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timepiececlockI was thinking about something as I was watching the Cowboy Bebop movie one more time before returning it to Netflix. In one of the 'making of' extras on the DVD, one of the creators (I don't remember which one, but he was japanese) points out that the characters (Sike, Jet, Faye, Ed) are very Americanized, in the way they behave and their general outlook, as well and their clothing style and character design reflects that.
I was just thinking now, that this might be the reason I prefer to watch the show in the dubbed version. I've watched both at various points, but the dub just works better for me. This isn't true for every anime series-- for instance, I can't watch Evangelion in dubbed. I loathe it. But for CB, the English version is what I pick if given the choice.
Do you guys think the characters are very Americanized? Or at least, Westernized? I think you could argue that they are. With the exception of the Chinese mob element of Spike's backstory, which resembles a long tradition of Asian mobster movies, the characters' types of actions and reactions to certai situations are very familiar to me--- in the way that, say, the characters of Ranma 1/2 or Chobits or Sailor Moon are not. The culture presented in the future world of CB is one that I (a westerner) could imagine adapting to, much like Faye had to, without too much trouble beyond technological advances. It's certainly seedier than my world right now, but in many ways the cities they come across in the show are ones I could imagine with ease.
The characters of CB all are alone together, a group of people who are cynical about world and burned by life, surrounded (and motivated themselves) by greed and an otherwise superficial culture burdened that is by corruption and disillusionment. These are things that people have complained about in modern American culture, and though I don't agree with that completely by any means, that is how some people have felt about it and I can see the cultural connections. CB presents a cynic's view of the future, from very much a Westernized perspective.
You might say that Ed is the counter to this, being as she's the most happy and positive of the characters-- but does that really count her out? Ed is a 13 year old who, though kind, is fairly oblivious to the real world. She's the future version of kids who spend their days entirely online and have no connection to reality-- she has to highjack the Bebop to make real friends. Her own father constantly forgets about her and neglects her-- to the point that he can't remember if she's a girl or a boy. Before joining the Bebop (which she did to have an adventure) she used her computer to graffiti the planet via satellite... a pointless passtime done only for her own amusement and for no productive purpose. Her disconnectedness from reality is even represented in her visual character design-- where the other characters are animated fairly realistically (Faye's boobs excluded, of course), Ed is not. She bends in inhuman ways, her limbs waver and flop like rubber, and she appears literally capable of swallowing anything with no ill affects.
Back to the main point-- in the CB movie the big celebration is Halloween. Halloween is definitely a Western culture holiday-- they may or may not celebrate it in Japan but it originates in old pagan Europe. And that's the holiday that a whole city (with parade) is celebrating when Vincent decides to do his super-terrorist thing.
Then there's the variety of ethnicities presented in the show. Pretty much every race/color gets shown at some point, in major, minor, or supporting characters. It's logical to assume that this mixing would happen in the future, especially a future with new planet colonies. However, that's the way a lot of America looks right now anyway. The ethnic variety happens to a greater or lesser degree depending on where you are geographically, of course, but the variety present in Cowboy Bebop would not be unfamiliar to an American. Well, at least not to a 19 year old in San Jose, California. This variation in character design by ethnicity isn't shown in every anime like it is in CB, even the ones that aren't strictly set in Japan. I remember that Blue Submarine No. 6 did have that same variety, but that show was also set in a cynical future.
God, this is getting longer than I thought... I have to go to bed. Anyway, you CB fans, what do you think?
I was just thinking now, that this might be the reason I prefer to watch the show in the dubbed version. I've watched both at various points, but the dub just works better for me. This isn't true for every anime series-- for instance, I can't watch Evangelion in dubbed. I loathe it. But for CB, the English version is what I pick if given the choice.
Do you guys think the characters are very Americanized? Or at least, Westernized? I think you could argue that they are. With the exception of the Chinese mob element of Spike's backstory, which resembles a long tradition of Asian mobster movies, the characters' types of actions and reactions to certai situations are very familiar to me--- in the way that, say, the characters of Ranma 1/2 or Chobits or Sailor Moon are not. The culture presented in the future world of CB is one that I (a westerner) could imagine adapting to, much like Faye had to, without too much trouble beyond technological advances. It's certainly seedier than my world right now, but in many ways the cities they come across in the show are ones I could imagine with ease.
