Messing With Perfection
Netflix released production stills for the upcoming Cowboy Bebop live-action remake. Is it possible to mess with perfection and succeed?
Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime series of all time. This isn’t my opinion; it’s an objective fact—the 26-episode series from 1998 clocks in at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show, created by Shinichirō Watanabe, mixes space travel, bounty hunting, noir, and exceptional jazz into a bundle of perfection.
Three years ago, Netflix announced a live-action remake of classic series. Today, they released the first production stills. I’m cautiously optimistic Netflix pulls off the impossible: remaking perfection.
Still, if you’re a fan of Cowboy Bebop, there are many questions these images raise: What does the Bebop look like? How about the Swordfish II? Where is Ed?!
Sure, it’s completely unfair to draw conclusions from a handful of marketing images. But, this is the internet, and I’m sure Netflix wants nothing more than people talking about the show.
There are few properties of this magnitude thus far left untouched. While I’m sure there are complicated rights and casting issues involved, I’d like to think the reason many iconic properties aren’t remade comes down to respect. Plus, I suspect no one wants to be the person who ruins a beloved series.
The team behind Cowboy Bebop at Netflix is impressive; Shinichirō Watanabe is consulting, and Yoko Kanno is returning to score the show. These steps bode well for potential success. Will it pay off? I guess we’ll find out on November 19.
Related Reads
What Bad Bunny Gets That NBC Doesn’t
This Just In: NBC hosted the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and Bad Bunny’s halftime show on the same night, so why was their messaging so poor?
The Dream of EPCOT
This Just In: Walt Disney’s community of tomorrow is a celebration of humanity and a prototype for how we should live. Maybe we should listen.
It’s Time to Rebel from Mass Market Social Media
This Just In: IT is the villain in Silo. We should learn from those in the Down Deep and rise up.
The Forthcoming First Amendment Fight
This Just In: So-called defenders of free speech are taking office, and we’re all in trouble. Plus, more predictions for 2025.
Is Reading Dying
This Just In: AI summaries and the pivot to video are bad news for the written word.
Empire Strikes Back Isn’t the End of the Series
This Just In: Last week sucked, but there is always hope.
This One’s for the Fans
This Just In: Jimmy Buffet gets the due he deserves and shows what creative passion is all about.
When Creating Stops Being Fun
This Just In: knowing when (and how) to hit delete is important for every creator’s sanity.
Fandom Is Being Ruined by "Fans"
How review-bombing and constant, unfounded criticism takes agency away from creators
Share, But Don’t Spoil
A more personal internet relies on user recommendations but doesn’t spoil their experience.
Why Criticize When You Can Celebrate?
The attention economy destroyed our ability to dream for the sake of page views. It’s time we refocus our attention.
Write Like Taylor Swift
Embrace life’s many eras and stop trying to be a one-dimensional writer.
Metrics Don’t Matter
Have we become so accustomed to seeing metrics everywhere that they no longer mean anything?
Creation and Destruction Are Connected
This Just In: The act of creating something is more important than the act of publishing what is made.
Don’t Take My Word for It
This Just In: Personalized recommendations are the new algorithms and the best way to build a true audience.
What The Creator and Rebel Moon Have In Common (and What They Don't)
Star Wars may inspire the latest sci-fi epics, but they both have (at least) one fatal flaw.
Expanding Universes Make Better Stories
This Week In Writing, we look at how worldbuilding is an essential part of epic storytelling.
The Problem With Creative Entitlement
This Week In Writing, we explore how AI tools amplify the sometimes problematic relationship between creator and consumer
How Do You End Things Well
Succession and Ted Lasso ended last week. Both had a distinct impact on culture and were met with intense anticipation despite relatively small audiences. Don't worry, there aren't any real spoilers in this article. I enjoyed both endings for different reasons. Succession brought a sense of
How I Come Up With Writing Topics
This Week In Writing, we explore topic generation while celebrating the best damn band in the land!
What’s the Last Book You Read
https://writingcooperative.com/whats-the-last-book-you-read-5265b44e180e
Success Comes to Those Who Work for It (Usually)
This Week In Writing, we talk about success and perseverance through the lens of Simu Liu’s memoir. Oh, and AI writing, too.
The Fate of The Seven Kingdoms
The future on social media is much like the Game of Thrones. Right now, the only thing missing is a dragon.
