Cowboy Bebop

[GinaSzanboti]

One of the things I like about animation is that, unlike live-action, everything you see in it was put there. In live-action you can catch goofs like wristwatches on Roman soldiers, or jets flying by in the background of 1800s Arizona. If you see something like that in animation, you know it's intentional.

Lots of anime productions are rich in background details, but I think Cowboy Bebop really goes the extra mile. It's just chock full of in-jokes, homages, self-references, and amazing details, most of which you need to view frame-by-frame to even see. And even then, additional research is needed to understand what you're really seeing. It amazes me that the animators put in so much effort for something 98% of their viewers will never even notice or get. Could it be for obsessives like me? Probably not. I imagine it's just their way of putting their own personal signature on the work.

So while the goodies this thread is about are probably technically not what would traditionally be called Easter eggs, they are the hidden treasures of Cowboy Bebop, so I'm appropriating the term.

To get you started before the next post, check out this website:

http://rfblues.aaanime.net/Omake/Influences/

It lists many of Bebop's references and homages. If I inadvertently repeat some of them here without credit, my apologies in advance.

Happy Hunting!

[update note:  by now many of the links are dead or changed to something else.  Time marches on.]

[civilinufan]

Yet another reason to buy the DVDs.... I bet they put all those in there just so I would spend all my money on their DVDs! It's a conspiracy, I tell you!!

[GinaSzanboti]

I don't think there will be what could be called spoilers in this thread, but if you consider it a spoiler to have the Easter eggs pointed out to you, or to have them explained, then spoiler alert! It's probably a good idea anyway to just go watch all the episodes and then come back. Now that that's out of the way...

Once upon a time, I needed a screen name for this board. Having noticed that the name Ein used to log into Londes' website was Gina Szanboti, I thought it would be appropriate. I assumed that Szanboti was a typo for Sanzboti, which in turn was a pun on sans body. Turns out I was wrong.

A little while ago, scoobdog asked me who Gus Szamboti was, having noticed that name on the list of arriving ships on Ed's computer in Jamming With Edward. His question was meant to be a joke, but after some nudging, I Googled the name out of curiosity. I was startled to learn that Gus Szamboti is apparently a renowned craftsman of custom pool cues! And Gina (aka Ginacue) is another manufacturer. So it turns out that Szanboti probably was a typo after all, just not the typo I had imagined.

Obsessive-compulsive that I am, though, I couldn't stop there. A bit more digging (and a lot of still-framing) revealed that every last ship on Ed's list (except for the Bebop) is the name of a pool cue maker (if you want the whole list, I can post it, but I won't unless somebody wants to see it). Obviously, someone on staff is an avid pool player, which may explain why Spike and Julia and Vicious also play the game from time to time in the series.

Oddly enough, in this episode, the names of four of the ships turn up on Spike's computer screen as wanted criminals, with the addition of Ginacue. I guess they named their ships after themselves.

Later on Jet's screen, we can read these four names:
Ishioh Sisuko
Marigold Futura
Moeto Rashinoha
Aridi Nabel.

Marigold and Futura are both names of fonts, and Marigold Futura is a brand name for industrial plastic gloves (wtf?), but I can't find anything on the other three names. But because of the Marigold name, I don't think the others were pulled out of the air. So if anyone else can figure out their significance, have at it!

[R.I.P.XxCharonXx]

I should Encourage this conspiracy then!

[GinaSzanboti]

Still on Jamming With Edward...

I had the best time researching all the cool Easter eggs in Ed's ocean of cyberspace. Dozens of icons float by in less than a minute, but it's a real wonderland in there.

Several "brand names" float by - Cuiter, Cersy, Mocka, Cranxatack, Cafe Dokuro, CoolFontsOnline (which I think is real, but I couldn't quite pin it down as solidly as I wanted to), a website called "Hacks and Cracks, etc." - but Mocka and Cafe Dokuro are the only ones I could find anything on. Consider the others another challenge!

"Mocka (MOdular Compiler KArlsruhe) is the Modula-2 system developed by the GMD research laboratory Karlsruhe/Germany (Gesellschaft für Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung, German national computer science institute). It is a very fast Modula-2 compiler, producing code for several target processors. The interactive user interface provides an automatic 'make' facility. The compilation speed and the user interface results in a very short turn around time (edit-compile-link)."

I don't know what any of that means, but maybe computer geeks will.

