Three, Two, One: Let's Jam!: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Original Cowboy Bebop

1998, in Kami-igusa, Tokyo ...Young anime creators, full of ideas, gathered in the capital’s ‘Anime Town’.Tired of animated stories told according to established patterns, they wanted to create what they liked - a work with greater freedom.A work that might become a genre itself.Then, in 2024 ...Cowboy Bebop has been a mainstay in anime fandom since its debut, consistently ranked among the all time greats and still attracting new devotees. For Western audiences, it was one of the first such imports to gain widespread recognition, but has rarely been subjected to much in the way of critical and analytical scrutiny. Three, Two, One: Let's Jam! aims to correct that.Making unparalleled use of Japanese interviews, production material and the creators' influences, Satoru Stevenson presents a deep dive into Cowboy Bebop. Its genesis, development and initial treatment at the hands of network censors. How the Seatbelts became the biggest band in the solar system, and what shaped the spacefaring society of 2071. It’s a detailed and fascinating story, punctuated by the makers’ love of music and motifs that made the series everything it became.The book examines the individual ‘Sessions’ as well as associated material from video games to manga comics, and gives a superb insight into the making of one of the most influential anime series ever.Among the exclusive items contained within the book are:- The only English guide covering not only the TV series and feature film but the TV specials, short films and video games- Explores all stages of Bebop's creation, from the planning and writing of each episode to design, animation and post-production- Delves into the process behind Yoko Kanno's award-winning soundtrack, and offers the most exhaustive index of the anime's music to date- Covers the ins and outs of the original home video releases for media collectors- Packed with newly-translated comments and details from the show's original creators and staff members[Shinichiro Watanabe, Keiko Nobumoto, Yoko Kanno, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Dai Sato, Kimitoshi Yamane, Shoji Kawamori, Sadayuki Murai, Yutaka Nakamura etc]- Mines the original dialogue, the creators' stated influences and the context of even the obscurest background details- Draws on multilingual sources from around the world, spanning five decades'Meticulously researched and carefully sourced, this is a definitive encyclopedia of everything there is to know about Shinichiro Watanabe's sci-fi masterpiece. With clear methodology, multiple appendices and a 50-page bibliography, this book feels like an academic textbook with none of the stodginess. Stevenson's enthusiasm for his topic shines through on every page, making this a must-read for Cowboy Bebop fans.' Lauren Orsini https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/seasonal/2024/fall/three-two-one-let-jam-the-unofficial-and-unauthorised-guide-to-the-original-cowboy-bebop/.216213 'Three, Two One: Let’s Jam never fails to impress by simply getting the history right and avoiding falling into the trap of connecting threads in ways that simply aren’t true, and which fans like myself have done over the years. This is a serious and well-written work, a guide that’s entertaining for both aficionados of Cowboy Bebop and serious students of anime. In other words, go get this bounty, space cowboy. It’s worth every penny.' TWWK https://beneaththetangles.com/2024/09/30/review-three-two-one-lets-jam/ 'Stevenson’s love for the fiction, combined with his respect for the people who crafted it, make 3, 2, 1, Let’s Jam! uniquely insightful. Most interpretation stems from the artists’ own words, but the author’s insights are just as valuable.' Kara Dennison, otakuusamagazine.com (https://otakuusamagazine.com/cowboy-bebop-3-2-1-lets-jam-book-review/) Read more