Netflix’s latest Cowboy Bebop trailer is already drawing attention. Its impressive focus on sensory details both nods to the traditional style of the anime and adds a new twist that’s sure to appeal to both existing fans and new viewers.
Immediately, fans of the original anime will recognize several elements of the trailer that reflect the opening theme of the anime, like the use of colors with silhouettes, panels, guns, action, and that same upbeat jazz. However, while the trailer likely stirs up nostalgia for fans, it also suggests a new twist through how the characters interact with the traditional parts.
The trailer doesn’t rely solely on the characters to demonstrate what the story, tone, style, and theme of this series will be, but relies on visuals and music to achieve this. Color and the use of borders are features used throughout the trailer that creates contrast and make everything else in a shot stand out or appear separated. Even the wardrobe finds the right balance between nodding to the fashion of the anime and creating a version of it that’s better suited to a live-action portrayal. It is only in the character’s words and how they interact with the borders during action clips that reveal any real difference from the anime’s style, but it also seems to promise that more can be added to the Anime’s story.
The consideration that went into these choices in visuals and music is not simply to make the trailer entertaining but to encapsulate all of what this series has to offer, which is a lot, but it’s done successfully. For instance, the three color panels at the beginning (an element from the anime) are used differently here, to highlight the differences between each character, which is further emphasized by the back and forth banter between them. The use of panels alone achieves both the purpose of differentiating worlds and different tones so that multiple can be shoved into one moment.
Cowboy Bebop is already dependent upon style to reflect what is happening, which is why it’s important that Netflix adaptation follow this structure. That being the case, while the new series must stay true to what makes this universe unique, it must also give old fans a new reason to watch it. There are many new elements to this series that will take the storyline in a new direction and add new adjustments to the overall approach for how it’s told, beyond it being live-action.
The success in demonstrating all of the contrasting voices, tones, and places of Cowboy Bebop makes this trailer the perfect introduction to this storyline for any new viewer or fan of the anime. The cool but punchy style invokes a world that-- whether it’s familiar or new-- is enticing.
Cowboy Bebop will be released on Netflix on November 19th.
Source: Netflix|Twitter