Shinichiro Watanabe Interview - Cowboy Bebop, Kids On The Slope & New Series

Shinichiro Watanabe the acclaimed anime director & writer responsible for classic series Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and most recently Kids On The Slope spoke to Red Carpet News TV at the MCM London Comic Con 2013.
In a rare English and Japanese language interview Shinichiro Wantanabe talks about the breakthrough international success of Cowboy Bebop. Whilst ruling out further anime episode he confirmed that there will definitely be an American Live action Cowboy Bebop movie. He also confirmed for the first time that in his opinion the show's lead character Spike actually survived the final episode of the beloved series and remains his personal favorite character.
Shinichiro Watanabe also talks about dramatic series Kids On The Slope and reveals his next show will be a sci-fi comedy due to air on Japanese television later this year.
The talented director also explains his passion for 2D Animation and where he typically looks for inspiration. Finally he leaves us with a message of sincere thanks to anime fans, particularly in the UK, for their continued support of his work.

[@zsci9820]

Cowboy Bebop is over and finished. I feel its kind of disrespectful reading some of these comments that say "he should have made it longer, done this/that etc". The artist made the series exactly how he wanted it to be made. In my opinion he did it perfectly and nothing should be changed or extended. I have no doubt that the the live action film (if it is ever completed, its been in pre production for over 10 years) will be quite bad. Especially since it seems that Watanabe has little or no involvment in it and it will be chopped up by Hollywood to just make cheap money.

[@swimmingbird243]

Completely agree with you :) I do, however, think it's pretty telling as a show that people love it THAT much to want more. Not implying that they should do more by any means but the show really opened the gates for anime and fans alike. The live film , from what i understand, is not going to be produced any time soon. I think they might have dropped it altogether. Honestly, i'm kind of ok with this. I don't want it to ruin a good thing lol.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

It will/would be a shame for Hollywood to mess up a franchise that has so many homages to it. As well as showing them to be completely incompetent.

[@sbeve779]

i think it would be a nice idea to make a new cowboy bebop focusing on ed and ein

[@CJODell12]

26 episodes honestly is the perfect run for a show like Cowboy Bebop. It never turned into a franchise zombie and the quality never went down the drain over the years.

[@mugen7965]

should have made Samurai Champloo longer.

[@zsci9820]

Cowboy bebop explores the background of all of the main characters and tells us exactly what both Jet and Faye, and even Ed were all up to before they all met. You're asking for a spinoff series to tell us what we already know. Were you not paying attention when you watched Cowboy Bebop?

[@mokkaherrman1104]

I was and i loved all the characters so much that i don't want to let them go like that. Also Cowboy Bebop had kind of a Shonen format, in that every episode was independent, which just makes the show feel incredibly short compared to all other genres. Last, i really wanted to see Fey and Spike together just for a little bit.

[@Aldevier27]

I just wish i had this guys music collection i feel like he would have so much things i would like of all genres

[@RedCarpetNewsTV]

Whether Spike lives or dies is naturally a subject of intense debate for Cowboy Bebop fans and the final anime episode is ambiguous enough to support both interpretations. Watanabe’s opinion as director will of course be significant for many fans though and it seems pretty clear what his view is. Whether you agree with him or not it remains a truly magnificent series. Thanks for watching and See you later Space Cowboy...

[@somebunny2619]

The ending of Cowboy Bebop is the least ambiguous thing I have ever seen.

[@Z3NZ31]

SPIKE LIVES

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

In our hearts.

[@LEVIACKERMAN-im9xz]

one of the greatest anime directors of all time

[@kabuumzy]

This dude made my two favourite animes.

[@_wazzer]

kabuumzy ne samurai champloo and naruto

[@jackiechan154]

WaZzeR Tr3nDz 猿 he didn’t make naruto lmaooo

[@pan_jam]

WaZzeR Tr3nDz 猿 , why did you think he created naruto?

[@mikkey246]

Fr!

[@TheMasterQuests]

This man’s got style

[@somebunny2619]

Love how he just bursts out laughing when he says Spike is just sleeping.

