Why do people say Cowboy Bebop is awesome?

[Irridium]

As others have said, it has good writing, good pacing, good characters, good episodes... it basically has everything and does it very well. Its relatively short, so it doesn't overstay its welcome, every episode is someting new and very varied, the one movie it had was amazing...

Its basically just an amazing anime, with something for everyone.

Plus it spawned this masterpiece:

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Honestly? Finish the series. Seriously.

There IS an over-reaching plot, but it doesn't really come together until the end.

The Deadpool is right. I watched it on the Adult Swim, back before it had the reputation as the best-ever that it has today, and honestly it was good but not the best -- until the finale. Without spoiling it, the last few episodes kicked it up from a solid anime -- one of the better one's I'd seen, but certainly not the greatest -- to one of the greatest TV series that I've seen, period. I guess what I'm saying is, stick with it -- not only is it worth it, but it's a fairly short series anyway.

 

[s0m3th1ng]

Despite the fact that most of Yoko Kanno's stuff is remixed classic rock...it has one of the best soundtracks of ANY show...let alone animation.
It's also the only anime I can watch again and again and still be entertained.

 

[Dr_Baron_von_Evilsatan]

At least get to Jupiter Jazz Parts 1 and 2. Those were the episodes that got me hooked back in the day. There are a lot of reasons that people enjoy CB, as many posters have pointed out. A few things that I liked (not heavy points but stuff that hasn't been listed yet). The universe is realistic. Not brightly colored hair or giant swords. Just kind of what you'd expect from the future: a mish-mash of ethnicities and societies. Also, it's one of the few shows where I don't like some of the characters but I still CARE about them (Faye especially). The show can also delve into some serious philosophical ideas when it wants to. Lastly, Ein actually acts, looks, and sounds like a dog (albeit a very smart one).


See You Space Cowboy

 

[Diddy_Mao]

It's an anime that has as few anime tropes as possible, which makes it watchable to me (Though "Ed" makes me cringe).

That's pretty much it for me.
No loser guys and their improbable Harem of 15 - 19 year old schoolgirls, no giant robot battles, no magical girls and no supernatural love stories.

Just good animation, fun stories and kick ass music.

 

[JC175]

To Narrow down my problem a bit more, here it is. I don't like how each episode is a separate story. I find that the best part of anime is that they can tell a story better then a movie because they can flesh things out, and not drag on for hundreds of episodes with no real story with an end like most TV shows.

Though some anime are like this, namely the most popular like Naruto, Dbz, Bleach. etc
I've never actually gotten into any of them except i got into Naruto for about 40 episodes and gave up because it was endless patting.

Watch the whole series, then have an opinion. There is a narrative throughout it all in bits and pieces, it all comes together in the final few episodes.

EDIT: Bang.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

this is why

Listening to this song was the first things i thought of when i saw this thread.


Heck i haven't seen this anime in ages but this song has been stuck in my head for all these years.

 

[Ethylene Glycol]

To be fair I'm 5 episodes in. I am enjoying it, but it is by no means a masterpiece like i hear it is. For example anime news network has it in their top 10 anime list.

What is so special about this show?

To fully appreciate Cowboy Bebop, you have to have seen it before every anime ever starred a cool nihilistic gunslinger in a slick outfit. If you haven't, there's no way to fully understand.

That being said, Cowboy Bebop does have some of the best music ever.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

It's one of the most diverse, interesting, engaging shows out there with fantastic voice acting on both ends and dramatic scenes that make sure it doesn't all go to waste. Is it the best thing since sliced bread? No. Is it fantastic? Yes.

 

[sumanoskae]

I couldn't tell you, I'm not one of them. I think Bebop is a damn good anime. The characters range from human and likable(Jet) to downright fascinating(Spike). That's just one half of the story though, the other half is plot and development(What happens and how people respond to it), and in that area, Bebop is good, just not great. Without spoiling to much, the characters are very good to begin with, but they don't really change much. And the plot is, well virtually nonexistent. It often feels like the characters backstories are more interesting then what's going on now. I'd say it's a jack of all trades. The story is good and the characters are good. There's just nothing great about it, there wasn't a moment that made me go "OH SHIT!" or "WHYYYYY *Sob* WHYYYYY!!!!" or "FUCK YEAH!"

