Cowboy Bebop star Daniella Pineda shared her insights into the adaptation of beloved source material and her personal experience working on the Netflix series during a recent interview with The Direct.

Background on the Series

The live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop premiered on Netflix in 2021 and featured Pineda as Faye Valentine, alongside John Cho and Mustafa Shakir. Despite the series having 10 episodes, it concluded on a cliffhanger and was canceled by Netflix just three weeks after its premiere, following mixed reviews from critics and fans.

Pineda’s Perspective on Fan Reactions

During her conversation, Pineda expressed understanding for the strong emotional ties fans have with the original anime, stating, “I feel like those animations, they mean so much to people, and they’re so personal.” She further elaborated on the connection audiences feel based on their experiences with the original material.

Pineda emphasized the need for studios to recognize the unique value of intellectual property, asserting, “I think that those studios, they need to do a better job at valuing that IP. It’s really special.” She acknowledged the dedication of the production team and hoped the series could have explored further stories beyond its first season.

She remarked, “Sometimes you just need one season to get things going, and then you prove yourself.”

Critical Reception and Industry Insight

The series faced criticism not only from fans but also from Shinichirō Watanabe, the director of the original anime. He remarked on its divergence from the essence of the original series, stating, “It was clearly not Cowboy Bebop and I realised at that point that if I wasn’t involved, it would not be Cowboy Bebop.”

Critics, including NME’s James McMahon, highlighted issues with the adaptation, describing it as a “hollow rendering” of Watanabe’s expansive vision. The review pointed out how the series often felt like a mere imitation, noting that it lacked the depth and pacing integral to the anime’s storytelling.