Have I talked about Cowboy Bebop before? Yes? No? Whatever, don't care. Some reminiscing has brought this to my attention and it must be said.

Cowboy Bebop is better than you. Don't worry, it's better than me too. It's basically better than everything. I hope that someday, upon heaped piles of Titanic DVDs and decayed altars to lost, Cowboy Bebop will be wreathed in garlands of fine lillies and vestal virgins that sing its soundtrack in Greogrian-style chants.

Why? Is Jay being a shameless Japan-o-phile? Well... duh... I always have been, but I make my case on grounds more solid then simply that of adoring a country that can't decide if its full of sad, repressed businessman or crazy artists who like to make films about magical schoolgirls getting raped by tentacles.

Cowboy Bebop is a 26 episode anime series made back in the mid 90s by Sunrise Inc, featuring the musical stylings of Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts (a band she put together for the sole purpose of putting together the series' soundtrack, about 7CDs worth of music). It revolves around the efforts of 'space cowboys' AKA bounty hunters Spike Spiegel and Jet Black in the not so distant future.

Spike's simultaneously running from and seeking to make peace with his days in a criminal syndicate, and Jet's got his days in the police force to haunt him as he seeks to make his money catching the criminals that the police let slip. Later on they're joined by unusually intelligent Corgi Ein, gambling goddess Faye Valentine and the computer-hacking whiz kid Ed.

Their travels throughout the scattered colonies of mankind, their constant (and often failed) bounty hunts and their own personal dramas make up the series, with each episode revolving around a musical genre or concept.

From the hyper-stylish intro to the amusing editing of the shows and small side stories that fill in the space left by the overarching plot, everything in Cowboy Bebop feels like it was made by people who cared. From the aforementioned soundtrack to the dedicated references to great films in both Japan and the US, to the little nods to various bands and musicians, to touches of science-fiction genius in the hyperspace gates and the implications of cryogenesis there's polish to be found everywhere.

There are some stereotypes and odd moments, Spike's rival from the syndicate is every gothic albino you've ever seen, though to be fair he came about well before Sephiroth and similar figures became popular. Japanese culture does intrude here or there, but for the most part it's a cultured yet cultureless depiction of people in a society that's spread onward and outward from its home and around the universe.

Favourite episodes are tough, but 'Heavy Metal Queen' with its gender bending space trucker VT is high on the list, as is 'Mushroom Samba' which satisifies requirements for a "everyone gets high" episode. 'Hard Luck Woman', which sees Faye learn of her past, is screaming to be called a favourite too, simply for its poignancy.

However, as cliches go, it's gotta be the final episode 'Real Folk Blues' (in both parts) that takes the cake. Finishing the plot arc of Spike's ties to his old life and his relationships with the people he's met in his time as a bounty hunter it's both an intense and painful ride, with the culminating song 'Blue' being one that broke my heart. In that good way that people talk about it, like Grave of the Fireflies or American Beauty.

Aside from a feature length animated film, that had a good plot and could stand on its own, Cowboy Bebop never extended past that series length, and was all the better for it. I recommend anyone, even those who normally hate anime, who likes good music and good action/sci-fi/drama should watch this. It's that good.

Peace out!

Bienvenido! (AKA Welcome in Spanish)

Plans and arrangments for the next year or three are underway, I sent the first of what may be many university applications away today (today's one being to the University of Wollongong, their media/arts faculties look pretty good), looking for either Bachelor's in Media and Journlism, or... *ominous chords*... POLITICS!

For the sake of research, curiosity and the need to get a Justice of the Peace to sign some academic records, I explored UTS and the University of Sydney. Campuses... err, campii?... are strange places, but cool. Something about the constant flow of life and knowledge there, the air of youthful freedom and experimentation, the awkward and eager to learn young guys on campus... err... I think I'm getting sidetracked here, the point is, I want in! The campus, not the guys... or maybe the guys too... but first thing's first!

Oh, and watching The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya as of late, it's amusing. Basically, imagine that the Creator is a teenage girl who is unaware of her powers, and that her closest friends know it and have to prevent her from 1. Ever finding out, and 2. Getting bored/angry/destructive. It's existential, silly and fun at the same time.

Here's hoping you're all well, hasta luego! (AKA See you later!)