While the Japanese non-noir sci-fi anime, Cowboy Bebop garnered global attention and a cult-classic fan following, its live-action adaption on Netflix failed to live up to its grandiose. And well, the parent creator of the anime, Shinichiro Watanabe, could not agree more. The hour-long stretched episodes of the original 25 minutes episodes evidently did not work well as the streaming giant canceled the show only after 10 episodes and one season.

While many could have managed to get past the whole season, the anime creator could not even stand the opening episode. In a recent interview with Forbes, Watanabe got rather vocal and intense about his thoughts on the Netflix Original. While his anime conveys a hypnotizing malaise and its first season laid down a futuristic groove, its adaptation has brought him nothing but disdain.

Shinichiro Watanabe expresses his dislike towards Netflix’s adaptation of Cowboy Bebop

Notably, even though he is the prime mastermind in creating this animation masterpiece, he was not even in proximity to the creators of its live-action adaptation. Recently, voicing his disgust towards the Netflix failed project, he said that they sent him a clip to provide his insights on it. And it seemingly shattered all his expectations. “It was clearly not ‘Cowboy Bebop’,” Watanabe told Forbes, explaining how he just could not watch past the very first scene which opens in a casino.

Further sharing a realization, he stated that with his involvement, it will never be Cowboy Bebop. He suggested that had he been an active crew member, maybe a co-director, the series would not be a flop. However, they just asked him to be an advisor whose advice they completely overlooked. And although he did not reveal his dislike towards the Christopher Yost-helmed show, he did say back in 2019, “I have no choice but to pray and hope that it will turn out good.” Notably, the animation now stands “far higher now” for the director.

Although Netflix canceled the series, you can always enjoy the distinctly mesmerizing visuals and ‘edge-of-the-seat’ storyline that the anime provides both on Hulu Plus and Netflix.

Have you watched its live-action adaptation though? How did you like it? Do let us know in the comments below.