Cowboy Bebop hailed as one of the greatest anime series ever made, it turns out that anime was never the original passion of creator Shinichiro Watanabe. However, his first dream, which he never actually achieved, offers some insight into why his work is the way it is.
Shinichiro Watanabe is a man who has had an incredibly influential impact on anime as a medium. Responsible for hit series like Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and of course Cowboy Bebop, Watanabe has made a career out of creating incredibly unique works, all of which have one thing in common: great use of music that is deeply integrated into the tone and atmosphere of these series. It's hard to imagine what any of these series would be like with a different soundtrack, and a lot of careful consideration goes into the music in a way that other directors don't always get to do.
Watanabe's connection to music, however, runs deeper than any of these series and dates back to his youth.
Shinichiro Watanabe originally wanted to become a musician.
Watanabe's dreams explain much of his directing work.
In an interview held on Forbes, Watanabe shared about his lifelong love of music, revealing that his original dream had nothing to do with anime. Watanabe said, “I originally thought about becoming a musician when I was young.but when i try to make my own music or songs they suck. as a result I gave up music and chose movies as a job I could do.with music just a hobby.”
It's an interesting look at a director whose use of music is often unparalleled among his peers, and the fact that music is so close to his heart certainly explains why it plays such a large role in so many of his works. Watanabe himself seems to be aware of this, adding, “When I became a director, I thought about my strengths. What makes me different from other directors? My answer is [I] know music and i love music. Maybe I can make the most of music as a director.”
The music in Cowboy Bebop is almost like another character, essential to setting the tone and mood of the series, and the unusual combination of space and jazz combine to create something completely different from what has come before. Music also plays a more direct role in many of Watanabe's best works, such as Carole & Tuesday, which revolves around two underprivileged girls brought together by a shared love of music, or Kids on the Slope, which follows high school students bonding over jazz. Whatever Watanabe does, he makes sure that the music is not just inevitable, but a necessary part of the story.
Watanabe may not have achieved his childhood dream of becoming a musician, but his musical influence is almost as strong as if he had. As the man himself has noted, his love of music is what sets him apart as a director, and there are few who can compare when it comes to incorporating music into a production. Cowboy Bebop would definitely not be what it is today without Watanabe's love of music, and it proves that just because one's first dream doesn't come true doesn't mean you have to give up on it, providing inspiration to music fans around the world.