Junko Mizuno is a well known Japanese artist, and Dokuro-san is apparently his/her most famous creation. I'm sure there are people out there who know a whole lot more about Mizuno and the character (I'm not even clear if it's anime, manga, or just stuffed toys). If so, please fill us in.

Another website that keeps floating by is DeathNet. Its subtext reads, "an international archive specializing in all aspects of death and dying with a sincere respect for every point of view." This is a real site, which mostly deals with issues of euthanasia and dying with dignity, and it's referenced on many other respected sites. If you want to take a look, go here:

http://www.rights.org/lowband.shtml  [update:  This site is gone now, but an archive can be found at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~gwj/Deathnet.htm]

I think you can substitute "lowband" with "highband" if you prefer. While I'm on the subject, in Gateway Shuffle, while Jet is talking with Bob about Twinkle's bounty, he's got the DeathNet site up in another window.

Of all the things that can be found in Ed's cyberspace, I'm thinking this one might be the most relevent to the concept of life and death as it's explored in Bebop, perhaps especially Spike's attitudes. Somebody is apparently a fan of the site and it shows up several times in various episodes.

Moving along on the tour... The seal of the Consulaat Der Nederlanden flies by several times, along with what seems to be a freeway sign reading Den Haag 6, with A12. Den Haag is The Hague, where the Japanese consulate is located, and A12 is the freeway that gets you there. However, 6 is the exit number, and I'm still not sure why they chose that exit, which leads to the town of Rijswijk. Rijswijk is home to a number of embassies and government buildings, but I wonder what's there that would prompt this sort of attention from Japanese animators?

In keeping with the musical slant of Bebop, the name Shinorer can be seen on a logo. Shinorer is, for reasons that escape me, the nickname of j-pop artist Shinohara Tomoe. And if you look closely, just once a little banner advertising "Wenn's Bluesharp Live" wafts by at the top of the screen.

There are a couple other bits I didn't persue, but someone else may want to give chase. An ad for European Gambling Systems, with the word BANNED stamped across it, and the name Mimatsubushi. I think the latter may be something along the lines of Shinorer, but a simple Google didn't hit anything. Perhaps it would help to know how it translates?

Finally, as noted by rfblues, Excite gets a plug in a banner ad for "Getsday Guide by Excite."

[scoobdog]

Yet another fine GinaSzanbot thread! (Do you have your own seal of authenticity, yet?)

I do have a question: do you think these "easter eggs," particularly the pool cue referrences, are a specific part of the Cowboy Bebop narrative tone (in other words, put there to enhance plot/character/etc.), or just subtle reflections of the story creators' own world?

[scoobdog]

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GinaSzanboti wrote:

Later on Jet's screen, we can read these four names:
Ishioh Sisuko
Marigold Futura
Moeto Rashinoha
Aridi Nabel.

Marigold and Futura are both names of fonts, and Marigold Futura is a brand name for industrial plastic gloves (wtf?), but I can't find anything on the other three names. But because of the Marigold name, I don't think the others were pulled out of the air. So if anyone else can figure out their significance, have at it!

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I guess inspiration can come from odd places, can't it?

[GinaSzanboti]

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scoobdog wrote:
do you think these "easter eggs," particularly the pool cue referrences, are a specific part of the Cowboy Bebop narrative tone (in other words, put there to enhance plot/character/etc.), or just subtle reflections of the story creators' own world?

---

Both, I think. There are some I've found (for future posts) that I'm sure are enhancements to plot/character/etc., for anyone who notices them, and I think this is especially true of the DeathNet site. Others seem to just be in there for fun, like the Wenn's Bluesharp ad or the mushroom pie on the menu in Gateway Shuffle, or maybe for personal reasons, like the pool cues. We'll probably never know unless we get to interview them personally.

Btw, if anyone is finding this stuff interesting, you should save it now! With my kiss-of-death track record, this thread will be gone by morning.

P.S. Isn't it kind of ironic that a live concert by Wenn is still being advertised three episodes after he's dead?

Message Edited by GinaSzanboti on 08-06-2004 04:45 PM

[scoobdog]

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GinaSzanboti wrote:
Btw, if anyone is finding this stuff interesting, you should save it now! With my kiss-of-death track record, this thread will be gone by morning.br>

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No worries, I have your first three posts saved. Worst comes to worst, we can start this baby up again...