You’re Invited
This Week In Writing, we prepare for NaNoWriMo with a special invitation, but first, we talk about She-Hulk!
What Word Makes You Cringe?
This Week In Writing, we talk about cringe-worthy words and give a nod to puns, courtesy of Letterkenny.
This Just in: Horizontal Skyscraper City Coming Soon to the Desert
Every post-apocalyptic movie ever made will soon culminate in the Saudi Arabian horizontal skyscraper city.
This Is a Bit Revealing
This Week In Writing, I reveal my inner nerd by sharing a personal project. Plus, we look at character creation.
Do You Color Outside the Lines?
This Week In Writing, we explore taking our writing to places the reader doesn’t expect, like in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Write Now is My Tribe of Mentors
What I learned from Tim Ferriss’ Tribe of Mentors and my answers to his 11 great questions.
Can You Write Pulp Fiction?
This Week In Writing, we celebrate classic pulp fiction and invite you to explore potentially untapped forms of creativity.
Does Your Writing Live Long and Prosper?
This Week In Writing, we celebrate First Contact Day by exploring one of the best genres out there: sci-fi!
Celebrate International Women’s Day With These Writers
This Week In Writing, we celebrate International Women’s Day but uplifting and honoring our favorite women authors.
Are You Not Entertained?
We’ll enjoy our entertainment more if we stop putting so much pressure on the things we enjoy and the creators who make them.
Why Do You Write?
This Week In Writing, we reflect on Dickinson and explore an essential question for every writer: why do you write?
Feeling Pressure to Write?
This Week In Writing, we explore the life and writing lessons about pressure and perfection from the movie Encanto.
Exploring Other Genres and Markets
Saga’s return uncovers a vast catalog of successful freelance writers creating characters and worlds that many are unaware of.
Writing in Multiple Languages? Don’t Get Lost in Translation.
This Week In Writing, we explore how translating language can often change the meaning and intent of our writing.
Handwriting As An Art Form
Japanese calligraphy, or shodo, turns handwriting into a unique work of art. No matter what our handwriting looks like, it’s also art.
Improve Your Writing by Celebrating the Dead
This Week In Writing, we celebrate Day of the Dead by learning from writers and ideas no longer with us. How do past writers inspire you?
How Do You Make Villains Likable?
This Week in Writing we look forward to Succession season three and celebrate the unlovable, but captivating, villain.
Do You Cross Genres?
This Week In Writing we look at the genre-crossing anime Cowboy Bebop to learn how to tell more interesting and unique stories
Messing With Perfection
Netflix released production stills for the upcoming Cowboy Bebop live-action remake. Is it possible to mess with perfection and succeed?
Ted Lasso Takes Personal Marketing To Another Level
A personal email from Ted Lasso showcases the power of direct and personalized email marketing. Spoiler alert: shorter is better.
Do You Misattribute Quotes?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t be Ted Lasso. Well, be Ted Lasso most of the time.
It’s Time To Stop Competing and Start Celebrating
What writers can learn from the Tokyo 2020 men’s high jump final about competition and celebrating with our friends
Even With Peacock, NBC Doesn’t Understand Streaming
I thought Peacock would be a hub of streaming Olympic content. Unfortunately, Peacock proved NBC doesn’t understand streaming.
Can Tokyo 2020 Bring The World Together Safely?
In addition to the athletes, many people dedicated their lives to creating Tokyo 2020. Their work deserves an audience. But at what cost?
What Gets You Geeked About Writing?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Embrace your inner geekiness and enjoy your writing.
Black Widow Premier Access Proves Movie Theaters Are Obsolete
I paid $29.99 to not deal with other people. It was wonderful.
What's On Your Desk-Work Playlist?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Find music that inspires but doesn’t distract.
Where Do You Find Inspiration?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t dismiss the power of the muse.
Where Do You Get Feedback?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Build a team of trusted peers to help you grow as a writer
Failure To Try Is Holding You Back
Take a cue from Nike and just do it
Stop Creating a Minimum Viable Product
As creators, we should strive to share our best with the world
Eat Your Words: Eternal Return
Are you familiar with the philosophical concept?
Claim A Scrabble Triple Word Score
📝 This Week’s Goal: Expand your vocabulary with the classic board game
Have You Ever Written A Video Game?
📝 This Week’s Goal: Don’t be afraid to try writing for other genres.
We Go Together…
Combining two passions into one amazing opportunity
What’s Your Favorite Story?
