Is THIS Anime's Coolest Film Noir? | Cowboy Bebop: The Movie Review

·58 min·5 clips

Alex and Natai reveal their first attempt to record this Cowboy Bebop review spiraled into three hours of unusable chaos.

The episode begins with hosts Alex and Natai joking about a previous, failed recording attempt that lasted three hours without starting the review. Natai selected the Cowboy Bebop movie for review. They note the film's original Japanese title is 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door,' changed internationally over copyright fears related to Bob Dylan. The film was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe shortly after the series, with Keiko Nobumoto returning as writer and Yoko Kanno composing the music with her band The Seatbelts. The hosts praise the legendary collaboration between Watanabe and Kanno. They discuss the film's 2001 release date and its unfortunate proximity to real-world terrorism events, given its plot. Box office returns were modest at $3 million worldwide. The conversation shifts to the film's English dub, highlighting returning cast members and new additions like Jennifer Hale (Commander Shepard) as Elektra and Darren Norris (Cosmo from Fairly Oddparents) as Vincent. They argue the dub is one of the best in anime. The hosts analyze the film's visual style, praising its 'used future' aesthetic, detailed backgrounds like the Moroccan street, and cinematic camera work. They break down specific scenes: the opening convenience store robbery that establishes Spike's character with minimal dialogue, and the well-animated train fight scene they compare to Naruto. The plot involves Vincent, a soldier haunted by nanomachines and yellow butterflies, aiming to release a virus on Mars. They discuss themes of past trauma and purgatory, comparing Vincent to Spike. The film's Halloween setting and character banter, especially involving Ed and Ein, are highlighted. The final fight is noted for its Blade Runner influences. The soundtrack, particularly the track 'Gotta Knock a Little Harder,' is heavily praised. They conclude by scoring the film an 8 and 8.5, recommending it as a great entry point to Cowboy Bebop.

As heard by us

A loose, detail-rich Cowboy Bebop film discussion led by music, animation, and one sharp convenience-store fight.

Anime Club After Dark's take on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie works best when Alex and Natai stay close to the things that give the film its charge.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when you want a Cowboy Bebop movie chat driven by soundtrack excitement, a second-take looseness, and that convenience-store fight.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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