Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

『カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉』
Kauboi Bibappu: Tengoku no Tobira

Introduction by LeSean Thomas. Cowboy Bebop, one of the most influential anime series of the past 30 years, culminates in a big screen adventure following bounty hunters Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and Radical Ed. Set in a lawless future heavily drawn from a multitude of inspirations—from cyberpunk and American science fiction to noir and westerns—the Cowboy Bebop saga is praised for its seamless blend of genre, music and storytelling. In Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, with just days before a potential terrorist attack, Spike and his team must unravel military conspiracies and hunt down an old soldier before he releases a biological weapon that could destroy all life on Mars.

Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe, 2001, 115 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with English subtitles. With Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Aoi Tada. Music by Yoko Kanno.

LeSean Thomas on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie:
“When I saw Cowboy Bebop, I was just a baby trying to get into animation. Director Shinichiro Watanabe always reminded me to do my own thing. He’s a weirdo even by anime standards. He always does the unthinkable. He makes originals. Straight from scratch. Further, he’s always trying to incorporate Black culture. No one’s asking him to do it. Cowboy Bebop wouldn’t be Cowboy Bebop without Black culture. Samurai Champloo wouldn’t be Samurai Champloo without Black culture. It’s a fusion that really hasn’t been discussed on the creator level. He takes a huge risk producing projects like this, and I love him for that.”

About LeSean Thomas
South Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is among the distinguished few Black Americans making their mark in the TV anime industry and is currently the only Black American to successfully create, produce and direct original TV anime series in Japan. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. 

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas

Admission to this film also includes free entry to the Japan Society Gallery’s Acky Bright: Studio Infinity, Japanese pop culture illustrator Acky Bright’s first solo gallery exhibition in NYC.

Image: © 2001 SUNRISE INC., BONES INC., AND BANDAI VISUAL CO. LTD.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Film programs are generously supported by ORIX Corporation USA, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Anime NYC and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, and Film Circle members.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.