike Spiegel Cassidy, Faye Valentine Ashe, Jet Black Mauga, Ed Sombra and Ein Wreckingball. The Ein skin will be available to everyone as a free unlock, and all skins will be revealed on March 11, just ahead of the in-game launch. In the meantime, a trailer arrived with the announcement. Overwatch 2 x Cowboy Bebop Trailer If this has you wanting to watch Cowboy Bebop all over again — or for the very first time — you can catch the full TV anime right here on Crunchyroll. Synopsis: The Bebop crew is just trying to make a buck. This motley lot of intergalactic loners teams up...

Lupin The Third would make an ideal live-action adaptation for Netflix, offering endless adventure and storytelling possibilities for Western audiences. Lupin's world combines elements of One Piece and James Bond, with colorful locales and a diverse cast of allies and enemies. The character's adaptability and global adventures make Lupin a perfect fit for a globe-trotting adventure series, promising kooky excitement for viewers.

Netflix has made a habit of adapting popular anime into live-action films and shows for Western audiences, and it already has the perfect next subject after the success of One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Netflix has cultivated a strong roster of anime titles over the years. However, Netflix's live-action anime adaptations stories to live-action have been a mixed bag. While One Piece is considered a goofy win for the streamer and the overall success of Avatar: The Last Airbender has placed it squarely into the streamer's top ten,...

Original Gundam franchise creator Yoshiyuki Tomino is heavily tipped for a return to anime after meeting with Akira Yasuda, an animator and character designer known for his work on anime titles including Code Geass.

Yasuda (@akiman7) revealed that he and Tomino had held meetings recently in a post to X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Today from noon, I had a meeting with director Tomino for about 4 hours at Bandai Filmworks Studio 1." Bandai Namco Filmworks (Bn Filmworks) Studio 1 refers to one of the studios under Sunrise, the popular anime studio behind multiple hit-works like Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass and Inuyasha. Yasuda's meeting adds to the widespread speculation about Tomino's return. He previously revealed that Tomino had summoned him for an unnamed project.

Related Original Gundam Creator: "If Putin Had Watched V Gundam, He Wouldn't Have Gone to War" The creator of the original Gundam series, Yoshiyuki Tomino, says that had Vladimir Putin watched V Gundam,...

Quick Links Where Do Spirit Detectives Come From? What Are the Duties of Spirit Detectives? What Are the Powers of Spirit Detectives?

While Yu Yu Hakusho is known today as one of the best and most refined examples of a traditional battle shōnen series, that isn't what it started out as. The first several arcs of the series were largely episodic affairs, featuring mysteries to be solved and individual people being troubled by demons who needed help.

To serve the original premise of the series, the protagonist was a rebellious teenage boy who, after unexpectedly dying, was given the chance to return to life and solve cases on behalf of Spirit World. The hero of Yu Yu Hakusho, Yusuke Urameshi, is a Spirit Detective. What exactly is a Spirit Detective?

Where Do Spirit Detectives Come From? Close

Related 20 Best '90s Anime That Get Even Better With Age '90s...

The results are in, and Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender seems to be a hit.

The live action adaptation topped the streamer’s weekly English-language TV list with 21.2M views in its opening weekend. According to Netflix, it reached the Top 10 in 92 countries. It was edged out as most-watched title of the week by the Swedish natural disaster film The Abyss.

That’s a strong showing for the eight-episode series, which was another big swing for Netflix as it continues to dip its toes into anime-inspired content. In fact, Avatar managed to surpass One Piece in its debut weekend.

As with One Piece, Netflix was firing on all cylinders to launch the series, partnering with Serena Williams and even taking over the Las Vegas Sphere. So far, the Avatar global social campaign has reached 1.53B impressions, which is on par with both One Piece as well as Netflix’s hit series Wednesday.

Putting it mildly, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" pulls a lot from Southeast Asian mythology and history. The show can't completely escape Orientalism but at least the writers did their research.

A savior named the Avatar with a reincarnation cycle? That's adapted (and heavily simplified) from Hindu myths about gods incarnating on Earth. The Fire Nation resembles 20th-century Imperial Japan: an island-chain nation undergoing its industrial revolution and colonizing its neighbors. Then there are the details of the setting, like architecture, outfits, and the in-universe writing system, which are all inspired by real-world Asian cultures. Even the show's animation is purposefully meant to resemble anime that co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante Dimartino loved, like Hayao Miyazaki movies and "Cowboy Bebop."

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" is a fantasy show and the magic system also pulls from Eastern concepts. In the show, spiritually-attuned people can control, or bend, one of the four classical elements: Water,...

