Cowboy Bebop

[mad13142000]

Yeah! The greatest Anime ever is back on Adult Swim @ midnight...


-MADDog

ps Tonights was the best episode - #5 'Ballad of Fallen Angels'. If Hollywood only made entertainment like this...

 

[Gadrin]

heh! I bought Remix #1, but it was a decent enough show.

In "Honky Tonk Women" I was trying to reconcile how Faye's red tail gets to where it is in the show, since she was a prisoner and they're aboard a ship in space.

First it powers up -- so it's nearby, because it shows up pretty quick.
Then it machine guns the windows -- so it can get in.
Then it rockets the windows -- so it can get out and fly off into space.

yet no details of the usual space decompression when a ship gets breached (nobody ran screaming for their lives or got sucked out).

so

#1 -- the ship got put into a hangar or external docking shelf nearby. maybe she sweet-talked someone on the planet to do it for her, or if the show is time-compressed, she did it on her own and hung around the ship for a payoff.

#2 -- there's some sort of "next room" docking hangar on the ship. breaking the glass didn't expose the ship to vaccuum, rather it was just a shortcut.

#3 -- as #2, but her just flying off was artistic license and there could be other reasons for the event to be time-compressed.

and yes I know you're not supposed to take these shows too seriously.

if you've got theories, toss 'em out!

I've been working on a Traveller Red Tail version myself:

jet VTOL
pair of 30mm hyper-velocity autocannons
pair of missile launchers x6
radar & radio and probably NOE equipment
ground to orbit capability

in a different show she runs out of fuel and she "tanks up" (so does Spike when he's after the Red Eye) but when she's in space she asks for a spare "fuel rod" ???

and yes I know you're not supposed to take these shows too seriously.

 

[GypsyComet]

You can put the fuel differences down to either translation foibles or assume that a craft has more than one type of power/fuel need.

 

[Gadrin]

You can put the fuel differences down to either translation foibles or assume that a craft has more than one type of power/fuel need.

yeah hopefully someone on the boards will have an example of one. it's doubtful the creators just pulled it out of nowhere, I assume any gaps in the plots are due to my own unfamiliarity with the setting's particulars. most sites I go to are pretty brief on particulars. I don't even know if the show has a manga or backstory of some type, like Dirty Pair & Crusher Joe.

anyway, I still enjoy the show.

as to why they're after Faye -- could be she flew to the casino and parked and went in and gambled. maybe she cheated and took enough to get planetside without her ship (meaning she left the Red Tail at the casino). of course casinos watch for cheaters, discovered her true identity and went after her. Of course the gunplay at the opening was just for fun. then we see her back in Gordon's office, getting the plan...her motives might be to grab the chip and split, since she's got her ship nearby and of course the actual happenings are a way to get her and Jet & Spike together.

 

[kafka47]

Watched the movie and was mildly amused. Looked at the series, and found it ok. Quite frank, I would like to see a Live Action film as it has one day been discussed or maybe that is the fanboys wet dream. But, if were to be done, I would suggest they canvass the Cosplay or any anime con corridors, as that is where I have seen the most believable Spikes and Fayes and some of the best acting.

 

[Gadrin]

being a GURPS fan I rather liked this site (which of course isn't GURPS but is relatable)...

http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsanime/animechar.html#CB

and in particular I liked the doggie's writeup...

http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsanime/bebop/cbein.html

and had forgotten...

Ships also require action/reaction thrusters. There is no "warp" drive or "etheric rudders" in Cowboy Bebop, and ships behave much like they would in the real world. They will go in one direction if given thrust, and need to reverse thrust to slow and stop. Although not obvious in some scenes, may times one can catch glimpses of maneuvering thrusters being used to change direction, even in the middle of space dogfights. The Swordfish II is described as using a nuclear fusion aero-spike motor, which seems to be the standard type of engine for propulsion (apparently, most ships run off of water).

 

[PFVA63]

To Gadrin

Hi,

If you look closely, I think you'll see that they are still inside the station. Specifically, after she sees the two others on the outside of her craft she kind of swerves up and you can see some lattice work structure in the background. I had always assumed that meant that they were still inside of the station and that the wall she busted through was just a glass wall separating the casino they were in from other parts of the station, but I could be wrong.

