Cowboy Bebop shares universe with these anime

Legendary anime director Shinichiro Watanabe, known for iconic works such as "Cowboy Bebop," "Samurai Champloo," "Space Dandy" and "Carole & Tuesday," surprised his fans by revealing that all of his projects are connected and occur in the same universe. During a recent interview with Anime News Network as part of the promotion of his new project, "Lazarus," Watanabe made clear this fascinating detail about his creative work.

When asked how Lazarus, which will debut at Toonami in 2025, connects to his previous works, Watanabe said with a smile, "I always thought my series were set in the same universe."

This revelation recontextualizes years of work that, while stylistically varied, share common themes and sensibilities: the space travel and existential musings of Cowboy Bebop, the samurai combats and cultural mixes of Samurai Champloo, the cosmic absurdity of Space Dandy, and the vibrant musical aspirations of Carole & Tuesday.

Fans are now speculating how these series are interconnected, and whether "Lazarus," described as a fusion between John Wick's aesthetic and Watanabe's hallmark, will provide more clues about this shared universe.

"Lazarus" also marks a milestone in Watanabe's career thanks to his collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick franchise. Stahelski and his team not only offered advice, but also designed and recorded live-action choreography for the series, bringing a level of realism and modernity unprecedented in anime.

"I've always admired how the John Wick films integrate modern combat techniques with flawless visual execution," said Watanabe. The collaboration came about thanks to the mutual respect between the two creators, with Stahelski expressing that Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo were a great influence on him.

Reflecting on his career, Watanabe revealed that many of his concepts in Cowboy Bebop grew out of ideas accumulated over years as an assistant director. "It was like the first album of a band, where you put everything you've always wanted to say," he shared. With Lazarus on the way, Watanabe seems ready to add another piece to the puzzle of their vast shared universe, maintaining his status as one of anime's most innovative creators.

Source: ANN