Although it is not very typical for a protagonist in anime to pass away, there are a number of anime series where the protagonist’s demise plays a major role in the plot. The most significant event in the program is nearly usually the death of the main character, whether it’s through dealing a severe emotional blow or advancing the plot by giving the reins to a new character.

Even though some of them might live again in the future, their deaths had a profound effect on everyone in their immediate vicinity. The protagonist’s death doesn’t always mean the series is going to end. It just hands over the reign to someone who is either related to the character or becomes more significant to the series.

There are 5 anime series that have made a big name for themselves despite killing off their main character. Their main character...

Parasyte: The Grey is an upcoming live-action K-drama adaptation of the critically acclaimed manga series Parasyte. The K-drama will feature a new story based on the world of Parasyte, with different characters and a different setting. The director, Yeon Sang-ho, has a strong track record in helming horror shows and movies, making the adaptation exciting and promising.

An upcoming horror K-drama from Netflix is one of the most interesting live-action manga adaptations in years. Netflix is not strange to adapting popular manga or anime into live-action movies and TV shows, although many of them did not work. Still, whereas movies like Death Note (2017) or series like Cowboy Bebop (2021) failed, hits like Alice in Borderland and One Piece season 1 proved that it can be done. Whether they are direct adaptations of the source material or just something based on that world, live-action anime properties usually have a lot of potential.

Although...

Your Lie in April and Clannad After Story are often included on lists as some of the saddest anime ever made. Banana Fish and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the protagonists experience a series of hardships while working towards their goal, only to lose in the end. Grave of the Fireflies is based on a short story about the author's experiences during World War II and is a devastating film about two siblings trying to survive the last few months of the war.

This article contains mentions of sensitive topics, including death, mental health, and war.

Anime is no stranger to tragic stories, having released some stories whose endings are so depressing that viewers have a hard time moving on from them. With its growing popularity, anime has continued to demonstrate its unique ability to move people. The medium evokes emotion using intense visuals and storytelling methods that could never work in live action.

With a history that dates back to 1994, Funimation was once one of the biggest distributors of anime in North America, while also licensing anime in Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. Funimation gained its reputation starting with the licensing of the Dragon Ball franchise. From there, the company and its subsidiaries became well-known for producing dubs for anime, employing many well-known English voice actors.Over time, Funimation grew into one of the most important anime companies in the West. However, in 2021, Sony acquired Funimation, and has since folded the company into Crunchyroll.

As of April 2024, even Funimation's streaming service would be shut down in favor of Crunchyroll, putting an end to a storied company that once had access to well-publicized series like Cowboy Bebop, Attack on Titan, Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia, and One Piece. Funimation's licensed catalog includes Funimation's role in the industry, especially among Western audiences, cannot be understated.

Classic Western themes have influenced modern television series, blending with other genres to create unique and modern stories. Series like "Deadwood," "The Mandalorian," and "Yellowstone" have transported Western themes to new settings, such as space and modern society. Shows like "Preacher," "Cowboy Bebop," and "Firefly" have taken elements from the classic Western genre and incorporated them into supernatural, sci-fi, and adventure narratives.

The classic Western genre may not be as popular today as it once was, but its influence has permeated throughout modern television, and without it there are plenty of television series that would not exist today. The stories of cowboys, outlaws, and gunmen traversing across the Wild West have now been transported into new settings and blended with other genres to create something that took the best of classic Westerns and gave it a modern feel. Many of today’s TV shows still echo Western themes of individuality,...

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie will be shown in over 300 theaters in the U.S. for three days only, from January 21 to January 23, as part of Anime Expoìs Cinema Night series. The movie takes place during the timeline of the anime series and focuses on a high-stakes bounty case that the crew of the Bebop must solve. Fans appreciate the movie's cool vibe and how it enhances the anime experience with better animation, storytelling, and mesmerizing music.

As part of its Cinema Night series, Anime Expo (Ax) is bringing back Cowboy Bebop: The Movie later this month for a limited time in select theaters across the United States. This will be only the fourth time the jazz-noir, cult classic film has been made available to watch in American theaters, with the most recent showing having come way back in 2018.

As revealed in a recent post on the X account of @ICONICEventsNow,...

Blue Eye Samurai draws inspiration from a variety of films and shows, including Yentl, Kill Bill, Mulan, Samurai Champloo, The Legend of Korra, Cowboy Bebop, Lady Snowblood, Blade Runner 2049, Afro Samurai, and Arcane. These works share themes of revenge, gender identity, discrimination, and the pursuit of freedom, which resonate with Blue Eye Samurai's story. The artistic styles, character development, and action sequences in these films and shows parallel the unique blend of genres and visual storytelling that make Blue Eye Samurai stand out in the world of animation and modern television.

