ANIME CLASSICS – COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉)

• dir Shinichirō Watanabe
• 2001 / Japan / 115mins / Japanese with English subtitles
• Doors: 7pm / Intro + Film: 7:30pm / Food served to 9pm / Event: 18+

“THEY’RE HERE TO SAVE THE PLANET. BUT NOT FOR FREE.”

A terrorist explosion releases a deadly pathogen on the population of Mars, and it’s up to the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.

COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (aka KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR in Japan) expands Sunrise Inc.’s critically-acclaimed TV series (1998-99) by slotting in a standalone bonus story before the main show’s climax.

Accommodating for newcomers – the TV series was designed as a series of 26 ‘miniature films’, only half of which were originally shown in Japan – COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE is a deliciously entertaining retro-futuristic sci-fi Western. The original show’s animation quality was pimped for the big screen and the electrifying score (“the show’s secret weapon”, Helen McCarthy) was again provided by series composer Yoko Kanno and performed by her band, Seatbelts.

“With quirky animation, a punchy soundtrack, exhilarating fight sequences (think Bruce Lee with bells on) and set-pieces familiar to anyone brought up on Hollywood action blockbusters, this truly has something for everyone.”

Empire Magazine

ANIME CLASSICS is a celebration of Japanese animation, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (BAR TRASH). All films screen in Japanese with English subtitles and an introduction. Tickets £3.