This September Bandai is releasing the first volume of Cowboy Bebop Remix, the new and improved version of the best-selling anime TV series on DVD in the history of the U.S. anime market.  Heavily censored during its first run in Japan in early 1998, Cowboy Bebop has been a near constant presence on the Cartoon Network since its American TV debut in 2001.  The combination of Shinichiro Watanabe's classic movie-inspired visual style and Yoko Kanno's brilliant soundtrack have made Cowboy Bebop the key title in the development of the hardcore anime audience in the U.S.

 

The new Remix version of Cowboy Bebop features a brand new transfer as well a skillfully remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound audio track that highlights Yoko Kanno's superb score.  Ms. Kanno also provides a new commentary track along with director Watanabe.  The Session 0 material, which contains a round of interviews with the creators conducted in the summer of 1998 and released just before the series began its uncensored run in Japan in the fall of that year, will be included in its entirety, marking the first time that all these features have been available on a U.S. DVD release.  Finally, given the importance of its exposure on Adult Swim, it is only fitting that the Cowboy Bebop Remix DVDs include a number of wacky Adult Swim bumpers and promos.