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Netflix promised to cover its live-action Cowboy Bebop series during its virtual TUDUM event on Sept. 25, and the streamer delivered by showing off its opening credits. Although Netflix didn’t drop an official trailer for the upcoming show, the opening teased what’s to come for Spike Spiegel (John Cho) and his companions. Working in the nostalgia of the original anime, the theme shows off the main characters and a few pivotal moments from the show.

The ‘Cowboy Bebop’ anime has an iconic opening theme

Much of the excitement surrounding the opening credits for Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop stems from the fact that they utilize the same theme as the anime. In fact, Netflix’s opening credits also feature the same art style as the anime’s theme song. The only difference is that there are live-action moments worked in.

The original Cowboy Bebop theme “Tank!” has become somewhat iconic among anime fans. It’s immediately recognizable to those who have watched the series. Although showrunner André Nemec promised the adaptation won’t be a cut-and-paste copy of the original, the live-action opening proves it will at least pay homage to it.

Netflix pays homage to the source material with its opening credits

During the Cowboy Bebop portion of Netflix’s TUDUM event, fans got a glimpse of the opening for the new series. It’s musical, colorful, and action-packed.

Of course, the action won’t be the first thing viewers notice about the theme. However, beyond the colorful transitions and catchy music, the credits show what viewers can expect from the new show. They offer a more in-depth look at Cho’s Spike, Daniella Pineda’s Faye Valentine, and Mustafa Shakir’s Jet Black. They also give further insight into the science-fiction world their story is set in.

Spaceships, aliens, and a number of antagonists can be spotted over the course of the opening — all things Cowboy Bebop needs to properly adapt the original. Of course, these glimpses of the setting and characters are just a taste of what’s coming. If anything, fans are now even more eager to get their hands on a trailer.

Netflix’s live-action ‘Cowboy Bebop’ comes out in November

Netflix's live-action 'Cowboy Bebop' stars Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine, John Cho as Spike Spiegel, and Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, all of whom are introduced during the opening credits
‘Cowboy Bebop’ live-action stars Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine, John Cho as Spike Spiegel, and Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black | Nicola Dove/Netflix
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The live-action Cowboy Bebop doesn’t make its Netflix debut until November, so fans can probably still expect a trailer in the near future. Although the opening sequence is a step closer to seeing the final product, fans will no doubt appreciate seeing the main characters interact and hearing some dialogue ahead of the release date.

Even still, this first look at the Netflix series proves how seriously the creators are about adapting the classic anime. It may diverge from the original story in some places. However, it remains committed to doing it justice.

Cowboy Bebop comes out on Netflix on Nov. 19, 2021.

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