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Cowboy Bebop: Misc. Info

Bebop Commercial Releases
Cowboy Bebop was in Japan in VHS, LD, and DVD formats. In America, it was released subtitled and dubbed by Anime Village. (now just called Bandai) Below are the LD covers for the Japanese releases, followed by more info about Anime Village.

Session 00

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #0
Laserdisc: BEAL-1288, 25 min.
CAV, 1800 yen, 25 Minutes.
DVD (PLUS Version): BCBA-0017, 2500 yen 27 Minutes.
VHS: BES-2156, 1800 yen
25 Minutes
Release Date: 8/25/1998
Opening animation for "Tank!", Music clips, interviews, episode digest.

Session 1

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #1
Laserdisc: BEAL-1301, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0018, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2030, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 12/18/1998
TV Session #1: Asteroid Blues
Session #2: Stray Dog Strut
Session #3: Honky Tonk Women

Session 2

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #2
Laserdisc: BEAL-1302, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0019, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2031, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 1/25/1999
TV Session #4: Gateway Shuffle
Session #5: Ballad for
Fallen Angels
Session #6: Sympathy for the
Devil

Session 3

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #3
Laserdisc: BEAL-1303, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0020, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2032, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 2/25/99
TV Session #7: Heavy Metal Queen
Session #8: Waltz for Venus
Session #9: Jamming With
Edward

Session 4

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #4
Laserdisc: BEAL-1304, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0021, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2033, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 3/25/99
TV Session #10: Ganymeade Elegy
Session #11: Toys in the Attic
Session #12: Jupiter Jazz 1

Session 5

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #5
Laserdisc: BEAL-1305, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0022, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2034, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 4/25/99
TV Session #13: Jupiter Jazz 2
Session #14: Bohemian
Rhapsody
Session #15: My Funny Valentine

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #6
Laserdisc: BEAL-1306, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0023, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2035, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 5/25/99
TV Session #16: Black Dog
Serenade
Session #17: Mushroom Samba
Session #18: Speak Like a
Child

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #7
Laserdisc: BEAL-1307, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0024, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2036, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 6/25/99
TV Session #19: Wild Horses
Session #20: Pierrot Le Fou
Session #21: Boogie Woogie
Feng Shui

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #8
Laserdisc: BEAL-1308, 6,800 yen
DVD:BCBA-0025, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2037, 6,800 yen
75 Minutes
Release Date: 7/25/99
TV Session #22: Cowboy Funk
Session #23: Brain Scratch
Session #24: Hard Luck Women

Cowboy Bebop: LD Session #9
Laserdisc: BEAL-1309, 5,000 yen
DVD:BCBA-0026, 6,800 yen
VHS:BES-2038, 6,800 yen
51 Minutes
Release Date: 8/25/99
TV Session #25: The Real Folk
Blues (Part I)
Session #26: The Real Folk
Blues (Part II)


Cowboy Bebop: The Compilation #1
Japanese Version
DVD: BCBA-0912, ¥2,800.
This is a DVD released only in Japan that contains TV episodes 1,5, and 19, that the director Shinichirou Watanabe selected. It's a sort of 'best of' collection of the director's favorite episodes, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.


Cowboy Bebop: The Compilation #2
Japanese Version
DVD: BCBA-0913, ¥2,800.
This is a DVD released only in Japan that contains TV episodes 8,17, and 24, that the director selected. It's a sort of 'best of' collection of the director's favorite episodes, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.


Cowboy Bebop: Knockin On Heaven's Door - Special Preview
DVD, ¥2,300.
NO, this is NOT the Bebop Movie. This is a promotional DVD released to promote the movie. This DVD contains two trailers for the movie, as well as cast and staff interviews. It also comes with an advance ticket to see the movie. Other items that come with the advance tickets include a pin set and a T-shirt. I have this promotional DVD and advance ticket for the movie. Too bad I left Japan before I could see it ;_;