While waiting for the highly anticipated second season of Blue Eye Samurai, looking into film and television that served as inspiration for the show is a great way to discover new content or scratch the same itch as the series. The show is a unique blend of genres, writing, and visual storytelling that makes it stand out...

Iconic Events Releasing, a company specializing in distributing special engagement theatrical events to theatres, brings the action and bold visual storytelling of anime to the big screen as it announces a slate of upcoming nationwide theatrical events for the latest installment of Ax Cinema Nights. A different acclaimed anime feature will be screened at over 300 theatre locations across the country beginning in September 2023 and continuing through February 2024.

Celebrated films will include a Satoshi Kon Film Festival that will screen the legendary Director's most renowned anime feature films as well as a special presentation of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Subtitled and dubbed screenings are scheduled.

Ax Cinema Nights is a year-round movie event series celebrating the best new and classic anime films by bringing them to theaters across North America. It provides the passionate fan community with immersive and unforgettable experiences beyond the annual Anime Expo.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Sony Pictures)

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Quick Links Cowboy Bebop's Music Is Unique Music Keeps Anime Relevant Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack is a key factor in its enduring popularity and legacy. The music, composed by Yoko Kanno and the band The Seatbelts, captures the essence of the bebop genre and influences the pacing of the series. The music of Cowboy Bebop reflects the improvisation and innovation of jazz, particularly the bebop genre. It incorporates asymmetrical phrasing, complex syncopation, and tempos exceeding 200 beats per minute, creating a unique and energetic sound. Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack is specific and evocative, tailored to the emotions and situations depicted in the series. Its specificity sets it apart from other anime soundtracks and contributes to its status as one of the most influential in anime history.

Music is the first way that humans were able to communicate. Singing, instruments, stories told in lyrics is something as ancient as the human race itself, and...

Anime series like Goblin Slayer and Record of Lodoss War are directly inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, incorporating elements from the tabletop game. Other anime series, such as The Rising of the Shield Hero and Demon Slayer, share similarities with the structure and characters of a typical D&d campaign. The crossover between anime and D&d is extensive, with many isekai shows embracing RPG tropes and mechanics, making them enjoyable for fans of the tabletop game.

Anime and Dungeons & Dragons are perhaps two of the most popular geek hobbies in existence, and the only thing that can be better for fans of both is when they overlap. Anime (particularly shonen) is known for high action and fantasy, making the appeal obvious to fans of D&d. Since D&d was so impactful on the RPG genre as a whole, and many fantasy anime implement RPG elements into their storytelling,...

In the age of live-action remakes, the concept of re-imagining animated series for the big (and small) screens has set its sights on adapting anime. Anime adaptations are nothing new to Western media as anime-watching has become a destigmatized hobby. For better or worse, beloved titles such as Cowboy Bebop and One Piece have been brought to life. The rumor mill has churned out countless tips about popular anime following the live-action trend, while other adaptations have been sitting in development hell for some time. Naruto is the latest shōnen anime that will undergo movie treatment. Standing as such an iconic and influential IP in the anime world, Naruto should also be given the same priority that One Piece received in order to fare so successfully on screen.

While it might seem like Ghost Stories was only acting on the emerging J-Horror trend, this 2000 anime was in fact another adaptation of Tōru Tsunemitsu’s popular series of children’s books. After four live-action films based on the teacher-turned-author’s books, animation was the obvious next step. The anime — technically the second after a standalone ’96 Ova — has since gone on to become a favorite among Western audiences, although not for reasons the Japanese showrunners could have expected. No, this series is best remembered for its off-the-wall English adaptation that many fans liken to South Park.

Admittedly, Ghost Stories didn’t leave a big mark upon and after its initial release (other than a controversy regarding the ultimately unaired Kuchisake-onna episode). In its defense, though, many anime back then had a hard time standing out or living up to new expectations. As a reminder, that previous decade gave rise to...

The Dark Tournament arc is essential to the success of the live-action adaptation and must maintain the high stakes and unique angle that sets it apart from typical anime tournaments. The ensemble cast of Yu-Yu Hakusho is one of the most memorable and well-developed in anime history, and it is crucial for the live-action series to capture the chemistry and dynamics between the characters. The iconic 90s fashion and aesthetic of Yu-Yu Hakusho should be incorporated into the show, reflecting the characters' personalities and adding a humanistic element to their wardrobe. Getting the style and tone of the anime right is crucial for a successful adaptation.

Yu-Yu Hakusho is the next anime in line for a live-action adaptation, and if Netflix wants this cult classic to reach the same heights as One Piece, there are some key aspects that the series must get right about the anime. Netflix's live-action anime...