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With iconic series like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Carole & Tuesday, Shinichiro Watanabe has carved out a niche in the industry that few directors could hope to replicate. And now, with the announcement of his upcoming series Lazarus, fans are eagerly anticipating news about this futuristic sci-fi thriller. However, beyond its sleek trailer, an offhand revelation made by Watanabe left the fandom scratching their heads.

Samurai Champloo | Credit: Studio Manglove

Shinichiro Watanabe nonchalantly confirmed that Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and even his upcoming series Lazarus all take place within the same shared universe. This revelation has sparked both excitement and confusion, with fans struggling to comprehend how a jazz-fueled space Western, a Samurai road trip, and a surreal sci-fi comedy could coexist.

Shinichiro Watanabe’s Comment on Lazarus A still from Cowboy Bebop | Credit: Studio Sunrise

In a recent interview via Anime News Network, Shinichiro...

Last year, when the Cowboy Bebop creator, Shinichiro Watanabe, announced his new anime project, he brought a new sense of excitement to his fans. Watanabe is a legend in the anime industry for creating extraordinary anime series like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, Carole & Tuesday, Kids on the Slope, etc.

Cowboy Bebop by Shinichiro Watanabe | Credit: Sunrise

He is particularly known for Cowboy Bebop, which was one of the first anime series that made a global impact and earned worldwide appreciation. The series paved the way for the globalization of the anime industry, especially gaining a lot of hype in the West. And now, Watanabe’s upcoming series, Lazarus, is going to follow in the footsteps of Cowboy Bebop.

Watanabe is too excited for Lazarus as he has stepped out to promote the series as much as possible. During the promotions, the Cowboy Bebop creator made an intriguing...

Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe has a knack for integrating diverse musical genres into his works. His signature style involves seamlessly blending his narrative with music, which is perfectly portrayed in the series he directs.

For instance Cowboy Bebop features a jazz-infused soundtrack by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts, enhancing its neo-noir ambiance. On the other hand, Samurai Champloo combines Edo-period storytelling with hip-hop beats, notably collaborating with artists like Nujabes.

After that came Carole & Tuesday, which centers on aspiring musicians, showcasing a variety of musical styles and featuring contributions from international artists.

So, it is indeed an exciting development for anime fans, when Watanabe expresses a keen interest in collaborating with a pop sensation like Billie Eilish.

In a recent interview with Anime News Network, Watanabe was asked what music he was currently listening to, and what his top 5 was.

The director took this opportunity to share his admiration for Eilish,...

The anime industry lost a long-treasured gem as Ryou Kouno, a talented art director, passed away recently. Kouno has been in the anime industry for decades and has made significant contributions during her career. News of her passing away has been received by fans with grieving hearts.

She was a part of popular works like Mob Psycho 100, Devilman Crybaby, Perfect Blue, and many more. Her easy adaptability to such widely different art styles made her a favorite in her field.

Talented Art Director Ryou Kouno Passes Away Mob Psycho 100 | Credit: Studio Bones

Ryou Kouno, a popular background artist and art director in the anime industry, passed away on October 23, 2024. News of her death was publicly revealed two days later, on October 26, by her nephew via Twitter. Her nephew also reported that she passed away due to suspected gastrointestinal bleeding.

Fans of the artist have commented their condolences under the post,...

GoHands’ Momentary Lily Original Anime Announces January 2025 Release - Main Image

Momentary Lily is an upcoming original anime slated to be released in the winter season. While there aren’t a lot of details yet regarding its premise and plot synopsis, the anime promises to be an intriguing show fans should keep an eye out for, as teased by its interesting trailer.

Momentary Lily Original Anime Sets Winter 2025 Release Window

The Momentary Lily anime is slated to premiere in January 2025, as revealed in its first trailer and main visual.

There’s no word yet on the anime’s exact release date, but it will likely debut in the second week of January, between the 5th and 11th of the month, as that is when most winter anime release their first episode.

Specific details about the anime’s debut date will likely be confirmed in the months leading up to its premiere.

Have you ever heard of a studio created specifically to produce an anime? That's the legend behind Studio Bind, founded in November 2018 as a joint effort between the production companies White Fox and Egg Firm. But how true is that claim? Let's delve into the history of Studio Bind and its most important figures, as well as its two anime series, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister! The Work That Necessitated the Creation of Studio Bind Every story has a beginning, this one starts with Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and how it was eventually chosen as Studio Bind’s first project. The original web novel by Rifujin na Magonote was published on the website Shosetsuka ni Naro from September 2012 to April 2015 , before transitioning to light novel format under Media Factory's Mf Books imprint, with illustrations by ShiroTaka. This version was published from January 2014 to 2022, totaling 26 volumes.