[@John_Doe465]

can you imagine an anime or live action movie with Tarantino and Watabane.

[@voradora]

this translator is speaking both languages on a native level. very talented.

[@satellite964]

I'm one of those people who like Samurai Champloo better than Cowboy Bebop.

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

Well that makes you an idiot.

[@JaySiggz]

***** how does that make him an idiot? I like samurai Champloo better

[@satellite964]

Joe SGBKU Goddamnit Joe SGBKU! Stop feeding the trolls.

[@JaySiggz]

***** aahh it all makes sense now haha

[@seanjohnson663]

Good to hear that. Doesn't make you special. But, it is your opinion.

[@hellokitteh3]

He's amazing. Love him. Favorite.

[@ConsoleWars]

the voice himself!! one of the few animes i prefer in english due to your contribution. thank you sir!

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

Please Don't wake me from the dream It's really everything it seems I'm so free No black and white in the blue Everything is clearer now Life is just a dream, you know That's never-ending I'm ascending

[@genkijin]

Went to go see him at the Detroit Film Theater back in 06, got a chance to meet him!

[@CharismaStrategies]

The very last episode of Cowboy Bebop is probably the best climax I have ever seen in any piece of Media as a whole, not just in Anime. The structure of how everything unfolds is just complete and utter masterpiece. The way Shin and Lin's parts play into the finale, and how Julia and Vicious become more involved. Everything rises to the surface so quickly within those last two episodes and everything just happens so perfectly. It truly has some of the best writing and plots I have ever seen.

[@LiquidSnake1988]

Cowboy Bebop and countless rewatch of samura champloo, now going to try terror resonance and space dandy.

[@cuatede231]

The Master has spoken!

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

He also said he gave the series a definitive ending so that it would be impossible to make more episodes. Google it.

[@xenogamerx]

Spike the one an only!!! You are awesome steve!! One of my favorite voice actors!!!

[@slan7]

I loooooove what this guy does.

[@barnacleboy2153]

I just want a samurai champloo season 2 when they reunite again

[@CharismaStrategies]

I think that if they do a season 2, they should make it a Prequel. There is so much left unsaid about Spike's past, his life on Mars, his history with the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate, his past with Vicious, Julia and Lin etc... His slight memory loss and cybernetic eye was also never fully explained. I feel like I would have more closure as a fan to know more about Spike and his past.

[@nani1940]

Why does no one ever ask him about Samurai Champloo and it's story. Is there any interviews about it? :l

[@TheMasterQuests]

That’s why it’s in the underrated section it doesn’t get the attention it deserves nowadays

[@diamondsaf5064]

Ikr :(

[@Voiceactor1]

The master speaks. Thank you, Watanabe-san. Your work changed my life, and for that I am eternally grateful.

[@MikeRyu]

What a charming sentiment.

[@huamanJR]

I highly agree especially with Faye and Jeet like what were they doing before they all met up. That's the best I would love to see if they did a season or maybe a OVA

[@hsianloon]

My partner still hasnt finished Cowboy Bebop. She stopped before the last 2 episodes because she was happy enough with that ending that they all had to go their own way, figuring that Spike would eventually go confront Vicious without watching and die. I think that scene between Spike and Jet on the Bebop where Jet tells him the story about the cat who died a thousand deaths and Spike's reply...that's one of the greatest scenes to my mind. The amount of spoken and unspoken words. I did't really mind if he died or not, I didn't really felt it mattered

[@TachePsyche]

That description is a bit misleading. Watanabe never explicitly says Spike lives. He says it's ambiguous, and *to him*, Spike lived.

[@phil3392]

TachePsyche he is the Creator and producer of the show and story , so HE is the truth

[@animeking17]

@@phil3392 no lol. He's not the truth

[@somebunny2619]

@@phil3392 That's not even his truth. He made a joke and started laughing. He admitted in 2005 that he likes to give out fake/contradictory answers. Interviewer: Did the movie really take place, or is it just a dream? Watanabe: What did you think? Interviewer: I don’t know. Watanabe: For people who say it’s a dream, I say it’s not a dream. If they say it isn't a dream, I answer it’s a dream.

