I freely admit that I am a casual fan of anime, and I generally only like to watch the very best that the medium has to offer. Why should I waste my time with a dozen mediocre shows set in a dystopian cyberpunk future when I can just watch Akira? I just want the good stuff, and most anime fans would agree that Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop definitely qualifies as good stuff. First aired in 1998, Cowboy Bebop gave television audiences an experience drenched with a style that hadn't been seen since the beloved Lupin the 3rd. Like that seminal series, Bebop relies on the personalities of its main characters to carry the show through its adventure-of-the-week storylines.

The standard twenty-two minute framework is perfect for the bite-sized stories of the Bebop world, but how will the series fare in the extended format of a feature film? Watanabe and company tackle that issue head-on with the 2001 film adaptation of the television show, simply titled Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Taking place sometime around the 22nd episode, the film finds the crew of the Bebop bumming around Mars and, as usual, strapped for cash. A tanker explosion in Alba City releases an unidentifiable virus into the air, infecting thousands. Tempted by the huge bounty issued for the capture of the culprits, Spike, Jet, Faye and Ed spring into action, determined to earn a very large paycheck.

What they quickly discover is that this is no ordinary virus, and that the culprits are not your run-of-the-mill bounty heads. After a promising start, the film starts to bog down with extended scenes that run too long, as well as segments that would probably should have been left on the cutting room floor. Compared with the best episodes from the series, like Ballad of Fallen Angels or The Real Folk Blues, the storyline in Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is painfully mediocre and lacking much of the charm that characterizes Bebop at its peak. The film drags on far too long, and it seems like the creators had a very hard time stretching the normal short-and-sweet Bebop flavor to two hours. It's not poor by any means, but it doesn't quite live up to the standard set by the series.

The same excellent animation style that brought the TV show to life is on full display in the feature film. The artwork and art direction is top-notch and stacks up very well against the team's work from the show. The animation itself is nothing mind-blowing, though there a number of impressively-animated chase and fight sequences throughout the film. There are even a few subtle 3D effects that are used sparingly to enhance a few scenes. There is a lot of great eye candy here that, coupled with the excellent audio, almost makes up for the unfulfilling story. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is imbued with quite a bit of life by another funky, oddball soundtrack by Yoko Kanno. If you liked her work on the television series then you'll likely dig her score here.

With such a lackluster storyline, the film is saved from complete mediocrity by its quirky, charming characters. The original Japanese cast is fantastic as always, but I prefer to watch the film with the excellent English dub. I've always felt that the English actors do a much better job of capturing the respective personalities of the main characters in this series. I find this to once again be true in Cowboy Bebop: The Movie; I simply can't find Spike believable unless the voice of Steven Jay Blum is coming out of his mouth. Wendee Lee (Faye), Beau Billingslea (Jet) and Melissa Fahn (Ed) are great as well, but I must say that I was annoyed that Vincent Volaju (Daran Norris) sounded so similar to Spike's arch-enemy Vicious from the TV series.

Columbia Tristar presents Cowboy Bebop: The Movie on a "Special Edition" DVD in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The film looks downright fantastic on DVD; it's bright, vivid and very clean, with virtually no compression artifacts to detract from the beautiful visuals. The clarity of the transfer really lets the detail and complexity of the artwork shine. The real star of this disc is the audio however, as the room-rattling Dolby Digital 5.1 mix sounds absolutely incredible. The action sequences in particular are a joy to listen to, thanks to sound effects characterized by sharp, clear peaks and plenty of bass response. The dialogue tends to get washed out a bit in places, so you might want to watch this one with your remote handy.

The DVD boasts a great set of special features, beginning with no fewer than 6 featurettes. These behind-the-scenes peaks offer insight from the creative team responsible for the Bebop franchise, as well as from the voice actors who portray the main characters. Each featurette smartly includes interviews with both the English and Japanese actors, which gives you a nice contrast on how the respective cultures view the Bebop characters and voiceover work in general. Other features include the standard conceptual art galleries, storyboard comparisons and preview trailers, as well as some run-of-the-mill character profiles. A pair of music videos allow you to enjoy selected songs from Yoko Kanno's superb soundtrack outside of the movie.

Cowboy Bebop is great anime and this is a great DVD, but the fact that the most important part of this product, the actual movie, is so lacking makes me hesitant to recommend a purchase. Fans of the show will likely be torn between its top-notch production values and its been-there-done-that storyline, while newcomers will likely be left wondering what the fuss is all about. The 26 episode Bebop series, also available on DVD, is a much better starting point for consumers looking to delve into the show. Though it is not quite the equal of its television sibling, Cowboy Bebop is nonetheless eminently watchable on the big screen. Just realize that you won't be getting the same level of innovation or style that made Bebop so popular in the first place.