Cowboy Bebop: Knockin On Heaven's Door - SEATBELTS - Future Blues
VIBL-38 , DVD, 72 minutes (26 mins live action, 46 minutes movie), ¥3,900 (tax out)
Release Date: November 7, 2001.
The first half of this is a strange live action movie about a guy named Hiroshi. It's really hard to explain, especially without a translation available to me yet, so all I can say at this point is that it's just really... odd. It's vaguley Bebop-ish in that hiroshi seems to be on a mission/job of some sort, and he meets up with some interesting characters. There is some random animation thrown in here and there, usually as what the characters experience when doing drugs (the kind you drop into the eyes, like in ep 1 of Bebop) The background music for Hiroshi's story is all Cowboy bebop music from all of the soundtracks (OST1 - Future Blues). the second half od this DVD is live-action footage of the SEATBELTS concert in Japan on August 10, 2001. Songs included on this DVD are: "Tank", "Bad Dog No Biscuit", "Want it all back", "BLUE", and "Piano Solo." The concert footage is interesting, but looks very shaky and not always in focus. Reminded me of Blair Witch style of camera work ^_^; I Love the live rendition of "Blue" though! *_* *_*


Cowboy Bebop: The MOVIE - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Japanese Release BCBA-1065, DVD, 114 min. + 13 min. bonus material, ¥7,800 (tax out)
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Dolby Digital 5.1ch REGION 2
Release Date: January 25, 2002.

This is it, the Japanese REGION 2 release of the Cowboy Bebop movie on DVD. As far as I know, this will have only a 5.1 Japanese audio track. The DVD cover and the actual disc will feature new art by Toshihiro Kawamoto. There will also be a 16-page booklet made to look like a 'I.S.S.P. FILE' as written by I.S.S.P. (Inter Solar System Police) officer, Shadkins. Other extras include the theatrical trailers and textless opening and ending credits. Pretty cool! Please note: there are no subtitles on this release. This is the Japanese Region 2 DVD, and is in Japanese only. **If you see this for sale as a region 0 DVD with Chinese and English subtitles, it is a BOOTLEG, and should NOT be purchased! Please support the creators of Bebop and get the REAL thing!**


Cowboy Bebop: The MOVIE
USA Release DVD, 114 min. + bonus material, $26.95
Widescreen - 1.85 - Close Captioned - REGION 1
Rated R - Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese
Dolby Digital 5.1 French
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Release Date: June 24, 2003.

**Buy it now for $24.26 from AnimeNation **

Finally! The USA/CANADA REGION 1 release of the Cowboy Bebop movie on DVD. Not bad for a US release, this DVD contains some nifty extras. There are a couple of music videos for the songs "Gotta Knock a Little Harder" and "Ask DNA" as well as interviews with some of the voice actors, both Japanese and American. Also included are concept sketches, character profiles, and storyboard comparisons. This is the legit US release, with English subtitles. Buy this version, folks! **If you see this for sale as a region 0 DVD with Chinese and English subtitles, it is a BOOTLEG, and should NOT be purchased! Please support the creators of Bebop and get the REAL thing!**


Cowboy Bebop: The MOVIE
(BLU-RAY)

JAPAN RELEASE BLU-RAY, 120min, ¥8,190
Widescreen - 1.85 REGION 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese
Release Date: January 25, 2008.

Bebop on Blu-ray! The movie has been released in Japan in a nice-looking Blu-ray edition. I think this comes with a special booklet, but other than that, I don't know of any extras included.


Cowboy Bebop: The Compilation
USA/CANADA Version REGION 1 - $34.90 - 5.1 and DTS audio
Released: November 19, 2002

The USA/CANADA REGION 1 release of the Cowboy Bebop Compilation. We are lucky here. In Japan they had 2 Compilation DVDs with 3 episodes on each. Here we get one DVD with 6 episodes. Much cheaper! The episodes on this are: Asteroid Blues, Ballad of Fallen Angels, Wild Horses, Waltz For Venus, Mushroom Samba, and Hard Luck Woman.


Cowboy Bebop: 5.1 Audio DVD BOX
JAPAN Version
REGION 2 - ¥40,000 - 5.1 audio
Release: December 23, 2004

This is a brand new Region 2 Japanese release of the entire Cowboy Bebop TV series on DVD. This is a 7-disk set, and is in Japanese only. There is NO English sub or dub on this set. If you understand Japanese, this may be a fun set to get, as it has audio commentary tracks from the staff and cast. It also includes Session #0.