[@mikkey246]

He's so cool! 😮

[@galogarzonbenavides1021]

Master, how proper he answers. He's just out of this world and you can feel him very disperse in real time, all the time!. Just the way he portrays his best 2 creations. Cowboy bebop and samurai champloo. Thank you for existing and being part of my childhood in the early's 2000 🫂

[@thehairysun8897]

What a genius...talent for the millennium

[@CharismaStrategies]

I know that this is a bold statement to make, but I don't think I will ever seen anything quite as epic as Bebop again. I'm now in my mid 20's and started watching Bebop in my mid teens, and still I have never seen or experienced anything like it. Nothing has ever moved me in my soul like Bebop did. I have never felt more similarities to a character than I did with Spike and I have never cared for a character more than I did for Spike.

[@ErebosGR]

Keanu is actually one of the producers as well and he's been pushing hard for the movie to come true.

[@SpookMrsSpooky]

I may be overstating it a tad when I say that debate has been half the fun of Cowboy Bebop. Ok, maybe not HALF, but for me, it's a big chunk of it. It makes the ending that much more interesting, imho. And for what it's worth, I agree with him. I can see why people thought he's dead, but I did not see him die. It's all just too cool for words.

[@rotinoma]

I can't believe people still believe Spike is alive. Seriously, go watch some of the films that inspired the work and it's as clear as day.

[@omarperriel2192]

Acabo de ver el final una ves más y pensé en esa posibilidad : )

[@sanatanibhai660]

Thank for masterpiece anime ❤️

[@Chemicaloid]

Watanabe FTW

[@sbeve779]

nice subtitles...

[@birdytaken]

When Watanabe says Spike is asleep what I immediately understood was that it was an eternal sleep.

[@donut3110]

***** Faye went back for him, the guys remaining after the big fight deserted and the Syndicate was no more. On a trip back to Earth they encounter Edward, who extracted the data from Ein for Ed's father who was able to solve the meteor issue and find her true purpose. She, along with Ein, re-join the Bebop and keep close contact with Ed's father. Spike regains consciousness back on the Bebop and Faye finally reveals her love for him. Jet finally takes up Faye's offer to fix his implants, and revisits Mefia, who later joins on the Bebop as well. After all that I have no clue :P

[@KaitoKaze]

Denis Jackson i'm reading this seriously and found out in the end it was ur version story lol X'D -plakk

[@zeltzamer4010]

@@donut3110 Sounds like a mediocre fanfic.

[@donut3110]

@@zeltzamer4010 Because it is lol It's literally my own just to tie the knots of the story since we'll never see another Cowboy Bebop

[@somebunny2619]

@@zeltzamer4010 You are being too nice. It's garbage fanfic.

[@Zurardi]

I think Watanabe was being sarcastic about Spike "sleeping". Had he not died during the final episode, then everything he did would have been for nothing. It also ties into the ultimate message of the series.

[@sebastiansteven9588]

i mean not really, spike being alive wouldn’t make his character arc pointless lmfao

[@somebunny2619]

​@@sebastiansteven9588 It would. All the symbolism in the final act is about breaking free from the cycle of death and rebirth, as the tiger striped cat did. The song that plays as Spike is thinking of Julia is about undying love and reuniting with your beloved in the afterlife. Spike says to Vicious, "Julia passed away. Let's end it all." Spike sees Julia with his eye that sees his present immediately after he is sliced across the stomach. We watch the ascension of Spike's soul as a song about a soul going to heaven plays. Spike once said that he was trapped in an endless nightmare, meaning his life without Julia. Yet the closing lyrics ask that no one wake him from his dream. His good dream was always to be with Julia. He is finally with her now.

[@sebastiansteven9588]

@@somebunny2619 my views on this changed the day after i posted that comment cuz of a video i watched, i wholeheartedly agree w u

[@manthanmahna8333]

@@sebastiansteven9588 could you please link that video

[@saadsrequiemforsasuke7041]

Very interesting words by Shinichiro Watanabe on Cowboy Bebop and Spike's ending. It was very cool and profound, and to leave his fate ambiguous was more stylish and beautiful than a bit unsatisfying. 11:30pm 13.12.2023

[@Optimegatrongodzilla]

F*** YEAH!!!!

