Cowboy Bebop is getting the live-action treatment on Netflix, with a new series adapting the original storyline while also taking some liberties. The original anime, which aired in the late '90s, followed the crew of the titular Bebop as they traveled space and collected bounties, but there were plenty of obstacles in their way, from financial struggles to dangerous criminals and the infamous Syndicate -- a criminal organization that Spike (John Cho) has unfortunate ties to.
This anime meant a lot to many fans, and it defined itself with its iconic soundtrack, genre blending setting and complex and endearing characters, so adapting it to live-action was no small task. However, Netflix and the creatives behind the new series were not afraid of taking on this challenge, as Executive Producer Jeff Pinkner explained to CBR on the red carpet at Cowboy Bebop's premiere event. During the interview, Pinkner dove into why this anime was primed for a live-action adaptation and what fans can look forward to.
CBR: What made Cowboy Bebop such a great anime for the live-action?
Jeff Pinkner: Because the emotions are not limited to an animated television show. The emotions are real and human and deep, and that's good storytelling.
For fans of the anime, what can they look forward to when it comes to seeing those animated characters come to life like this?
Fans of the anime hopefully will look forward to seeing characters that were two-dimensional be brought to three-dimensional life. Their emotions were three-dimensional, but they were obviously rendered in two dimensions, and now we have real live actors. Hopefully, they will enjoy the characterizations. Hopefully, they will enjoy the performances. Hopefully, they will be able to re-experience characters that they love.
For those who haven't watched Cowboy Bebop before and are having the live-action be their first introduction to this world, what's going to appeal to them?
I think what's gonna hook them in is really fun, unique storytelling, an amazing soundtrack, amazing stories, amazing characters, a world that looks like ours and isn't ours.
Why does Cowboy Bebop still resonate with people decades after it first came out?
It's a fun story. Good storytelling is good storytelling.
Cowboy Bebop is now available to stream on Netflix.