Netflix just debuted the opening sequence for its hotly anticipated live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, and it's both visually stunning and highly faithful to the original series. After years of teasing and a delay caused by an on-set accident, the show will finally hit screens on November 12th. The streaming giant premiered the title sequence at its fan event TUDUM, subsequently posting it on its Twitter account to feverish reception.
The original anime is a revered classic with a very protective fanbase, so it's not a surprise that the Netflix showrunners have played it safe by bringing back Yoko Kanno's iconic soundtrack. They've also preserved the striking, colorful noir-inspired look of the original opening titles, while still adding some intriguing new visuals. Plenty of familiar faces appear in the clip, from the famed main characters who travel on the ship Bebop to the motley assortment of criminals and cads they encounter in their intergalactic travels. Read on for a breakdown of every character featured in this juicy opening sequence.
John Cho as Spike Spiegel
Spike is Cowboy Bebop's sardonic, laidback protagonist, a bounty hunter running away from a mysterious and violent past. Using his impeccable combat skills, he travels the galaxy with Jet and Faye aboard the ship Bebop in search of jobs to put food on the table.
Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black
Jet is the ship's pilot and Spike's best friend. He tends to be the pragmatic voice of reason in the crew, though his advice is often ignored. He was once an investigator working for the Intra Solar System Police, before a case went off the rails and cost him both his arm and his idealism.
Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine
Faye is a beautiful and dangerous woman who always looks out for number one. When she falls in with Jet and Spike, she brings sass, moxie and plenty of baggage to the team. She's a skilled fighter and pilot with a sharp tongue, and her origins and past are cloaked in mystery.
Tamara Tunie as Ana and Mason Alexander Park as Gren
Ana, called Annie in the original anime, runs an underground jazz club and acts as an unofficial mother figure to Spike, supplying him with advice and occasionally weapons. Gren is a nonbinary jazz musician with a tragic past who works for Ana as her second in command.
Alex Hassell as Vicious, and Ann Truong and Hoa Xuande as Shin and Lin
Vicious is a shadowy and terrifying antagonist from Spike's past who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. An ambitious and ruthless killer, he leads the Red Dragon crime syndicate, wielding his signature katana without mercy. Sibling duo Shin and Lin are his loyal underlings and enforcers.
Elena Satine as Julia
Julia is a gorgeous and tragic femme fatale who has a complicated history with both Spike and Vicious. Her actions and decisions have a deep impact on the conflict between the two men. In the original anime, she mostly appears in flashbacks, but her character is integral to the show's overall arc.
Jan Uddin and Lydia Peckham as Asimov and Katerina
Asimov and Katerina are a desperate young couple on the run from the authorities, hoping to escape with one last big score so they can build a new future together. A chance run-in with Spike and his crew puts those plans in jeopardy.
Adrienne Barbeau as Maria Murdock
Maria leads a group of eco-fascist terrorists called the Space Warriors who are willing to sacrifice lives and take extreme actions in order to protect nature from humanity. When their radical acts cause them to run afoul of the ISSP, a large bounty is put on their heads.
Rodney Cook as the Voice of Teddy Bomber
Teddy Bomber is a self-proclaimed activist against the overreaches of capitalism. As his moniker implies, his weapon of choice is bombs implanted inside teddy bear toys. He wreaks so much destruction that a bounty is put on him, leading him to cross paths with the crew of the Bebop.
Ira Munn and Lucy Currey as Punch and Judy
These two are the hosts of Big Shot, a public broadcast program for bounty hunters where new bounty opportunities are announced. Clad in ostentatious Old West-style garments, they relay the latest news and gossip, often with incongruous amounts of cheer. Their names take direct inspiration from a traditional British puppet show that has a similarly cartoonish sensibility.
Josh Randall as Pierrot Le Fou
Pierrot Le Fou is a deranged and highly unstable killing machine. The product of multiple experiments meant to create the "perfect assassin," he becomes addicted to murder and ends up clashing with Spike during his maniacal killing spree.
Abdul Hakim
Abdul is a serial pet thief and career criminal who is highly skilled in hand-to-hand martial arts. When he steals an extremely expensive dog from an illegal research facility, he's set on a collision course with the Bebop crew.
Ein, the Hyperintelligent Welsh Pembroke Corgi
Ein is a hyperintelligent Welsh Pembroke Corgi who is stolen by Abdul Hakim. His above-average smarts allow him to escape from the humans who are constantly chasing him. He eventually becomes part of the Bebop crew, acting as a pet and an essential member of the team.