[@SpookMrsSpooky]

You and the rest of the viewing audience.

[@muniiam]

OSSAN I WANT MORE SAMURAI CHAMPLOO

[@djefardeur7958]

after fullmetal alchemist brotherhood, the best all time anime for me is cowboy bebop!

[@jullian551]

okay technically you just said spike is a alive does that mean we're getting another Cowboy Bebop series that would be freaking awesome

[@maxw6494]

he seems like a cool enough guy.

[@ANDREVILAFRANCA]

I WANT MORE COWBOY BEBOOOP!!! PLEASE Shinichiro Watanabe-sensei!!!

[@LimitedResistance]

It was originally claimed to be Keanu Reeves though I don't know if that still stands obviously. If you crazy up his hair I'd say he'd look pretty believable, then it just depends on the characters screen write and delivery.

[@RumBuDum]

the sci fi space comedy is space dandy

[@CharismaStrategies]

I totally agree. I think he only tried to give us some sort of hope to please the fans.

[@unjoshed]

The translator has the hottest voice. Japanese and British? Marry me ma'am.

[@XxXxAUGUSTUSxXxX]

Thank you as well sir(*cough*)(Spike).

[@Meg_88]

Well, when Watanabe himself says Spike is asleep, I guess that trumps all the "Spike dies at the end" arguments lol. The whole Spike is Alive thing starts at around 7:40. This is the actual quote: "I think people who watch that and think that Spike is asleep are probably right. Just sleeping."

[@dragateli]

You realize though, he said that to people who say that. He could still be just leaving it open to perception, completely.

[@Meg_88]

***** Why would he say it for the benefit of the people who think that way? When has he ever cared to elaborate on whether he thinks Spike is dead or alive? His answer has always been "It's up to the viewer." And keep in mind that the question here wasn't "Is Spike dead or alive?" The question was "Why do you feel it was important for the story to end the way it did?" Nowhere does he ask if Spike is dead or alive.... Yet Watanabe said, of his own accord, that he thinks Spike is sleeping. He _added_ that after he gave his "It's up to the viewer" answer. He didn't have to say that... he didn't have to say anything else... but he did anyway.

[@dragateli]

MegamiSama88 The quote was "I think people who watch that and think that Spike is asleep are probably right. Just sleeping." means that it's true for people who think that. He didn't say it wasn't wrong for people who think the other way. He's still leaving it up to perception :)

[@Meg_88]

***** The answer is actually "I never actually said whether he is alive or dead. That is up to the person watching to decide." This has always been his answer for the last decade... he always answers the same thing. But in this interview he went on to add the part where _he_ thinks that the people who think Spike is sleeping are right. That just means that he thinks like some of us... that Spike is just sleeping. That's his personal opinion... doesn't mean you have to agree, it just means he thinks Spike is asleep.

[@dragateli]

MegamiSama88 Not exactly. He says people who think that are right, he didn't say people who think otherwise are wrong. ;)

[@VIISoldiers]

So in 2013 we finally get the answer that spike is alive. If you pay close attention to the last episode though you'd realize he survived.

[@sheetinthestreet5903]

wait really? How did he survive in the last episode?

[@maxw6494]

if you want him to be. or just taking a nap.

[@OvErMeCh]

2016 still no live action movie on one side maybe it didn't fullfill his standarts

[@GT45000]

He needs to make moar and moar anime. Why so inactivr

[@acunit5627]

A god among men

[@MeruAileron]

Spike didn't die? Well, shit. That opens up a window of opportunities.

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

In 2006, Watanabe said he gave the series a definitive ending so that it would be impossible to make more episodes. If you watch the anime, it's pretty obvious Spike died.

[@nerdswitatitude]

I feel like the translator speaking should've been cut out of the interview completely, and replaced with subtitles. The long pauses where only Japanese is being spoken makes it hard to concentrate on the actual interview. Other than that, I enjoyed this interview.

