'Cowboy Bebop' was among the most successful anime of all time, but why did season 2 never happen?
'Cowboy Bebop' is among the most successful anime series of all time, both critically and commercially. However, it never had a follow-up season. The original 26 episodes of the anime have now found a home on Netflix. A live-action 'Cowboy Bebop' series was also released on the platform on November 19, 2021.
With the absence of a second season for the anime, the live-action series is expected to bring us back to the intricate world of 'Cowboy Bebop.'
According to 'Cowboy Bebop' showrunner André Nemec, the live-action 'Cowboy Bebop' is an extension of the anime series that will explore “the archetypal nature of the characters and dig out deeper histories.”
The original anime series follows the story of space characters set in the year 2071. A group of an eccentric crew of the Bebop travels across the solar system to hunt for notorious criminals. It was an aesthetic and narrative masterpiece.
The anime blended sci-fi, noir, and western elements, in tackling futuristic problems and space exploration.
Given its international success, most fans are wondering why the anime never returned for more, except for the 2001 'Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.'
The reason behind it is the series director Shinichirō Watanabe himself. The director believed that the conciseness of the anime would keep the spirit of the show. He thought that 26 episodes were enough to tell that masterpiece.
Watanabe wanted to keep the story crisp and short and avoid continuing the narrative without a clear resolution. He created a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The anime was never planned to go beyond its original run. However, the Netflix live-action series was open to creating multiple seasons in the future. Sadly, the live-action series failed to impress fans and got cancelled after just one season, just a few weeks since it premiered.
Starting a show while keeping in mind its conclusion became a popular technique in television animes since 'Cowboy Bebop' first debuted in 1998.
This strategy allows anime producers and creators to wrap the story nicely and deliver a more satisfying finale to their audience.
If Watanabe did not go with his initial plan to keep 'Cowboy Bebop' anime short, the anime might not end up becoming one of the greatest animes of all time.
As for the Netflix live-action 'Cowboy Bebop,' expect some changes in the adaptation. Netflix does not have the best track record when it comes to live-action adaptations and often gets backlash for various reasons. 'Cowboy Bebop' live-action experienced a similar fate.
Despite Shinichirō Watanabe's participation as a creative consultant in the live-action, the project still failed so badly. It only received a 55% audience score and a 46% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
This article was reviewed and is up to date as of July 31st, 2023.
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