This is a bit of a preemptive strike. Over the past forty years or so, I’ve been a hit-or-miss fan of animé. My favorite is MD Geist, but the next two titles share the second-place position. Those are Ghost in the Shell (all movies and episodes) as well as Cowboy Bebop.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m decidedly excited to see what they do with the new live-action version of the property. The original (which I’ve started re-watching) is as tasty as I remember. The world-building, writing, characters, and action are just as compelling as I remember. The pre-trailer and trailer of this latest iteration seems to be an experiment of sorts.
For the first time (in my experience), it would seem that the directors, editors, and director of photography seem to be creating something that blends the beauty of feature-length-film with the framing, colors, and shooting techniques that come straight from both animé and even graphic novels.
When I noted it in the pre-trailer, I was intrigued. It’s a bold decision that, I suspect, some may find off-putting. I, however, think it’s deeply compelling. When I watched the full trailer, I was convinced they’d made the right decision. The trailer was absolutely fantastic, and I’m now dying to see each episode of the new series as they come out.
On a side-note, I was jazzed to find out that they’ll be using the original soundtrack, or at least most of it. Part of the allure of Cowboy Bebop was one of the best music scores I’ve ever seen/heard in any work. Every song utilized was simply perfect.
I just can’t wait to see what they come up with.
More later, once I have a chance to watch an episode or two.
Keep reading and, if you do it, keep writing.
~ Q