Regards

PF

 

[PFVA63]

PS

Hi,

In response to Mad's first comment, I agree whoel heartedly, I think it was a phenomenal show and "The Ballad of Fallen Angels" episode was incredible. I had bought the whole thing on DVD a while ago, but went out and bought the Remix DVD's when they came out, just so I could have the updated stuff & audio track.

With respect to minor issues with the stuff in it (bearing in mind its just a TV show and like any TV show, book, or Movie set in the future some of the technology requires either a suspension of disbelief or just an acceptance that its something more advance than what we have today) the couple things that sticks out to me as possible errors (being an engineer) are:

[Minor Spoilers - for anyone who has not seen the show]

- part of the main ship appears to be spinning, but its unclear if this is to simulate an artificial gravity as even when they are on the main bridge area (near the big windows) they still seem to be walking around normally, although on the first episode they pass a cigarette across they length of the space as if there is no gravity
- in the "Heavy Metal Queen" episode they show the character Spike floating through space without any protective clothing before he exits his craft he appears to take a deep breath and hold it. Its my understanding that it is very possible to survive being exposed to space for a short without any protective clothing or helmet, etc for a short duration, but its also my understanding that its a very bad idea to try and hold your breth in such a situation, because the differential of pressure between the air in your lungs and the near vaccuum of space would likely lead to the air trying to rush out of your lungs so rapidly that it will really mess up the soft tissue in your throat (there is a technical term for it, but I can't recall it right now).

Anyway, sorry for getting off track, its just the engieering geek in me I guess.

Regards

PF

 

[Gadrin]

Hi,

If you look closely, I think you'll see that they are still inside the station. Specifically, after she sees the two others on the outside of her craft she kind of swerves up and you can see some lattice work structure in the background. I had always assumed that meant that they were still inside of the station and that the wall she busted through was just a glass wall separating the casino they were in from other parts of the station, but I could be wrong.

Regards

PF

that's what I thought, but at some point they have to get out. I'm sure the writers for that show are clever enought to come up with something to satisfy us, but it always raised a flag in my mind.

 

[Gadrin]

Hi,

In response to Mad's first comment, I agree whoel heartedly, I think it was a phenomenal show and "The Ballad of Fallen Angels" episode was incredible. I had bought the whole thing on DVD a while ago, but went out and bought the Remix DVD's when they came out, just so I could have the updated stuff & audio track.

With respect to minor issues with the stuff in it (bearing in mind its just a TV show and like any TV show, book, or Movie set in the future some of the technology requires either a suspension of disbelief or just an acceptance that its something more advance than what we have today) the couple things that sticks out to me as possible errors (being an engineer) are:

[Minor Spoilers - for anyone who has not seen the show]

- part of the main ship appears to be spinning, but its unclear if this is to simulate an artificial gravity as even when they are on the main bridge area (near the big windows) they still seem to be walking around normally, although on the first episode they pass a cigarette across they length of the space as if there is no gravity
- in the "Heavy Metal Queen" episode they show the character Spike floating through space without any protective clothing before he exits his craft he appears to take a deep breath and hold it. Its my understanding that it is very possible to survive being exposed to space for a short without any protective clothing or helmet, etc for a short duration, but its also my understanding that its a very bad idea to try and hold your breth in such a situation, because the differential of pressure between the air in your lungs and the near vaccuum of space would likely lead to the air trying to rush out of your lungs so rapidly that it will really mess up the soft tissue in your throat (there is a technical term for it, but I can't recall it right now).

Anyway, sorry for getting off track, its just the engieering geek in me I guess.

Regards

PF

oh sure, and ultimately I'd cut them some slack since I'd rather watch this than a host of other anime.

Gateway Shuffle the other night, had Spike maneuvering in his Swordfish with the "air break" but it could be that hitting the retro's in space auto-engages the air-brake-cowl in the rear (the ship just does it) which would make it extremely maneuverable IMHO.

I also liked him "striking the burm" with the ship's wing when he got close to the edge of the hyper-tunnel.

I think ultimately its a good show, with a great sense of humor.

 

[The Thing]

I'd never say anything against CBBB and agree it's a great show, even for traveller fhen.

I was thinking that that "bounty hunter show" they have with the mexican guy and the blond girl giving updates on the latest :bounty heads" would be a nice touch for a traveller game, and a great hook to reel in players on.