Cowboy Bebop: Extra Session DVD
JAPAN Release (REGION 2)
REGION 2 - ¥4032
Release: January 28, 2005

This is a Region 2 Japanese Bebop DVD that came out in early 2005. This set contains 1 DVD and 1 book. The DVD is 90 minutes long, and contains things like commercials for various Bebop things (my understanding is that these are commercials for things Spike uses, done as if the ads were made in 2071), a look into the recording of the American dub of Bebop, some stuff with the Japanese cast, and a Bebop Story Database showing info for all the sessions and characters and mechanics. The book that comes with this DVD is 112 pages long. It contains more info about the world of Cowboy Bebop. The society, history, and the people. There are 81 pages that cover the story of all 26 episodes plus the movie, and some more pages that are interviews with the Japanese staff and cast. Of course both the DVD and this book are only available in Japanese.


Cowboy Bebop: HD Remastered DVD BOX
JAPAN RELEASE
REGION 2 - ¥29,400 - 5.1 audio
Release: February 22, 2008
BCBA-3195

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Cowboy Bebop, Bandai is releasing a brand new remastered complete series DVD Box set. This complete Bebop set is Region 2, and as far as I can tell, it only contains the Japanese audio track, and no subtitles. This release has newly remastered video as well as the remastered audio from the previous 5.1 box set. However, it does not have the pile of special bonuses (booklets, postcards, etc) that the 5.1 set had. Fortunately, this means the price has been lowered tremendously, and is really a very good deal for Japanese fans. The extras on this set include liner notes and the Cowboy Bebop Session #0 special.


Anime Village

Bandai-affiliated Anime Village released Cowboy Bebop in Subtitled and English Dubbed format VHS in the U.S. However, unlike the Japanese releases listed above, the English versions will only contain 2 episodes per volume instead of 3. DVD info will follow below. Anime Village doesn't really exist in the same way anymore that it did when Bebop was originally released.

Yay, Volume 1 of Cowboy Bebop (Episodes 1-2) was released on time :) Here is a pic of the tape cover box :) I thought the sub was pretty good! My only qualms with the Anime Village release was their goof-up of not subtitling the last 2 lines on the preview trailer for episode 2. I can't believe they made a mistake like that. And then there is the little annoying thing of them including Faye on the cover of the volume when she isnt even in the first 2 episodes that this tape covers. That isn't really a big thing, but it bothered me ^_^ I think I will pass on getting the rest of the VHS tapes and get the DVDs instead!

Bandai / Anime Village Cowboy Bebop DVDs

Much to my supreme joy, Bandai and Anime Village decided to release Cowboy Bebop on DVD in America. Yay! The discs are wonderful, too! There are a total of 6 DVDs in the complete set, which means roughly 4 or 5 episodes per disc. They come with stunning visual clarity, and great sound. Each disc will contain both Japanese and English audio tracks, as well as an option for English subtitles. This is really what I have been waiting for! Another cool thing is that they are using the original Japanese cover art and text for these DVDs, making them look nearly identical to the Japanese ones. If you have a DVD player, Cowboy Bebop is a must-buy! Listed below is the information I have about the DVDs. There is also a DVD box set (pictured to the left) that comes with the individual DVDs and one of the Bebop soundtracks (OST1). It was released at the end of November, 2001. Most online stores such as Amazon and Anime Nation should have listings for it. It is a limited item though, so it can be pretty expensive. **WARNING: If you see this for sale as a set of 3 region 0 DVDs with Chinese and English subtitles and the English dub, it is a BOOTLEG, and should NOT be purchased! Please support the creators of Bebop and get the REAL thing!**

The box set is now extremely difficult to find. However if you still want to buy the whole series in one shot, **AnimeNation has a bundle of all the TV series DVDs (without the box)**