[@valedevalentina2903]

Sleeping? spike is awake (dead). at least for me, he is awake. he woke up from his dreams, he is free now, just like that song said at the end. Anyway, Watanabe you are a fucking genius! ♡

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

Please Don't wake me from the dream It's really everything it seems I'm so free No black and white in the blue Everything is clearer now Life is just a dream, you know That's never-ending I'm ascending

[@somebunny2619]

Spike is awake from his bad dream. His life without Julia. He never wants to be woken up from his good dream, his afterlife with Julia.

[@shianasmith2893]

I would like to know that Spike actually did survive but the sleeping theory doesn't stick with me because the song Blue at the end is about being free, I think you're not free until you die, and if Julia told Spike at the end it was all a dream, and Spike said yeah all a dream, well then I don't think he would go back to dreaming. Either he was alive the whole time and then died to become free of his past and from Julias hold and Vicious vendetta or Spike was sleeping the whole time and woke up from the dream and the past he always saw to become free of the dream

[@gnarcky6ix6]

I think the "dream" was the idea of them escaping and being together. It was just a dream of theirs that could never actually happen

[@shianasmith2893]

Yeah I could see that but then why would Julia have said "It's all a dream" if they hadn't been together in over 3 years.

[@gnarcky6ix6]

+Shiana Smith well it was still a dream for Spike even though he hadn't been with her for 3 years as well. I think the whole time they were both still in love (obviously) and both had the dream , they just couldn't make it a reality with out getting themselves killed, which ended up happening.

[@shianasmith2893]

+Evan Dickson yeah that was there dream but I think what Julia meant when she said "it's all a dream" that life is but a dream and that they're already dead anyways. And yes both of them dying means that they could be together in some sense. But in the song blue at the end one of the lines is "life is but a dream you know" and Spike always said that he was watching a bad dream that he could never wake up from. He really wanted to know if he truly was alive or not so I just think it's really great theme that series has and there's a lot of other themes as well.

[@gnarcky6ix6]

+Shiana Smith yeah totally! I love that about the series, and I love that fans can talk about what they think it means, drives me crazy that we don't have a clear answer about a lot of things though. but yeah, that's just how I interpreted the whole dream thing.

[@laitupuola3248]

HAHAHA, maybe it was firefly? lol

[@VishalGReturns]

Either Keanu or Ryan Reynolds

[@15heartz]

new berserk!!!

[@Metaknight1984]

So Spike is alive, huh...

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

He's not. They made Vicious, Julia and Spike 27 so that they could all be in the 27 club.

[@liumeister]

Who would play Spike? I think a live action movie is a bad idea.

[@_wazzer]

He should make a samurai champloo movie than end it there

[@ConsoleWars]

a live action movie is probably a bad idea. maybe if its true to the source material, kinda like sin city, then it could be good. otherwise its dragonball: evolution all over again.

[@burnt-reynolds]

Your ears must be broken, or you just don't pay attention. He said those who thought Spike was asleep/unconscious at the end, are probably right.

[@somebunny2619]

Yeah. As he was laughing his ass off.

[@burnt-reynolds]

@@somebunny2619 Bro. That was 8 fucking years ago! What are you doing!!!!?

[@somebunny2619]

@@burnt-reynolds There is no time limit on the truth. :P

[@iLegends73]

Please don't let the cowboy bebop live action turn out to be dragonball evolution all over again

[@Sarge494]

its so obvious they need to do new seasons of that show. i want to see new episodes so bad. just finished watching the whole series again on youtube makes me craving for more Bebop. BRING BACK COWBOY BEBOP!

[@SlowTemper]

spike is dead

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

The Movie confirms spike doesn't die even though it's before the final episode

[@samstauder5844]

I don't think the movie takes place after the show. Ed and Ein left the crew before the end of the series, and the're in the movie. So I would say the movie takes place some time after Ed joins the crew and sometime before the series ended. Not after the show.

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

sam stauder Forshadowing what already happens. The Episode takes place between Cowboy Funk and Brain Scratch.

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

Aleksandar Novakovic Glad I'm not the first person that thinks this.