The characters of CB all are alone together, a group of people who are cynical about world and burned by life, surrounded (and motivated themselves) by greed and an otherwise superficial culture burdened that is by corruption and disillusionment. These are things that people have complained about in modern American culture, and though I don't agree with that completely by any means, that is how some people have felt about it and I can see the cultural connections. CB presents a cynic's view of the future, from very much a Westernized perspective.
You might say that Ed is the counter to this, being as she's the most happy and positive of the characters-- but does that really count her out? Ed is a 13 year old who, though kind, is fairly oblivious to the real world. She's the future version of kids who spend their days entirely online and have no connection to reality-- she has to highjack the Bebop to make real friends. Her own father constantly forgets about her and neglects her-- to the point that he can't remember if she's a girl or a boy. Before joining the Bebop (which she did to have an adventure) she used her computer to graffiti the planet via satellite... a pointless passtime done only for her own amusement and for no productive purpose. Her disconnectedness from reality is even represented in her visual character design-- where the other characters are animated fairly realistically (Faye's boobs excluded, of course), Ed is not. She bends in inhuman ways, her limbs waver and flop like rubber, and she appears literally capable of swallowing anything with no ill affects.
Back to the main point-- in the CB movie the big celebration is Halloween. Halloween is definitely a Western culture holiday-- they may or may not celebrate it in Japan but it originates in old pagan Europe. And that's the holiday that a whole city (with parade) is celebrating when Vincent decides to do his super-terrorist thing.
Then there's the variety of ethnicities presented in the show. Pretty much every race/color gets shown at some point, in major, minor, or supporting characters. It's logical to assume that this mixing would happen in the future, especially a future with new planet colonies. However, that's the way a lot of America looks right now anyway. The ethnic variety happens to a greater or lesser degree depending on where you are geographically, of course, but the variety present in Cowboy Bebop would not be unfamiliar to an American. Well, at least not to a 19 year old in San Jose, California. This variation in character design by ethnicity isn't shown in every anime like it is in CB, even the ones that aren't strictly set in Japan. I remember that Blue Submarine No. 6 did have that same variety, but that show was also set in a cynical future.
God, this is getting longer than I thought... I have to go to bed. Anyway, you CB fans, what do you think?
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Date: 2003-07-14 01:34 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-07-14 01:55 pm (UTC)Never seen Trigun? NEVER SEEN TRIGUN?!!!
You need to watch that. It's a necessity.
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Date: 2003-07-14 02:00 pm (UTC)What are the issues with DBZ? I was watching the Buu saga, and it depressed the fuck out of me because somehow a kid's cartoon can get a redemption story (Vegita) right, but it was killing Joss to give us something nearly as good.
LOL, it's hard to explain, because I'm not nearly as bitter now as I was when Vegita sacrificed himself--TWICE!
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Date: 2003-07-14 02:18 pm (UTC)See, DBZ is a fandom of phases. Most people goes through each stage:
1. disbelief: You want me to watch that? You've got to be kidding. I mean look at it.
2. trial: Ok, this isn't so bad. I've watched a few eps and I'm kind of curious.
3. acceptance: Yeah, I watch it fairly regulary now. It's kinda cool. I like the fighting.
4. addiction: OMG I LOVE THIS SHOW! I LOVE VEGITA! No, I LOVE GOKU! No, I LOVE GOHAN! No, wait-- I LOVE TRUNKS! Nope, nevermind, definitely love Vegita.
5. minor disillusionment: man, didn't we do this last season? It's kinda the same villain with different art design. And I thought we already beat the strongest guy in the universe? I thought Goku WAS the strongest guy in the universe? Or was it Gohan? Why won't Vegita just marry Bulma already and call it a day?
6. major disillusionment: Fuck , this show is SOOOOOO boring. All they do is fight, talk, fight, talk. Too much standign around posing. Every plot is the same and it takes forever to get through anything. And teenage Gohan the superhero is so stupid. I'm only watching this shit for Vegita loyalty.
7. apathy: What, DBZ? Yeah, it was ok. I used to watch it, until I realized that it just repeated itself over and over and they never won and barely changed. Vegita was cool. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on it if I were you, unless it's on the side-story specials. I can't believe I used to write B/V fic. Sad, ne? At least I've outgrown that by now.
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Date: 2003-07-14 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 02:34 pm (UTC)