Unboxing [US]: Cowboy Bebop - Complete Series: Amazon Exclusive Premium Edition (BD/DVD)

3, 2, 1, LET'S JAM!

The Bebop crew are back, with a different High Definition transfer to the UK & Japanese versions. Here's a look at what the Amazon Exclusive set has to offer.

Cowboy Bebop is an action sci-fi series that gained popularity through Toonami (in fact it's now airing in HD on the block from Adult Swim over in the states) and it's still considered to be one of the best animes out there in addition to one of the best English produced dubs as well. This show does deserve a place in my shelf especially since it's one of the first animes I've ever watched.

Anime Limited was the first English company to release the show on Blu-ray however it suffered from a few problems (now fixed in the standard edition but back then it had video issues on certain episodes) and I generally decided to wait since 2 part sets were not my thing back then (now no longer an issue since Sentai releases 2 part sets and so does Aniplex in some extent). So after some consideration I decided to go with the Funimation version.

The Funimation release had multiple editions; standard individual formats and two shop exclusive premium sets, one for Amazon US and another for Funimation's shop. The version that I picked up is the Amazon Exclusive edition which is basically similar to any Limited Edition set but uses a clamshell artbox and adds two booklets (one sketchbook and one artbook) inside the box alongside the thick Blu-ray case using 4 Blu-rays and 5 DVDs.

Unlike the UK and Japanese Blu-ray releases, this US release is 1080p instead of 1080i. The reason behind the 1080i was down to some scenes but Funimation have managed to remaster the set without much problems, based on the sources that have reviewed the set prior to launch.

The set is region locked to A and 1 with locked subtitles.

Blu-ray Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby True HD 5.1 [Japanese], Dolby True HD 5.1 [English]

Video: 1080p HD Native 4:3
Region: A

Subtitles: English [On-Screen/Lyrics], English [Japanese language]

Subtitles Locked: Yes

Discs: 4

DVD Specs:

Languages: Japanese, English

Audio: Dolby SS 5.1 [Japanese], Dolby SS 5.1 [English]

Video: SD NTSC 4:3
Region: 1

Subtitles: English [On-Screen/Lyrics], English [Japanese language]

Subtitles Locked: No

Discs: 5

Plot Synopsis (via Back cover):

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 motley 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.

Extra Content:

Chipboard Premium Edition Clamshell Box

140 page Sketchbook
48 page Color Artbook

Memo from Bebop: The Dub Sessions Remembered

Dinner Aboard the Bebop

Cowboy Bebop Session #0

English and Japanese Audio Commentaries

Interview with Wendee Lee

Interview with Cartoon Network Producer Sean Akins
Ein's Summer Vacation
"Tank!" Full-Size Music Clip
"Tank!" Club Remix Music Clip -UK Version-

Original and Textless Songs

Trailers

Cowboy Bebop is available on Blu-ray and DVD individually (not a combo pack) from Funimation. The show is also available in the UK and Australia by Anime Limited and Madman.