Parents' Guide to

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Dark, violent live-action reboot of classic anime series.

TV Netflix Anime 2021
Cowboy Bebop (2021) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 10 parent reviews

hayleysbrown
hayleysbrown Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
January 30, 2022
age 16+

More swearing than we expected!

Well you didn’t mention the use of the c*** bomb in the third episode (along with all the nudity). Bit of a surprise as normally the bad language bit on your reviews is pretty conclusive. We love the styling and the characters but… too much swearing for this family.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
vibraniumfaller918
vibraniumfaller918 Adult
December 3, 2021
age 17+

Gratuitous and misses the point

Whoever reviewed this must have only seen the first episode because there is a lot more profanity than described. Additionally it has much more sexual content and graphic nudity than its anime counterpart. You're probably better off letting your kids watch the original series.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

COWBOY BEBOP (2021), a live-action adaptation of the 1998 anime series of the same name, stars John Cho and Mustafa Shakir as two intergalactic bounty hunters tracking down and bringing in villains for a fee. It's 2071, and Spike Spiegel (Cho) and Jet Black (Shakir) are "cowboys" traveling on a space trawler named Bebop looking for wanted criminals. They each have their own personal narratives, including Spike's previous involvement with a woman named Julia (Elena Satine) and his relationship with piano bar owner Ana (Tamara Tunie). Every job brings with it its own twists and turns, especially when dealing with Spike's primary rival, Vicious (Alex Hassell), which is why fellow cowboy Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) joins the fray.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This jazz-infused sci-fi noir series offers a solid adaptation of a popular anime series thanks to great set design, music, and an excellent cast. While it stays true to much of its animated counterpart, the reboot does have longer episodes, allowing for richer character and narrative development. It also adds a bit more humor. However, some of the plot lines in the self-contained installments are stronger than others, and some fans may not appreciate some of the show's more comic moments. Nonetheless, this version of Cowboy Bebop is entertaining, and doesn't require knowledge of the original to enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about anime. Why do you think it's such a popular genre of animation? Can you think of other classic anime shows you'd like to see in live-action?

  • Families can talk about the challenges that come with adapting an animated series into a live-action one. What changes have to be made in order to make it work? Are there things that must stay the same?

  • How do the characters in Cowboy Bebop work as a team? Why is teamwork an important character strength?

TV Details

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