Netflix's live-action Cowboy Bebop trailer has addressed some of the biggest concerns previously expressed by fans of the original anime series, earning faith in the remake. The realm of live-action anime adaptations is one that Netflix is familiar with at this point, having already released remakes of noted Japanese shows like Death Note, Bleach, and Fullmetal Alchemist – but as of yet, most of the company’s efforts have earned negative reviews. It looks like that trend could finally be changing, however, as long as the Cowboy Bebop trailer proves indicative of the full show.
There have been a number of understandable concerns surrounding Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop remake since it was first announced. Some worried that the new show would take on too dark of a tone – something Netflix has been heavily criticized for with past shows like Fate: The Winx Saga. Others expressed worries that the stunning audiovisual style of the original Cowboy Bebop anime would be sacrificed in favor of a more traditional sci-fi aesthetic. Given Netflix’s questionable track record with anime adaptations, such concerns were entirely justified.
Thankfully, the new Cowboy Bebop trailer has done a lot to assuage fans’ fears. The visual style, while obviously different from proper animation, is colorful, stylish, and striking, with a fluid and creative editing style that evokes the look and feel of the original show. The tone of the writing also seems spot-on, with plenty of comedy, silliness, and bickering between Spike (John Cho), Jet (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye (Daniella Pineda). Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop will never replace the original in the hearts of longtime fans, nor will it have anywhere near the same level of influence, but it just might manage to be the streamer’s first truly great live-action anime adaptation.
Overall, the public reception to the new Cowboy Bebop seems to be quite positive. It appears that the creative team behind the show recognize how past anime adaptations have failed and are actively doing their best to avoid those mistakes. That’s fantastic news for the series as a whole, because it means that a lot more people might be willing to give the remake a try when it releases. Without such a compelling trailer, Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop might have been written off by a lot of potential viewers before they even tried the first episode.
Cowboy Bebop still has a lot to prove. It has a long and unfortunate history of poor anime adaptations going against it, and it’s yet to be proven if the flashy style that works so well in the trailer will hold up over ten hour-long episodes. However, with many now willing to give the series the benefit of the doubt, it at least has a shot at becoming something special – not the masterpiece that the original was, but a great show in its own right. Cowboy Bebop looks to have a great cast, a strong style, and nice blend of comedy and drama, which could all add up to spectacular final product.