Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop (Japanese: カウボーイビバップ Hepburn: Kaubōi Bibappu?) is a 1998 Japanese anime series developed by Sunrise. It featured a production team led by director Shinichirō Watanabe, screenwriter Keiko Nobumoto, character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto, mechanical designer Kimitoshi Yamane, and composer Yoko Kanno. The twenty-six episodes ("sessions") of the series comprise a complete storyline set in the year 2071. It follows the adventures, misadventures and tragedies of a bounty hunter ("cowboy") crew travelling on the Bebop, their starship. Cowboy Bebop also explores philosophical concepts including existentialism, nihilism, loneliness, and the influence of the past.[1]
The series premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo from April 3, 1998 until June 26, 1998, broadcasting only twelve episodes and a special due to its controversial content. The entire twenty-six episodes of the series were later broadcast on WOWOW on October 24, 1998 and ran until April 24, 1999. The anime was adapted into two manga series which were serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Asuka Fantasy DX. A Cowboy Bebop film was later released to theaters in Japan and worldwide.
The anime series was dubbed in the English language by Animaze and ZRO Limit Productions, and was formerly licensed by Bandai Entertainment for releases in North America. For English releases in the United Kingdom, it was also formerly licensed by Beez Entertainment and is now licensed by Anime Limited. Madman Entertainment has licensed it for releases in Australia and New Zealand. In 2001, Cowboy Bebop became the first anime title to be broadcast on Adult Swim in the United States. Since then, the series has aired continuously in rotation due to its success.
Cowboy Bebop received widespread critical acclaim and became a commercial success both in Japanese and international markets, most notably in the United States. The series has become a cult classic, has garnered major science fiction awards and has received international praise for its characters, story, strong voice acting, animation and soundtrack.