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #1
UPC: 669198129094
CAT: 1290
List Price: $29.99
150 Minutes
Release Date: 04/04/2000
Contains:
Session #1: Asteroid Blues
Session #2: Stray Dog Strut
Session #3: Honky Tonk Women
Session #4: Gateway Shuffle
Session #5: Ballad for Fallen Angels

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #2
UPC: 669198129193
CAT: 1291
List Price: $29.99
125 Minutes
Release Date: 06/06/2000
Contains:
Session #6: Sympathy for the Devil
Session #7: Heavy Metal Queen
Session #8: Waltz for Venus
Session #9: Jamming With Edward
Session #10: Ganymeade Elegy

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #3
UPC: 669198129292
CAT: 1292
List Price: $29.99
100 Minutes
Release Date: 07/04/2000
Contains:
Session #11: Toys in the Attic
Session #12: Jupiter Jazz 1
Session #13: Jupiter Jazz 2
Session #14: Bohemian Rhapsody

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #4
UPC: 669198129391
CAT: 1293
List Price: $29.99
100 Minutes
Release Date: 08/01/2000
Contains:
Session #15: My Funny Valentine
Session #16: Black Dog Serenade
Session #17: Mushroom Samba
Session #18: Speak Like a Child

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #5
UPC: 669198129490
CAT: 1294
List Price: $29.99
100 Minutes
Release Date: 09/05/2000
Contains:
Session #19: Wild Horses
Session #20: Pierrot Le Fou
Session #21: Boogie Woogie Feng Shui
Session #22: Cowboy Funk

Cowboy Bebop: DVD Session #6
UPC:
CAT: 1295
List Price: $29.99
100 Minutes
Release Date: 2000
Contains:
Session #23: Brain Scratch
Session #24: Hard Luck Women
Session #25: The Real Folk Blues(Pt 1)
Session #26: The Real Folk Blues(Pt 2)


Cowboy Bebop DVDs Remixed

As you can see, there isn't really much of a difference between the covers of the original US DVD release for Cowboy Bebop, and the new Remixed release pictured below. They basically just moved the title from the top to the bottom of the picture. The content of the discs isn't really all that different either. They did boost the audio to a lovely Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on both the English and Japanese tracks which is great to hear, and they also added a few new extras such as commentaries and trailers. The video quality is supposedly nearly the same as the first release, maybe a tiny bit better. If you have the first set of Bebop DVDs, you probably don't need these discs, but if you are new to buying things Bebop, this would be a great place to start.


Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #1
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC: 669198200403
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
125 Minutes
Release Date: 09/13/2005
Contains:
Session #1: Asteroid Blues
Session #2: Stray Dog Strut
Session #3: Honky Tonk Women
Session #4: Gateway Shuffle
Session #5: Ballad for Fallen Angels

Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #2
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC: 669198200410
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
125 Minutes
Release Date: 10/25/2005
Contains:
Session #6: Sympathy for the Devil
Session #7: Heavy Metal Queen
Session #8: Waltz for Venus
Session #9: Jamming With Edward
Session #10: Ganymeade Elegy

Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #3
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC: 669198200427
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
100 Minutes
Release Date: 12/13/2005
Contains:
Session #11: Toys in the Attic
Session #12: Jupiter Jazz 1
Session #13: Jupiter Jazz 2
Session #14: Bohemian Rhapsody

Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #4
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC:
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
100 Minutes
Release Date: 01/24/2006
Contains:
Session #15: My Funny Valentine
Session #16: Black Dog Serenade
Session #17: Mushroom Samba
Session #18: Speak Like a Child

Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #5
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC:
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
100 Minutes
Release Date: 02/28/2006
Contains:
Session #19: Wild Horses
Session #20: Pierrot Le Fou
Session #21: Boogie Woogie Feng Shui
Session #22: Cowboy Funk

Cowboy Bebop REMIX: DVD Session #6
Buy it from AnimeNation
UPC:
Region: 1
List Price: $29.98
100 Minutes
Release Date: 03/28/2006
Contains:
Session #23: Brain Scratch
Session #24: Hard Luck Women
Session #25: The Real Folk Blues(Pt 1)
Session #26: The Real Folk Blues(Pt 2)