Cowboy Bebop Mastermind Envisions Directing a Live-Action Project
Shinichirō Watanabe, the visionary behind Cowboy Bebop, aspires to venture into directing live-action productions, a dream that has eluded him thus far in his illustrious anime career
The director of the beloved 90s anime Cowboy Bebop, Shinichirō Watanabe, recently expressed his desire to venture into live-action productions.
During an interview with Full Frontal, Watanabe was asked if he ever had the inclination to direct a live-action project. He responded by stating, "Yes, but opportunities were scarce... or rather, there was one that never materialized. We faced challenges such as limited funds and difficulties finding suitable actors... However, given another chance, I would seize it. Initially, I pondered between live-action and animation. Ultimately, I chose animation and have achieved my dreams in that realm (laughs), so now I yearn to create in the realm of live-action."
Shinichirō Watanabe's Anime Career
During his career, Watanabe has gained widespread recognition as an anime director, with Cowboy Bebop standing out as his most renowned work among Western fans. However, his portfolio includes a multitude of other anime titles, such as Samurai Champloo, Terror In Resonance, Space Dandy, Carole & Tuesday, and Kids On The Slope. Known for his ability to produce titles with captivating soundtracks, thrilling fight scenes, compelling storylines, and engaging characters, Watanabe continues to establish his prominence in the industry.
Watanabe's most famous work, Cowboy Bebop, is a space western that chronicles the adventures of a diverse group of bounty hunters in their pursuit of quick riches. Produced by Sunrise (now known as Bandai Namco Filmworks), the anime aired from 1998 to 1999, spanning 26 episodes. Drawing heavy inspiration from American Westerns and film noir, the series gained significant popularity in the United States and played a pivotal role in boosting the appeal of anime in Western nations. In 2021, Netflix released a live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, comprising 10 episodes. Unfortunately, the live-action series left fans of the original show disappointed, resulting in Watanabe himself deciding not to watch it.
Watanabe's latest anime endeavor, Lazarus, unveiled its initial trailer in July. Set in the year 2052, the new series revolves around five agents on a mission to discover a cure for the purportedly miraculous drug developed by Dr. Skinner, only to uncover its deadly nature. If they fail to find a vaccine in time, those who ingested the drug will face certain death. The trailer disclosed that MAPPA (known for Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack On Titan) is responsible for the production of Lazarus, which will be broadcasted on Adult Swim's Toonami. At present, no voice actors have been announced, and the release date remains undisclosed.
Watanabe has not made any official announcement about working on a live-action production in the near future. However, it appears that he would be interested in doing so if given the opportunity. He expressed his desire to work on something international and jokingly requested potential sponsors to contact him for funding.
You can watch the Cowboy Bebop anime on Crunchyroll and Hulu streaming platforms.
Source: Full Frontal
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up watching anime and Cowboy Bebop was one of my favorites. I was excited to hear that Shinichirō Watanabe, the visionary behind Cowboy Bebop, is aspiring to venture into directing live-action productions. I believe this is a great opportunity for him to showcase his talents in a new medium and I am eager to see what he can create.
I think it's important for directors to explore different mediums and I'm glad that Watanabe is taking this opportunity to do so. I'm confident that he will bring his unique style and vision to live-action and I can't wait to see what he creates.
