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Cowboy Bebop Movie comes to the States

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the spike-jet-faye-ed-and-ein dept.

birdman666 writes "According to the movie site the movie of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop has finally been set to release in the states in a handful of cities including LA, NY, SF, Seattle and others on April 4. It features all the same voice actors as the Cartoon Network series and is big news for all those Bebop fans out there. As a note the Japanese title of the film was 'Cowboy Bebop: Knockin On Heaven's Door', but has been changed simply to 'Cowboy Bebop: The Movie' for the states." We had a note about the American premiere last summer, but now it's finally open for general admission.

13 of 263 comments (clear)

  1. Title Changes by svvampy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Why do the yanks always seem to want to change the titles of foreign movies?

    Mad Max is soooo much better than road weanie and what was the deal with the "Sorceror's Stone"?

    Although I had heard it said that the Americans don't understand/acknowledge philosophy so that is why the change was necessary

    1. Re:Title Changes by Student_Tech · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Remember the bit about what Cartoon Network had to deal with for Cowboy Bebop (it was either that or Outlaw Star) when they missed a Star of David on a slot machine in one episode, they had parents threating to sue. (/. article mentioning that editing here). I think it is the general, oh its a cartoon its good/ok for kids idea.
      But yeah, if "Knocking on Heaven's Gate" had been something different it might have been left alone.

    2. Re:Title Changes by Chemical · · Score: 3, Interesting
      From what I understand the change was due to legal issues regarding the "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" subtitle. Aparently Bob Dylan didn't like one of his song names being used in an anime title. And of course he owns that phrase, so no one else may use it without his express written consent (implied oral consent isn't good enough).

      Of course this is second hand info. Don't know if it's really true.

    3. Re:Title Changes by Microlith · · Score: 3, Interesting

      They changed it out of fear of being sued by whomever owns the copyright to the song "Knocking on Heaven's Door"

      Sorry if I can't say who does, as while I can think of the song I can't think of the artist.

      (Hell the original title was which comes across as just "Heaven's Door" but the "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was an official subtitle).

    4. Re:Title Changes by Gropo · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Why do the yanks always seem to want to change the titles of foreign movies?
      That's rich... Just last night I was flipping through the Spanish channels in the UHF range and caught a spot for an upcoming airing of The Frisco Kid... What had they renamed it?

      El Rabino y el Pistolero!!!
      --
      I hate Grammar Nazi's
  2. An honest question by dj_whitebread · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I know this is going to get marked flamebait, but I have to ask...

    What is it that people see in anime? I am actually curious. I have watched several different things, and I have thouroughly enjoyed many, but I have never understood the obsession.

    So, what are the qualities that anime fans think raise it up as a great thing?

    1. Re:An honest question by Uller-RM · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Oh, it's not all anime. A great deal of it sucks ass (ex: DBZ, Hamtaro, Pokemon, etc.) -- and if you think that's true in the US, you should see all the loads of total crap that's released in Japan and never makes it here because the sheer stench of it tips off the customs officials.

      What makes good anime? Consistent, three-dimensional -- as in deep, not as in their look -- characters with back stories and patterns that viewers can relate and get attached to. A consistent art style. (Seizure robots do not apply.) Compelling writing, with humor where appropriate -- whether that's slapstick humor or the more darker variety. Believable lines, and convincing voice actors. In other words, the exact same things that make good film.

      Cowboy Bebop is considered one of the heights of anime, for all of the above. Other good examples of anime (IMO) would be Trigun, Rah'Xephon, Shinseiki (Neon Genesis) Evangelion, and the recent Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. If you're the type that likes relationship dramas, Love Hina is pretty well known and liked. There's shows that run the line between relationships and action, like Martian Successor Nadesico. There's also the full-length movie variety of anime, of which the most famous are Akira and Ghost in the Shell.

      *shrug* There's good and bad anime, just like there's good and bad films and good and bad TV -- favorites will vary with a person's taste, but there are consistent things you can critique on.

    2. Re:An honest question by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 5, Interesting

      So, what are the qualities that anime fans think raise it up as a great thing?

      Japan in general seems to have a greater tolerance for creativity and continuity in sci-fi than most of the English speaking public. It's nice being able to watch a series I like with no fears that it'll be canceled for a zaney reality show because too many of the viewers missed having the big red reset button pushed after each episode. I also like animated sci-fi in general more than live action, if the latter is going to resort to nose putty aliens. For some reason an animated alien dosn't jar my suspension of disbelief as much as a cheap forehead alien of the night.

      That said, I also should say that I don't like the idea of generalising to such a high degree. I own quite a few anime series, but I don't consider myself an "anime fan" any more than I consider myself a "American TV fan". Both catagories are so broad as to make any statement like that pretty much meaningless. I'm a fan of science fiction stories which have interesting characters and a progressive storyline, and I really don't much care what video medium or country delivers them to me.

      --
      Everything will be taken away from you.
    3. Re:An honest question by Op911 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Please don't forget (for people who don't like giant battling robots), Great Teacher Onizuka , an intelligent comedy about a young Japanese schoolteacher and his antics to teach his class of misfits some life lessons, or anything by Studio Ghibli, such as the film recently nominated for the Academy Awards, Spirited Away , and its predecessors, such as Princess Mononoke and the like. (Also devoid of giant battling robots, or anime pr0n) More info on Studio Ghibli stuff at this excellent fan news website

    4. Re:An honest question by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1, Interesting

      >What is it that people see in anime?

      I think its just a reliable source for tons of science fiction. Wherever science fiction goes geeks are sure to follow.

      I don't think its a big coincedence that the most popular titles are pretty much sci-fi or use a sci-fi setting.

  3. Attack of the Killer Double Titles! by euxneks · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Honestly, can't someone get it into their head that if it's in a movie theatre, any joe blow could figure out that it's a movie that they're watching? Is the second title "The Movie" really needed? Sheesh.

    --
    in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
  4. Re:Great news if you live in 5% of America... by Tom+Dunne · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Riiiight. So Portland, Oregon is a major city? 28th largest in the country. St. Louis is a major city? 49th largest. On the other hand, Sony couldn't manage a showing for the 45 MILLION PEOPLE who live in Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida. Cleveland, Philly, Miami... totally flyover land, neither compares to a metropolis on the scale of motherfscking Portland, Oregon!

    On the other hand, Sony did manage to get theaters in SF, SJ and Berkeley, all of which are less than 50 miles apart. In short, Sony have no idea what in the hell they're doing with this release distribution.

  5. Opening Track by jimius · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Ask DNA by Yoko Kanno
    My personal favorite artist. I already have the First Print limited Edition Soundtrack which includes an Ask DNA maxi single :)
    Check www.CDjapan.co.jp to get it.

    Now gimme karma :)