SPOILERS: Why Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop Changed the Anime Ending | John Cho, Daniella Pineda
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Published -
- November 19, 2021
- 12:44 pm
The cast and executive producer behind Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop.
Plus adaptation including John Cho, Daniella Pineda, Mustafa Shakir, Elena Satine, Alex Hassell, and Andre Nemec, explain why they changed the ending of the live-action version from the beloved anime ending.
How have fans reacted to the decision to change the ending of Cowboy Bebop in the new live-action adaptation?
Netflix has recently released its live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime classic, Cowboy Bebop. The series features John Cho as Spike, Daniella Pineda as Faye, and Mustafa Shakir as Jet, in a reimagining of the futuristic, sci-fi world of bounty hunters. While the series has been generally well-received, the decision to change the ending of the original series has left some fans disappointed and curious.
In the original anime series, Spike Spiegel, the protagonist, heads out for a final confrontation with his rival, Vicious, leading to a climactic showdown. The ending was left open to interpretation, with Spike’s fate unclear. However, the live-action series opted to take a different approach by providing a more definitive conclusion to the story of Spike.
The decision to alter the ending of the classic anime series has been met with mixed reactions from fans of the original. Some have argued that staying true to the original ending would have been more faithful to the source material, while others have supported the show’s creators for providing closure to the story.
One of the reasons for the change in the ending could be attributed to the live-action format. With a more grounded and realistic tone, it would have been challenging to leave the story open-ended. Additionally, the live-action series has the opportunity to explore the wider arc of the characters, unlike in the anime, where the story was constrained by the format’s limitations.
Another reason could be attributed to the show’s co-creator and executive producer, Christopher Yost. In an interview, he said, “We loved the ambiguous ending of the anime, but we found that in the live-action world, definitively answering questions gave the series the proper send-off that it deserved.” The creators believed that the ending would provide a much more satisfying conclusion to the story.
For John Cho, who portrays Spike in the series, the ending was less about providing closure and more about exploring the character’s emotional journey. In an interview, he said, “For me, it was always about the psychology of the character and the profound loss that he has experienced throughout his life. I think that the ending we came up with was appropriate because it allowed us to delve into his emotional state, which was always the primary focus for me.”
In conclusion, the decision to change the ending of the classic anime series, Cowboy Bebop, for the Netflix live-action series has been met with mixed reactions from fans. However, the show’s creators have argued that the change was necessary to provide a more definitive conclusion to the story, and the live-action format allows for a more extensive exploration of the characters’ arcs. Regardless of which side one falls on, the new series provides an exciting and unique opportunity to revisit the iconic story and characters of Cowboy Bebop in a refreshing and exciting way.