[@samtepal3892]

@@samstauder5844 it is confirmed to take place between episode 22 and 23.

[@somebunny2619]

The opposite is true. The movie takes place between sessions 22 and 23. Laughing Bull confirms that Spike is fated to die at a specific time. It also further foreshadows that Spike is the tiger striped cat and Julia is his white female cat. Spike: There once was a tiger striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, revived and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he didn't really care for. *The cat wasn't afraid to die.* Then one day the cat became a stray cat, which meant he was free. *He met a white female cat*, and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years passed, and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger striped cat cried a million times, and then he died too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life. Spike: Years ago, back when I was much younger, I was afraid of nothing. *I had not the slightest fear of death. I was ready to die anytime. But then I met a special woman.* She made me want to go on living. For the first time, I was afraid of death. A feeling I’d never had before. Elektra: Where is she now? Spike: She went away.

[@EVILyangkuang]

Watanabe prefaced it by saying there's no official declamation on whether Spike lived or died, and that it's up to the individual viewer to decide. If Watanabe wanted to definitively say Spike lived then he wouldn't have said any of the aforementioned things, and he wouldn't have said *probably*. TachePsyche is absolutely correct in saying the description is misleading. Watanabe has relinquished Cowboy Bebop as an autonomous piece of work. It's no longer bounded to what the director says.

[@somebunny2619]

Watanabe has been on the record since 2005 that he gives fake/contradictory answers. Anyone who took his joke about Spike just sleeping seriously is really embarrassing. Interviewer: Did the movie really take place, or is it just a dream? Watanabe: What did you think? Interviewer: I don’t know. Watanabe: For people who say it’s a dream, I say it’s not a dream. If they say it isn't a dream, I answer it’s a dream.

[@maxw6494]

unfortunately he does not want to revisit older series, even bebop.

[@PRocker320]

I hope Rian Johnson directs. He's perfect for the job and loves Cowboy Bebop, often citing it as inspiration.

[@TheAmericanPrometheus]

haha this aged kinda poorly

[@PRocker320]

@@TheAmericanPrometheus to be fair, regardless of Rian's work since... he still would likely be a better creative fit than whatever they ended up doing over at Netflix. nothing about this new project is encouraging, I guess they got Ein right...

[@TheAmericanPrometheus]

@@PRocker320 maybe. i'll just hold off on forming an opinion on it until i've seen the trailer, but netflix's track record is not encouraging.

[@PRocker320]

@@TheAmericanPrometheus I don't need to see the trailer. The promotional stills are enough. From what I hear Yoko Kanno is recording music for the adaptation so at least that's nice.

[@Anail_Mhin]

Soike is dead, Cowboy Bebop is "dead" and damn its fine this way.

[@tiger-stripedcat7199]

