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Cowboy Bebop –
Complete Sessions Collection
Anime DVD Review
You think you've seen this on Cartoon Network? Well, you haven't really unless you see it uncut and uncensored on this DVD set. Cowboy Bebop is simply one of the best things ever made for the small screen. Considering that this was made as a TV show, the level of detail is astounding – you'll want to pause and rewatch each and every frame.
 And speaking of rewatching each and every frame, you are urged to watch and rewatch episode 5 "Ballad of Fallen Angels", which, during a 2 minute sequence where Spike is thrown out of a window, they managed to squeeze in more plot than most Hollywood films! And all without using a word of dialogue! Cowboy Bebop is one of those rare occurrences in anime where the art of the filmmaking is of such high caliber that it ceases to be a "cartoon", it even ceases to be a TV show – the characters and situations take on their own life and it becomes so real that it transcends the medium and becomes it's own genre.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2002
Cowboy Bebop -
The Movie (2001)
Anime DVD Review
Originally titled "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", the movie takes place somewhere before the final episodes (obviously), and places the crew of the Bebop into one of their greatest adventures. The production itself reunites the team responsible for the series, so everything you expect from Bebop is in there.
With the higher budget for a 90-minute episode, the art and camerawork are much more polished than the tv episodes, and the fight scenes (which would make Jackie Chan envious) are more kinetic and smoothly animated. When Spike goes up against his female equal (and she is hot), the movie reaches it's crescendo. Bebop exudes cool, and this movie makes that statement in spades.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, August 2003
Cowboy Bebop Boxset
Manga Review
You already know the animated series is cool. You are aware the music rocks. You're simply nuts about Bebop. Well, complete the collection and own the manga!
 This ultra-excellent box-set from Tokyopop contains the complete collection of Cowboy Bebop manga — drool, pant, gasp! You know it, you love it, you want it. 'Nuff said.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, April 2004
Cowboy Bebop V.1 [IMPORT]
Anime Soundtrack Review
This CD is worth having for Yoko Kanno's extended version of 'Tank" alone. For one thing, the mix is much richer, being produced for a real stereo, and not mixed down for the usually lousy speakers built into TV sets. As a result, there's an entire percussion progression we've never heard while watching the opening to Bebop – even on a good set. It brings the entire range of music more to life than you would have heard on the show itself.
The CD carries a nice balance of jazzy action tracks as well as a good selection of more "bluesy", more mellow material. Kanno's impressive range of musical style and the way she captures different emotions and settings is evident in each track. You can almost smell the leather and feel the spirit of the American Old West in "Spokey Dokey". As you listen, you'll discover that half the reason that Cowboy Bebop is as good as it is – is because the music is just so perfect.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, June 2002
CowBoy Bebop
Complete Anime Guide Volume 1
Anime Art Book Review
If you loved Cowboy Bebop on the Cartoon Network the only problem you will have with buying Volume 1 of this series is that you will want to buy the next five. The book is packed with basically anything anyone would want to know about the first five episodes of the series, from basic information about the characters to tidbits about seemingly minor incidents and the lyrics of the songs in English and phonetic Japanese. There's a small section after the overview of the episodes which gives bios of Spike, Jet, and the rest of the gang (even Ein gets his own character bio). Of course our favorite feature was the pull-out poster of Spike! By the way if you are a Faye Valentine fan you may just want to skip to Volume Three in the series.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, Summer 2002
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