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[Cheddahz]

AnimeNewsNetwork

Funimation announced that Shinichiro Watanabe's classic Cowboy Bebop television anime will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in North America in December.

The 26-episode series will be released on DVD, standard Blu-ray, and in Amazon and Funimation.com premium Blu-ray/DVD editions. The two Premium Editions will each feature different packaging and premium items, but their precise details will be announced later.

Funimation describes the story:

Explore the far reaches of the galaxy in this undeniably hip series that inspired a generation – and redefined anime as an indisputable art form.
The Bebop crew is just trying to make a buck. This motely lot of intergalactic loners teams up to track down fugitives and turn them in for cold hard cash. Spike is a hero whose cool façade hides a dark and deadly past. The pilot Jet is a bruiser of a brute who can't wait to collect the next bounty. Faye Valentine is a femme fatale prone to breaking hearts and separating fools from their money. Along for the ride are the brilliant, but weird, hacker Ed and a super-genius Welsh Corgi named Ein. On their own, any one of them is likely to get lost in the sprawl of space, but together, they're they most entertaining gang of bounty hunters in the year 2071.

The anime streaming service Daisuki announced last year that it intends to stream the series before it is released on home video.

Bandai Entertainment previously held the license to the series. The series originally aired in Japan in 1998-1999.

EDIT: you can pre-order the Amazon exclusive edition now and here is what is included with that edition

 

[Outlaw]

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Fucking finally!

 

[Rojo]

Hot damn bout time

 

[Choppasmith]

Nice. Will buy for sure.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

I've been burned on anime on blu ray before. Does this stand a chance at looking better on blu ray than on my existing DVDs ?

 

[BloodMoney]

Great news... Purchased the UK version last year and removed the region protection, was an annoying process.

 

[Dereck]

 

[bobbychalkers]

 

[Veritigo_X]

About damn time! I've come close to importing a copy from the UK but I can wait for this version. Premium edition will be mine.

 

[Chance Hale]

Huzzah, glad Funimation has the rights and now the people who have Gurren Lagann

 

[Cheddahz]

Oh yeah, here's my reaction to the news

 

[illmatic24]

Sounds like a damn good Christmas gift to ask for. Goes nicely with the Samurai Champloo blu-ray I got for Xmas a few years ago.

Assuming I can hold out until then.

 

[Livingskeletons]

Netflix next please.

 

[Fancy Clown]

Niiiice

 

[Jex]

I've been burned on anime on blu ray before. Does this stand a chance at looking better on blu ray than on my existing DVDs ?

Cowboy Bebop is from 1997. It was shot on film.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

 

[m_shortpants]

Cowboy Bebop is from 1997. It was shot on film.

Does that mean it scales way better? Would they have to do any touch ups?

 

[spindashing]

OH

SHIT

 

[Ravek]

MOTHER FUCKING YES!!!

 

[shadyspace]

The entire internet will be buying this.

 

[Namikaze]

Just saw this a little while ago. Can't wait to see what's in the Amazon premium edition.

 

[fader]

Netflix next please.

I thought it was already on Netflix

 

[Articalys]

Heh, the differences between what's included with the Amazon and Funimation editions are probably going to piss off collectors.

 

[Red]

I thought this day would never come.

 

[Friggz]

I hope it comes in a cool box set. My perfect sessions sits proudly on my shelf.

Spoiler

not my picture

 

[Jex]

Does that mean it scales way better? Would they have to do any touch ups?

Well, the original show was cell animated and shot on film so the original material is already "HD".

 

[Vinci]

Bought. So goddamned bought. Been waiting for this, hoping it would happen.

 

[BlackGhost]

Lmao, what's the origin of this?

 

[Jex]

For example, here's a screencap from the BD:

 

[Zombine]

 

[Gartooth]

I bought the complete show on DVD last year so I probably won't go for this, but still it is awesome news for those looking to get it on Bluray.

 

[Neoxon]

ABOUT TIME!!!

 

[Stratosphere]

AW YAS! I'll be double dipping on this for sure!

 

[george_us]

YASSSS

So bought!

 

[Guess Who]

Please say this isn't $300. Please say this isn't $300. Please say this isn't $300.

 

[mr2xxx]

Please say this isn't $300. Please say this isn't $300. Please say this isn't $300.

299.99

 

[Fornaximus]

Finally. Hope the premium edition comes with some decent stuff.

 

[m_shortpants]

Admission time - I've never watched Cowboy Bepop. DUB OR SUB? I know dub has Steve Blum soo....

 

[Xpike]

Admission time - I've never watched Cowboy Bepop. DUB OR SUB? I know dub has Steve Blum soo....

Dub, even Watanabe has admitted it's better that way.
On the Blu-Ray, YES

 

[Revolutionary]

Admission time - I've never watched Cowboy Bepop. DUB OR SUB? I know dub has Steve Blum soo....

Dub is excellent. No reason not to.

Anyway, can't wait. Dec 9 release plz

 

[todd360]

I almost forgot this was susposed to happen. It's about time.

 

[Tawney Bomb]

I thought the day would never come!

 

[Reule]

Damn, I'm buying that. I was just about to do a re-watch of the whole series too. Hopefully after Rebuild is done there will be a chance of the original Evangelion series on blu-ray too.

 

[Guess Who]

Damn, I'm buying that. I was just about to do a re-watch of the whole series too. Hopefully after Rebuild is done there will be a chance of the original Evangelion series on blu-ray too.

Pretty sure ADV is hellbent on taking the Eva rights with them to their graves.

 

[AuthenticM]

YESSSSSSSS

 

[Polishin8r]

what are must have anime series on blurays available in usa?

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Damn, I'm buying that. I was just about to do a re-watch of the whole series too. Hopefully after Rebuild is done there will be a chance of the original Evangelion series on blu-ray too.

ADV will be keeping that shit until all the stars turn cold and we turn into tang

 

[Hagi]

Wait for it to be cropped to wide screen unlike our version lol

 

[Reule]

ADV will be keeping that shit until all the stars turn cold and we turn into tang

Pretty sure ADV is hellbent on taking the Eva rights with them to their graves.

Miracles can happen...right?