[ApathyInc]

okay, how 'bout this?  I noticed on "Bohemian Rhapsody" a couple names on Ed's screen--Oscar Milton (for Oscar Wilde and John Milton) and Rudyard Keats (for Rudyard Kipling and John Keats).  I thought it was cool anyway, English geek that I am.  especially since both pairs are such opposites.  anyway.  back to Gina's brilliance.  thanks for letting me babble. 

[civilinufan]

Excuse me, but I am an avid chess player, and I was wondering if you could write out the moves you see in "Bohemian Rhapsody" and I will tell you if I recognize the games or if they have any special significance. Thanks.

[GinaSzanboti]

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ApathyInc wrote:

okay, how 'bout this?  I noticed on "Bohemian Rhapsody" a couple names on Ed's screen--Oscar Milton (for Oscar Wilde and John Milton) and Rudyard Keats (for Rudyard Kipling and John Keats).  I thought it was cool anyway, English geek that I am.  especially since both pairs are such opposites.  anyway.  back to Gina's brilliance.  thanks for letting me babble. 

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Hey, welcome to the fray! You know there are over 70 names on that list of gate transactions! Hans Christian [Andersen] III, William Gardner [Faulkner & Erle Stanley], and Mitchell Steinbeck [Margaret & John] are among the more easily recognizable. There are a number of other first and last names I associate with familiar writers, but many more I can't guess at. Should I post the list so other people can take their best shot at it? English majors might be helpful...

[ApathyInc]

I was interrupted while I was trying to look through the list, so I didn't have a chance to see all of it.  I probably won't catch it all, anyway, but I can try.  *apathy makes a mad dash for the DVD player*

edit:  now that the head rush is gone, maybe we should post the list.  you wanna do it, or shall I?

Message Edited by ApathyInc on 08-06-2004 09:56 PM

[GinaSzanboti]

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civilinufan wrote:

Excuse me, but I am an avid chess player, and I was wondering if you could write out the moves you see in "Bohemian Rhapsody" and I will tell you if I recognize the games or if they have any special significance. Thanks.

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If you seriously want to know, I'll spend the time to do it. I think there is a list of moves on a screen, but as far as actually seeing them make moves, there really are only a few, at a difficult angle to decipher, so I'm not sure how much sense you could make of it (and I'm awful at knowing how to describe the board positions - it may take another avid chess player to help you out there). I could end up suprised, though. Combing through the arcana of Bebop has already dropped my jaw a few times.

[R.I.P.Vashone01]

i feel the same way.

[ApathyInc]

I couldn't read the corporation titles too well, so these are just the names from "Bohemian Rhapsody"--

the from list:

Terje Hakonsen; Peter Rine; Jenie Linn; Dariel Franko; Dave Lie; Jenie Wara; Trisia Byrns; Tod Richers; Fabien Rahrar; Ingemar Vackman; Yang-ming Wang; Leslie Olsen; Aleksi Litovara; Max Proetzeneder; Syng-jung Kim; Yuri Yoshikaba; Christian Tholesen; Ros Powers; Takasi Ni**bleep**a; Jeff Andersone; Derek Heydt; Barrett Christian; JJ Thomass; Shingo Takahaji; Shanon Dan; Anita Schwaler; Rubi Nishikawa; Reto Lumm; Jean-Baptist Charle; Mike Bealo; Kebin Young; Mark Hormes; Natalia Archaubault; Jacques Martin; Alice Ferland; Serge Langlobe.

the to list:  Luice O'Rilley; William Gardner; Brian Lalumiere; Tony Blanc; Jear-Yvea Corbeis; Jocelyn Fortin; Camillic (?) Corbell; Alexsei N Stakhanov; Kari Scheiermacher; Chung-song park; Oscar Milton; Tunglai Chiang; Jomo Kasavubu; Charlie Chang; Frederic Gomulka; Fenghong Santing; Rudyard Keats; Minn Van Nauyen; Albert Abelard; Hans Christian III; Carolus Strindberg; Francis Loyola; Wolfgang Waldheim; Mitchell Steinbeck; Lev Barmn; Ferdinand Cabral; Benito Vespucci.

[VLN]

this thread is insane!!!!

gina, if you need some visine to relieve the redness of your eyes from watching bebop too many times, i'll leave it right here...

i don't know how much i can contribute, but maybe i'll help you guys out w/ some of the japanese jokes/references they put in the show.

as gina has mentioned, "shinorer" refers to a j-pop artist tomoe shinohara. now, look closely at the list of names gina sited in her second post:

Ishioh Sisuko
Marigold Futura
Moeto Rashinoha
Aridi Nabel.

look at the third one. it's "tomoe shinohara," anagrammatized.