Endgame Summary In Session 1, Laughing Bull foretells of Spike's death being brought on by a woman. Laughing Bull: Swimming bird will meet a woman. The bird will be hunted by this woman. And then death. Spike: One more time. Laughing Bull: What's that? Spike: I was killed once before by a woman. Spike is speaking of Julia. Losing her love was so painful as to be considered a form of death. He was left in a detached dream-like purgatory from that day on. In Session 26, Julia is shot in front of Spike. White doves fly by in slow motion. Horror, shock, and agony are expressed in Spike's left eye. He screams her name, drops his weapon, and runs to her. He takes her in his arms. Hears her last words, which are inaudible to the audience. Spike looks down at his lost love and then up to the sky. The camera is now focused on Spike's right eye, which is shaking in a disturbing manner. The camera zooms into Spike's pupil and everything fades to black. The next scene is of Laughing Bull predicting Spike's imminent death. Holding Julia's coat, Vicious speaks of Spike. Vicious: A beast that has lost his place. He has nowhere to return to now. He will come. Vicious is both right and wrong. Spike will come, but he does have somewhere to return to one last time. Two rose petals are shown blowing away in the wind. Spike returns to the Bebop and tells Jet a story. An allegory about his life which he uses to explain why he will never return. Spike: There once was a tiger striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, revived and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he didn't really care for. The cat wasn't afraid to die. Then one day the cat became a stray cat, which meant he was free. He met a white female cat, and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years passed, and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger striped cat cried a million times, and then he died too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life. Jet is keenly aware that Spike's death looms in the horizon. He is wary of the tale's implications. When Spike gets up to leave, Jet asks him one last question. Jet: Is it for the girl? Spike: [beat] She's dead. There's nothing I can do for her now. This is true. Julia is dead. There is nothing Spike can do for her. This does not lessen the impact she has on the events that are about to unfold. Jet understands this. Upon hearing of Julia's death, he has a resigned if devastated reaction. He knows exactly what this means for Spike. Faye confronts Spike while holding him at gunpoint. She knows that he is marching towards his death. Faye: Where are you going? Why, are you going? You told me once, to forget the past, ‘cause it doesn’t matter, but you’re the one still tied to the past, Spike! Spike does not deny this. Instead, he explains the truth about his eyes. The camera spans from his left eye to his right eye. Spike: Look at my eyes, Faye. One of them is a fake because I lost it in an accident. Since then, I've been seeing the past in one eye and the present in the other. So, I thought I could only see patches of reality, never the whole picture. Faye: Don’t tell me things like that; you’ve never told me anything about yourself, so don’t tell me now! Spike: I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was all over. This is not the first time Spike has expressed this sentiment. One of his most revelatory quotes was said in the teaser for Ballad of Fallen Angels. Spike: The music box is broken, or is it? It starts to play, and a haunting tune fills the air. I wake suddenly from my dream. There is no music box! And yet there it is. A tiny one nestled in my hand. And I awaken from my dream again. As if I were peeling an onion. It’s a dream no matter how far I go. I can never reach reality. Trapped in an endless nightmare. Spike is so affected by the loss of the woman he loves that even an item she once possessed haunts him. It is her death that has finally woken him from his detached dream-like state. Faye shares with Spike that her memory has returned. She explains that there was nowhere for her to go back to. She pleads with him to stay. Spike ignores her please and instead leaves her with these parting words. Spike: I’m not going there to die; I’m going to find out if I’m really alive. I have to do it, Faye. Faye is not comforted by this statement. The audience should not be comforted either. Spike's words eerily echo what Jet said to him in session 25. Jet: Men only think about the past right before their death, as if they were searching frantically for proof that they were alive. Faye cries and shoots off her gun. An act reminiscent of the 21-gun salute that is used in the military to honor the fallen. Spike walks away from Faye without looking back. He is never shown thinking about anyone from the Bebop again. The song "See You Space Cowboy" plays as Spike leaves the Bebop. "Everything is already over", You say with closed ears The words only flow Towards a tomorrow without peace "There's nothing that won't change" Even if my life ends This love will not disappear It's something that will live forever Even if dreams are hidden in darkness I got a rainbow Rainbow in your hands... The camera focuses on Spike's left eye. The eye that sees Spike's past. The lyrics begin as Spike is recalling romantic memories of Julia. He thinks of the first time he saw Julia and was captivated by her beauty. He thinks of a time when he made love to Julia and she cradled him in her arms. Given that Spike confided to Jet just the previous session that Julia was a part of him, the image shows a moment in Spike's life when he felt whole. Spike: She was a piece of me I had lost. She is my other half that I had longed for. The song continues to play as Spike attacks the syndicate. It is a ballad of undying love alluding to lovers being reunited in the afterlife. When Spike faces off against his hated rival, Vicious makes a proclamation. Vicious: So, you're finally awake. I told you before, Spike. I'm the only one who can kill you and set you free. Spike does not deny this. But makes a proclamation of his own. Spike: Those words apply to you as well, Vicious. During their fight, there comes a moment where the two disarm each other by swapping weapons. Vicious getting Spike's gun and Spike getting Vicious's katana. It is at this moment that Spike makes a statement of great significance to both men. Spike: Julia passed away. Let's end it all. Vicious: If that's your wish. The rivals return their weapons. Spike shoots Vicious but gets sliced across the abdomen. Vicious's death comes quickly, while Spike lingers as was foreshadowed. Vicious: Don't forget, a snake's venom poisons slowly after the bite. Spike watches Vicious's body fall to the ground, spends but a few seconds looking at him, then looks up to the night's sky. The camera is focused on Spike's right eye. Now calm. Spike sees Julia. This is the first time in the entire series that Spike is shown seeing Julia with his right eye. In session 13, during an auditory flashback, Spike and Julia discuss his eyes. Spike: My left eye sees the past. Julia: What about your right eye? We do not hear his response. In the penultimate scene of the series, we are specifically shown what Spike sees with his eye that sees his present. He sees her. In Spike's vision, Julia is cast in a white light. She says her last words to Spike, this time they are audible to the audience. Spike is shown reflected back in Julia's eye. He glumly concurs with her. Spike is then completely engulfed by a blinding white light. The scene fades to white. This light is reminiscent of the divine light that is cast upon a soul that is ready to ascend to heaven. Julia: It's all a dream. Spike: Yeah. Just a bad dream. From white we transition to the final scene of the series. It is now day. A white light is now cast over the entire syndicate. Spike smiles, points a finger gun at the remaining syndicate goons and says "bang". This is a callback to Wen from session 6. As Wen was dying he asked Spike if he understood the relief that came with one's own death. In response, Spike threw Wen's harmonica up in the air, pretended to shoot it while saying "bang", but then said "as if". When Spike says "bang" this time he is acknowledging that he now understands that relief. Spike falls to the ground. He is never shown moving again. White doves are shown flying over Spike's body. White doves also flew by Julia when she died. The camera follows an ascension into the heavens, while the song "Blue" plays. The song's lyrics allude to a soul ascending to heaven. Free Wanna be free Gonna be free And move among the stars You know, they really aren't so far Feels so free Gotta know free Please Don't wake me from the dream It's really everything it seems I'm so free No black and white in the blue Everything is clearer now Life is just a dream, you know That's never-ending I'm ascending At the end of the credits a star goes out but never falls. In session 13, Laughing Bull informs the audience to what a falling star truly is. Child: A star just fell from the sky. Laughing Bull: That is not an ordinary star, my son. That star is the tear of a warrior. A lost soul who has finished his battles somewhere on this planet. Child: What warrior is it? Laughing Bull: A pitiful soul who could not find his way to the lofty realm. Where the great spirit awaits us all. Given that the star we are shown does not fall, it is reasonable to infer that the soul the star belonged to did make its way to the great spirit that awaits us all. That soul has broken away from the cycle of death and rebirth and is never coming back. As was foreshadowed to happen to Spike in the fable of the tiger striped cat, who followed his love into death and never returned.

