So Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo Share The Same Universe?

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Key Takeaways

  • Watanabe’s anime series (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, etc.) are part of the same universe.
  • All stories occur in the same world but at different times/places.
  • Fans can expect familiar faces and references in the upcoming anime Lazarus, set in the 2050s.

As a lifelong aficionado of anime, I must say that the revelation that all of Shinichiro Watanabe’s masterpieces share the same universe is nothing short of mind-blowing! It’s like finding out that Spike Spiegel and Mugen were actually long-lost brothers all along.

In a recent conversation with ANN, the director Shinichiro Watanabe – known for hit series such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo – discussed his upcoming anime, Lazarus, which he’s working on with John Wick director Chad Stahelski. They talked about various topics, including how they came to collaborate (Watanabe is a fan of John Wick), potential musical collaborations with Billie Eilish, aspects of his career, and more.

It’s worth noting that although he’s immersed in his upcoming projects, an intriguing detail emerged during the interview: Watanabe disclosed that all of his anime are set within a single universe. To him, this means that series like Cowboy Bebop, Carole & Tuesday, Samurai Champloo, Terror in Resonance, Space Dandy, and Lazarus are interconnected pieces contributing to the history of a broader cosmos. Some fans have noticed that these series use the same currency, Woolong, and it’s not unusual for newer series to make nods or references to earlier ones.

What Does it All Actually Mean?

Not That Much If You Don’t Want It To

Indeed, even though the same currency and minor details suggest a common universe, what this essentially implies is that the author envisions these narratives unfolding within the same world, albeit at various periods or locations. It’s as if each story contributes to the chronicle of the same reality.

While it’s possible that Watanabe might be planning to link these stories more closely, it could also be akin to comparing your life with someone’s who lived in ancient Egypt around 60 BC. They both inhabit the same universe and world, but they exist at different points in time, leading separate and unrelated lives (and, for instance, using different forms of currency).

There’s a possibility that the series “Lazarus” could include nods to his earlier works. Given it’s set in the same universe and occurs about 20 years before “Cowboy Bebop”, it’s plausible that we might recognize some characters, perhaps even a younger version of Spike. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Watanabe intended to create a prequel for “Cowboy Bebop”.

As an avid fan, I wouldn’t want you to anticipate this show to be a heavy homage to the iconic “Cowboy Bebop,” but there might be subtle nods here and there. However, the beauty of these series is that they can stand alone beautifully, so fans have the freedom to appreciate them independently if they prefer, without being tied to any shared universe.

The Upcoming Lazarus

A Long-Awaited Collaboration Between Watanabe and Stahelski

The Adult Swim original series titled “Lazarus” has been scheduled for release in 2025, although the precise debut date remains unknown. Set in the year 2050, this show centers around a scientist, Dr. Skinner, on a quest to develop a vaccine for a drug previously hailed as a miracle cure. The vaccine itself bears the name “Lazarus,” possibly drawing inspiration from the biblical figure Lazarus; however, it’s unclear if the David Bowie album of the same name may have also influenced this choice.

You can stream the anime shows, ‘Cowboy Bebop’ and ‘Samurai Champloo’, on Crunchyroll and Hulu. Notably, a live-action series of ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is available on Netflix in 2021. Meanwhile, the show ‘Lazarus’ will make its debut on Adult Swim in 2025, and it might also be featured on Max at a later date.

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2024-12-04 20:36