More than 25 years after the debut of bebop cowboyno one can stop obsessing bebop cowboy. supervision 2 took advantage of the eternal anime craze earlier this year. Logic then launched new products as part of a collaboration with Crunchyroll. Composer Yoko Kanno continues to play to packed houses around the world. Not even Netflix's middling live-action version could kill the hype for the original sci-fi anime series in 2024. bebop cowboy is simply a unique confluence of action, music and genre of all time, and always will be.
So why can't I Bebop Did director Shinichirō Watanabe make a damn movie?
During a lengthy interview at this year's New York Comic Con, Watanabe said that, despite working primarily on small-screen anime over the years, he would jump at the chance to make a feature film. But that would require acceptance from people with a lot of money, and he hasn't had much luck with those types of people. “As far as theater projects go, they are quite difficult, even for me,” he said through an interpreter.
In October, Watanabe was in the United States to talk about his new anime. Lazaruswhich may very well be the culmination of all his interests, from jazz to sci-fi futures to the acrobatic potential of man. What is discussed Lazarus This early (Adult Swim has only promised that it will air “in 2025”) made Watanabe nervous, leading him to mutter “no spoilers” several times during our discussion. He was even more cautious about revealing any projects he has in development.
Photo: Getty Images/Adult Swimming
Case in point: While in New York, Watanabe met up with celebrated illustrator Nikolas Draper-Ivey over lunch, leading us to wonder if Draper-Ivey had a hand in designing characters for Lazarus. That wasn't the case, Watanabe said, but he admitted that the two were “developing another project together” and left it at that.
While the anime legend dreams of making a movie, television is by no means an alternative plan. “[Lazarus] “It was conceived as a series,” he said, adding, “but I wouldn't mind making a movie.” Perhaps in Watanabe's path lies his own standard of quality; While many anime series directors make the jump to directing feature films (often as extensions of their own franchises), the director has resisted contract work or establishing his own studio to produce content, the type of move that may have given him the opportunity to direct a film. Work on your own terms, even on a project like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.
“I think having someone tell you to do sci-fi action or whatever is not the way to make it great,” he said. “I have to feel like I want to do it. There are no shows in my filmography that I wouldn't want to do.”
Watanabe doesn't need to make a movie to achieve greatness. Bebop, Macross Plus, space dandyand his animatrix Shorts are just the tip of the iceberg in an expanding career. But there was a genuine tone of sadness in his voice as he spoke, even begged, for the opportunity to make a film. He was glad to see his friends get vaccinated; remember having seen inu oh in 2021 and immediately texts his friend Masaaki Yuasa with high praise, but where is he? his shot?
Watanabe lightly shows his hand about what he might be dreaming about: While Lazarus Season 1 is completely out of the question, a second season is not a guarantee. But he would like to see it continue, either with season 2 or “even [making] A theatrical version! But that doesn't depend on me.”
So if you're making money and want to do animated art a great service, check out Shinichirō Watanabe. He is waiting for your call.
“I would like to be introduced to someone who could finance my film!” Watanabe said as we finished. “Please publicize that!”