[@theimortal1974]

spike didn't die? fuck no that completely ruins a beautiful end to a beautiful series. the only way that makes any sense is that it's julia's star that fades and doesn't fall not spike. but i hate that. i mean i love spike and didn't want him to die but they already opened pandora's box there.

[@somebunny2619]

Nah. He was joking. Watanabe gives fake/teasing answers and he has admitted it publically. Even when he said Spike was just sleeping he burst out laughing.

[@TEACHYOUTEEWHY]

He should of continued the series.

[@nicolasbiller7486]

Nah

[@somebunny2619]

"And for me, the end of the TV show was the end, so I didn't want to do a sequel." -Shinichirō Watanabe

[@MattDel1]

To be honest,the creator's intentions aren't really relevant. If it's not said in the story or in the subtext, it's up to the viewer to decide. To me, Spike will have always died in the last episode because it's the perfect ending to his story.

[@TEACHYOUTEEWHY]

It's a shame he stopped at Episode 26.

[@Mijeman]

I hate the translator's voice.

[@princeofwar311]

Lol Cowboy bebop didn't have any kind of influence on the industry, it bombed on Japan. It ONLY had an impact of anime on the WEST.

[@niellalien]

Really?

[@somebunny2619]

​@@niellalien Nope. Cowboy Bebop did well in Japan and is well respected. But it's not as obsessed about as it is in the West.