 

[Ishmael]

best bounty hunter show ever ( and manga )

Gunsmith Cats

 

[PFVA63]

On the topic of anime in general

Hi,

On the topic of Anime in general, has anyone seen the show PlanetES. Its a show that ultimately I enjoyed quite a bit but to be honest it actually took me a little while to get into it. Specifically, some of the main characters comes across a little awkward/rough (and even a little overbearing) in the first few episodes, though to be honest it does kind of set some things up for later in the story.

Overall, in the story though they do touch a bit on some interesting aspects of space travel like there being no sound in space, manuevering by changing orbital trajectories, radiation sickness, the impacts of low-G environments on growth, etc. In addition the story also includes elements of topics like the price some people pay for others dreams of exploration, terrorism, the belief of some that we need to try and work on inequalities here on Earth before we begin to exploit space, and alot of other interesting concepts.

Anyway, like I kind of hinted at above it may not be for everybody and it may take a while to get into it, but ultimately you may enjoy it.

Regards

PF

 

[mad13142000]

Looked at but never got PlanetES. I got hooked by GitS after Beebop and spent every penny I had on the 3 movies and 2 seasons of Ghost in the Shell...
Phenom... Totally...

Would actually like to see a live action of GitS SAC than anything else I've seen in Anime...

-MADDog

 

[The Thing]

Looked at but never got PlanetES. I got hooked by GitS after Beebop and spent every penny I had on the 3 movies and 2 seasons of Ghost in the Shell...
Phenom... Totally...

Would actually like to see a live action of GitS SAC than anything else I've seen in Anime...

-MADDog

There's a third season of GitS SAC in Japan.

BTW, I have the first DVD of Planetes, it's not bad and very hard core realistic in terms of science and space tech.

 

[Jeff M. Hopper]

I've got all of Cowboy BeBop on DVD, excellent stuff which is easily translated to Traveller.

As for Planetes, its my favorite anime series and I've got all of it on DVD and the Manga. That one just screams to become a Traveller game.

 

[PFVA63]

GitS

Hi,

I have all the Ghost in the Shell stuff as well. For the most part I kind of enjoy the Stand Alone Comlex series, though one thing I notice is at times the translations come across a little odd for me.

I guess that maybe the person who wrote the dialog for the English translation may not be a native English speaker or something, but I specifically remember one scene where a character says something like "Why I'm crazy! [pause] That's what people would say if I did that" and just thinking to myself why didn't they have him just say "People would say that I'm crazy if I did that" or something along those lines.

Anyway, one of the things I really like about Cowboy Bebop is that the English translations seem to come across very well and they even did a good job trying to get the wording to match the existing lip movements so that I hardly even notice I'm watching foreign show.

Regards

PF

PS Sorry if this is getting a little off track from Traveller

 

[Gadrin]

Solid State Society was a nice bounce back after 2nd gig, which kinda made me lose interest. I've watched SSS several times, thanks to Sci-Fi Channel.

 

[PFVA63]

Solid State Society

Hi,

I think I agree with you on that. I actually enjoyed most of the 1st season of Stand Alone Complex, but felt a little let down by the last episode and somehow never really got into season 2 at all. I really enjoyed Solid State Society though.

On the topic of live action movies (that I think someone posted on above) I think a live action Ghost in the Shell movie could be really interesting to see, but I don't think I'd care for a live action Cowboy Bebop. To me when I hear the words Cowboy Bebop I think anime, and when I here the word anime Cowboy Bebop is probably the first thing I think of, so somehow a live action movie version just would seem kind of not right to me.

Also, while I really like the character of Ed in the show, I would have an uneasy feeling that if the movie makers weren't careful her character could be hard to get right in a live action movie. Plus, I doubt that they would be able to find an actress with the impossibly long legs you would need to play Faye Valentine.

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts

Regards

PF

 

[Klaus]

Check out 'Samurai Champloo', also by Shinchiro Watanabe.

If Bebop was jazz & space bounty hunters then this is hip-hop samurai

In some ways it's better then Bebop (if not in space), as the characters are a little more interesting, and it actually goes somewhere in terms of a story arc. And there's no fashion faux pas as in Faye's awful boots!

Still love Bebop though. The soundtrack is fantastic. Yoko Kanno, who, funnily enough, also does the music to S.A.C...