Artificial intelligence has been a sci-fi villain for about as long as the concept has existed, but in the past few months, we've seen the issue of AI become timely, present, and poignant. There is AI taking over journalism, AI being used to replicate actors' voices, and AI making a whole Oasis album. Artificial intelligence is also part of the negotiations that led to the Writers Guild of America's strike, as concerns about AI's role in the creative arts become more and more urgent.

It used to be a common belief that robots would take over technical jobs like programming, not the arts. This is a development few saw coming, but "Cowboy Bebop" creator Shinichirō Watanabe was one of those few. Back in 2019, Watanabe made a new anime in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the famed studio, Bones, called "Carole & Tuesday."

The show's basic premise is that it...

If you were an unsuspecting late-night Cartoon Network viewer in 2001, you likely witnessed the birth of "Adult Swim." And, if you were there, then it is safe to say that one of your formative introductions to anime involved some loud horns blaring at the stroke of midnight, followed by the funkiest bass strings you'd ever heard. That's when you knew, deep down, that something different was happening.

"Cowboy Bebop" is, without question, one of the most highly regarded anime series of all time. With its rugged, quirky characters, fantastic animation, and epic score, the show has served as a welcome introduction to anime for many fans. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, "Cowboy Bebop" follows a crew of intergalactic bounty hunters as they travel across the galaxy aboard their ship, the Bebop, collecting bounties for the Inter Solar System Police. These assignments frequently land the team in chaotic situations that see their...

“Carole and Tuesday have come a long way since their impromptu collaboration on the streets of Alba City, and now they’ve finally secured an official stage for their performances: the televised competition, Mars Brightest! But while their soulful music wows the judges and audience, dissonance grows between them, threatening to tear their group apart. Can Carole and Tuesday come out of Mars Brightest as the winners—or even as a team…?” (Yen Press)

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The third and final volume in the “Carole and Tuesday” manga adaptation comes to an end at the same point as the first season of the anime. A slightly bittersweet conclusion, as the book acts as a wonderful love letter to the hit tv series, but won’t extend into the second story arc. Regardless, the third volume brings the reader into the “Mars’s Brightest”, the pinnacle event of both seasons,...

As streamers continue to carve out their niches for specialized content, Netflix has established a firm foothold in original anime production of both established and original IP. On Tuesday morning, the platform outlined a group of exciting upcoming titles, headlined by the hugely anticipated “The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf” animated spinoff, in a pre-recorded Studio Focus panel, streamed as part of the Annecy Film Festival.

In “The Witcher,” one of Netflix’s most popular original series to date, Henry Cavill plays Geralt of Rivera, the outcast monster hunter who is loathed by most he comes across and willing to do dangerous and unsavory work for pay, earning himself a guarded admiration from some he’s helped. But, before Geralt came Vesemir, a headstrong young witcher who relishes his job and the earthly benefits he reaps in doing what others can’t or won’t. Seemingly unshakable, Vesemir will face...

“Carole and Tuesday aren’t the only ones searching for stardom on Mars! Former child actor Angela will stop at nothing to achieve her singing debut—even if she has to become the puppet of a mysterious genius to do it. As Carole and Tuesday continue chasing their dreams, can this brash young star avoid butting heads with her songwriter long enough to make it onstage?” (Yen Press)

With the first volume bringing together the titular two young hopeful singers, the second entry shifts to explore the nuances of the music industry, through both established and new musicians. Notably, the book is largely preoccupied with Angela and her work with the cold and calculated Mr Tao. A humorous duo whose goal to make Angela a stand out talent provides some comedic flair lacking in the first. In addition, fans will recognize notable and beloved faces such as...

Based off of the hit anime, “Carole and Tuesday” follows the adventures of the titular duo as they strive to make a name for themselves in a music industry dominated by computer calculated hits. The first volume covers; the meeting of the two, their first viral hit, meeting with manager Roddy, and their first performance on the big stage.

Carole and Tuesday rests as my all time favorite anime series, not just as a celebration of music but for the strong design and uplifting narrative that left such a positive impression long after each season concluded. Consequently, I was excited at word of Yen Press releasing the manga adaptation. This bias is necessary in approaching the review, as the experience of the anime was embedded in my own experience with the manga. With that established, Morito Yamataka’s take on the original story by Bones and Shinchiro...

Another year has passed and it’s the perfect time to remember its best titles. Plenty of series have aired since the beginning of 2019 and there is such a huge variety of genres, that I guarantee you that you’ll find a gem of your taste. So allow me to elaborate more, by sharing all the anime that caught my attention, by hitting the right spots, in random order!

1. Carole and Tuesday

“Carole and Tuesday” takes place in a setting quite similar to Nana’s, though it has numerous sci-fi elements. The plot narrates the story of Carole and Tuesday, two young girls who love music and live on …Mars. In this futuristic environment, people have stopped making art and modern technology has taken over everything. However, those two stubborn ladies will make a difference, by following their dream of becoming professional musicians. This anime is produced by Studio Bones...