A new “unauthorized” in-depth exploration of the sci-fi anime Cowboy Bebop will reveal the inner workings of one of the most quintessential shows of the 90s. Using Japanese interviews, multilingual sources, and production materials, Three, Two, One: Let's Jam! will cover everything from the series' impeccable soundtrack to its often-forgotten Japan-only games.
While many articles, theses, and dissertations have been written about '90s greats like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Akira, there's one anime that hasn't seen such intense scrutiny, but that's about to change. Three, Two, One: Let's Jam! The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Cowboy Bebop will provide an in-depth look at the making of the space anime Cowboy Bebop—and maybe even provide a definitive, intellectually satisfying answer to what makes the show so compelling.
'The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Cowboy Bebop' Out for Pre-Order
Published by Telos UK and written by Satoru Stevenson, the 636-page book will use Japanese interviews, production documents and multilingual sources to piece together the history of Cowboy Bebop from start to finish. The book will be filled with newly translated interviews from the show's creators, including Shinchiro Watanabe, Dai Soto, Keiko Nobumoto and Toshihiro Kawamoto, among others. For the first time, readers will learn about the trials and tribulations of development, how 90s censors felt about the groundbreaking series, and what makes the year 2071 feel so futuristic.
A particularly interesting examination would be the series’ impeccable soundtrack, created by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts. Cowboy Bebop is not a conventional anime in the musical sense; it’s imbued with Western influences with just enough anime characteristics to be considered as such, and Yokko Kanno, as composer, has followed suit. Cowboy Bebop’s opening theme, “Tank!”, has become a staple when it comes to the best anime intros of all time; its energetic interpretation of Bebop jazz sets the scene perfectly for the series, taking viewers on a sci-fi adventure filled with old-world absurdities. Kanno’s musical adherence to Cowboy Bebop’s themes isn’t limited to the intro, however, delivering a series of genre-bending tracks that stand strong in their own right.
New Cowboy Bebop release reveals more about the PlayStation 1 and 2 video game
The book will look at the series session by session, like the titles of the original episodes, mining the scripts and obscure background details to clarify the world this sci-fi world was created in. Another area of insight provided will be the extensive media that Cowboy Bebop spawned, including the still-region-locked Cowboy Bebop game series, released on the PlayStation 1 and 2 and surprisingly still without a fan translation.
While it's doubtful this story will provide a definitive answer to Spike Speigel's ending, it looks like it's a nostalgic and historical adventure filled with anime and a chance to spend more time with everyone's favorite motley crew of bounty hunters. Three, Two, One: Let's Play! It is available for pre-order from the Telos UK online store, has no official release date yet, and is priced at £24.99 ($32.80).
Source: Telos