Except the music, the music is fucking awesome

 

[Space Spoons]

It's different. That's really the only way I can explain it. Most anime employ pop to meet their musical needs; Bebop's soundtrack is predominately contemporary jazz. Most anime follow an overarching story; Bebop is largely episodic. Most anime contain elements of the fantasy genre, or something close to it; Bebop is a mix of Western and sci-fi. Perhaps most importantly, most ensemble anime try to make you fall in love with the cast; Bebop makes no such effort, and does in fact get a lot of mileage out of the fact that the main cast consists of horrible, selfish people with pasts mired in tragedy (except maybe Ein).

These traits might not seem remarkable today, but at the time of the show's creation, it was considered pretty revolutionary, and it's still different enough from most contemporary anime to stand out.

That said, I think calling it one of the best anime ever made is kind of misleading, if "best ever" means "universally loved no matter what". It's definitely a love-it-or-hate-it show. If you're five episodes in and you still don't like it... Your opinion probably isn't going to change.

 

[LokiSuaveHP]

If I were you, I wouldn't hold the first couple of episodes against a show. Generally a show is trying to feel out what it is doing, and it gets into the swing of things hopefully by the end of the season. Battlestar Gallactica was intense, but still clunky. Six Feet Under wasn't sure whether it was a comedy or a drama. Take a look at the first season of those shows and the last season of them. Even as far as anime is concerned, the first few episodes of Gundam Wing are just sort of annoying, and the ending is incredible. Cowboy Bebop is no different. I'd keep going with it.

The only shows that have ever had me hooked from day one was Pushing Daisies, which had a certain cuteness about it, but that only carried it for awhile. Probably was a great movie idea, but not a very good T.V. show idea, and Lost, which was just awesome 90-95% of the time, all the time.

 

[LogicNProportion]

Trigun

Hellsing

Cowboy Bebop

Ghost in the Shell

FLCL

These are the five legendary anime. At least to me. Each one is a unique experience you will find nowhere else on the market.

 

[poiuppx]

For me, it's the little things. Like the amazing soundtrack. The incredible fight sequences. The subtle character development. The creative universe with unique elements on multiple levels, like the differing architecture of each world. The fluid animation. The incredibly geeky music references on all sides. The beef with bell peppers. The slow burn on the main story that hovers in the background, quietly threatening the haphazard crew even as they tend to some farked up bounties (and other things). The data dog. The careful attention to the technological elements of the universe that, by the end of the series, is rich enough to where the one thing I regret most is the lack of other stories set in said universe to expand on it all. The falling stars.

...I will confess, the fact my girlfriend has been steadily working through cosplays of every major cast member helps.

 

[Lyri]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

Gotta dance bro, just gotta.

 

[Legendsmith]

Because Yoko Konno is GOD!

I assume you mean Yoko Kanno.
And yes, her compositions are always amazing.

 

[Engarde]

I have a few reasons as to why I like it.

-Each episode is it's own story
This is a matter of taste, of course. I feel with the larger over arcing story, things slowly just get more ridiculous and far fetched, constantly trying to out-do itself. Plus, if I miss an episode, it gets really annoying in that kind of show.

-It presents a believable reality.
I am personally (another mattter of taste) into certain non realistic things, and Cowboy Bebop has no spirits / chakra / demons or what have you. And thusly, I find it rather amusing.

-It is not too long
As it is not hundreds of episodes long, I find it managable, short, and sweet. Not to mention, since it does not have a huge overarcing story, no filler. Sort of another taste thing.

So, for the most part, it just fits my taste.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Its the only anime I think is watchable. According to wikipedia it has almost universal acclaim. Starwars wasn't that great but look how it is recieved. How do you get on probation. Ive been trying but so far no luck.

I always get on probation for stupid reasons, like the mod saying that i didn't read the op when posting, when I did, and even though my post was completely related to the subject at hand.

Well to be fair, you did say 'I'm not reading that', and they're not psychic, so...

 

[[Parsley]]

I hate to sound like a fanboy but Spike is just coolness personified in my eyes. From his personality to the way he fights.

The fact that Spike was genuinely scared and really utterly unable to match up to Pierrot le Fou makes that my favourite episode of the series.

 

[Kiju]

Cowboy Bebop alone: It's fairly good; enjoyable, but no masterpiece, as you said

Cowboy Bebop compared to other anime: It's a Gods-send

I think...that's the point. Compared to other anime, it's wonderful. But as a stand-alone, it's got it's good points, and it's got it's bad points. I enjoy it whole heartedly, and would probably buy the box set provided I could find one under $100. :\