A reflection of storytelling through the lense of a pandemic pastime
Are You Writing For An Audience Or Authenticity?
What Emily Dickinson’s fictitious life teaches about fame
Get Twisted
📝 This Week’s Goal: Learn how to keep your readers guessing until the very end.
Don’t Be A Dick: Give Advice Without Being Negative
How to apply Wheaton’s Law to your writing and provide helpful, positive advice
Plant a seed (or two).
Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy…
Want to Be Successful? Move Beyond the Reef.
What entrepreneurs can learn from Moana’s adventure to restore the heart of Te Fiti
Get In The Mood: Level Up Your Writing Soundtrack
Help your mind focus while having a little fun by setting up a custom writing playlist
Did You Catch My Cameo in The Way I See It?
This Just In: I’m Famous
This Just In: Choice In Video Games
The higher education bubble is finally bursting
This Just In: Never-Ending Stories
In a world of uncertainty, it’s time we don’t take our storytelling too seriously. There's a lot to learn from fanfiction and the MCU.
This Just In: Support Other Artists
You can be a patron of the arts without buying a wing in your local theater
This Just In: Young, Scrappy, and Hungry
Today we celebrate our Independence Day. From our couch. With musical theater.
Learning About History From Television
Our history classes need an upgrade
Choosing Growth Over Fear In A Time Of Uncertainty
NASA's process of landing on the moon can teach us to start choosing growth when things are hard. Tackle little things one at a time.
Is There Anything New Under The Sun?
What do the NHL, Disney, and you have in common?
Unlock Your Creativity In Three Hours Or Less
Kick off 2020 with the only advice you need
Being Good with Okay: Breaking the Block
Self doubt doesn’t have to be debilitating. So why do we let it conquer us?
What We Can Learn About Writing from Bruce Springsteen
It took Bruce Springsteen six months to write Born to Run. There are a lot of things writers can learn from his process and success.
Understanding Who Owns Your Art
Taylor Swift’s experience sheds light on an important question: Who owns your art? The answer isn't always clear and impacts your work.
Maybe I’m Not A ‘Writer’ (And Maybe You Aren’t Either)
What I’ve learned from Andy Weir and Glynnis MacNicol about calling myself a writer.
What We Can Learn About Writing from “Hamilton”
Let me offer you some free advice…
What Are You Waiting For?
How analysis paralysis and fear of failure limit our ability to succeed.
Winter is Coming, But So is the Dawn
Bringing light into a time of darkness.
I Am Not James Patterson
And Neither Are You
What I Learned About Writing From My Film School Friends
It’s about more than storyboards.
Is it “Mambo №5” or “Mambo No. Five”?
Working with Numbers
Why be Perpendicular When You Can be Parallel?
As the song says, you get three as a magic number. But what you also get is a perfect example of parallel structure.
Political Signs, Queer Eye, and Jesus
Are we speaking the same language?
Repeating Yourself is Redundant
A Pleonasm For Your Thoughts?
7 Things We Can Learn From Jerry Seinfeld About Writing
Writers of all shapes and genres can learn a lot about writing from Jerry Seinfeld and the comedians he interviews.
Olympic Chinquapins
Celebrating the World Games through verse.
What We Can Learn About Writing From Back to the Future
Sometimes the KISS-method isn’t enough.
What We Can Learn About Writing From Tinker Hatfield
VP of Design and Special Projects at Nike
Girls, Robots, and Rock: Tokyo’s Amazing Robot Restaurant
Tokyo has a building with LED lights and chrome so bright it’s like staring into the sun. This is Shinjuku’s Robot Restaurant.
90’s Lyrics Were Whack
But I loved them anyway.
Does Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets hold up to The Fifth Element?
This film did not make any money.
Thoughts While Playing Mass Effect for Seven Straight Hours
Or: How I Spent My Day Off
How I Spent 45 Hours as a Huntress in a Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland
Horizon: Zero Dawn is Amazing
The Ultimate Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario Memorial Day Movie Showdown
Comparing the disaster porn San Andreas to the beach porn Baywatch determines the ultimate Dwayne Johnson / Alexandra Daddario movie.
Overcoming Social Anxiety at a Video Game Convention
Discover what it was like attending PAX in 2008, including meeting Felicia Day and experiencing social anxiety at the convention center, in this entertaining article.
Things I Don’t Understand about Olympic Gymnastics
The Olympics are here!