(i don't know about the rest. )

anyway, there are lots of shinohara references in bebop. i guess they had someone who really liked her on the staff. another one is the girl you see on one of the commercials shown on the tv monitor, which i think was for the video game console (in ep. 23). she looks very much like tomoe shinohara.

[GinaSzanboti]

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VLN wrote:
this thread is insane!!!!

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Isn't it though?

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VLN wrote:
i don't know how much i can contribute, but maybe i'll help you guys out w/ some of the japanese jokes/references they put in the show.

as gina has mentioned, "shinorer" refers to a j-pop artist tomoe shinohara. now, look closely at the list of names gina sited in her second post:

Ishioh Sisuko
Marigold Futura
Moeto Rashinoha
Aridi Nabel.

look at the third one. it's "tomoe shinohara," anagrammatized.

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::laughing:: OMG, you mean I have to start looking for anagrams too?? Yikes!

But I was so hoping you'd offer! How about having a look at some of the Japanese writing on street signs and storefronts and such and see if anything interesting turns up. And Vladimir, if you happen to have ventured in here (or someone points him this way), maybe you could enlighten us about the Russian signage in Jupiter Jazz.

[evlord1]

that's one of my favorite eps too.  i wish i could help but i have none of the eps recorded or bought.

[evlord1]

any mod would have to be insane to delete this thread if they actually read it.  what you've done takes so much observation and thought and time you'd think they appreciate this type of publicity through the boards.

[Destiny_needs_CB]

Wow Gina.. you've outdone yourself.. To quote Dogma "May it be known that your **bleep** retentive attention to detail yeilded a positive result!"  This thread is awesome, and I will most definately keep my eyes peeled.  *fanning my face* I might need a cigarette now (reading this was that exhiliarating)

[GinaSzanboti]

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ApathyInc wrote:

I couldn't read the corporation titles too well, so these are just the names from "Bohemian Rhapsody"--

the from list:

Terje Hakonsen; Peter Rine; Jenie Linn; Dariel Franko; Dave Lie; Jenie Wara; Trisia Byrns; Tod Richers; Fabien Rahrar; Ingemar Vackman; Yang-ming Wang; Leslie Olsen; Aleksi Litovara; Max Proetzeneder; Syng-jung Kim; Yuri Yoshikaba; Christian Tholesen; Ros Powers; Takasi Ni**bleep**a; Jeff Andersone; Derek Heydt; Barrett Christian; JJ Thomass; Shingo Takahaji; Shanon Dan; Anita Schwaler; Rubi Nishikawa; Reto Lumm; Jean-Baptist Charle; Mike Bealo; Kebin Young; Mark Hormes; Natalia Archaubault; Jacques Martin; Alice Ferland; Serge Langlobe.

the to list:  Luice O'Rilley; William Gardner; Brian Lalumiere; Tony Blanc; Jear-Yvea Corbeis; Jocelyn Fortin; Camillic (?) Corbell; Alexsei N Stakhanov; Kari Scheiermacher; Chung-song park; Oscar Milton; Tunglai Chiang; Jomo Kasavubu; Charlie Chang; Frederic Gomulka; Fenghong Santing; Rudyard Keats; Minn Van Nauyen; Albert Abelard; Hans Christian III; Carolus Strindberg; Francis Loyola; Wolfgang Waldheim; Mitchell Steinbeck; Lev Barmn; Ferdinand Cabral; Benito Vespucci.

---

The one censors got was Takashi Nish.ita. Most of the From list is also on Big Shots' list, although Jenie Linn (a pun on Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale?) is Jamie Linn and Dariel Franko is Daniel on Big Shots. And the second time Dave Lie's name scrolls through it's Dava L'e. And I think it might be Tricia Byrns, not Trisia, and Natalie Archawault, if you want to double check those (I'm only nitpicking the spelling because it might be important to figuring out who these people might be!). I remember those being hard to make out.

Possible spelling corrections to your "To" list (btw, for those scratching their heads about now, the To and From list refers to the gate transactions for laundering the money): Luice O'Riley, Jeer-Yves Corbels; Camille Corbell; Karl Schlelermacher (that was a tough one to see!); Fenghong Sangting; and Lev Bermn.

There are two more person names, Gottlieb Johann Von Siemens, and Wilhem Maria Von something, but it's just too tiny to see it. Does it help if it's referring to something from Sound of Music? Just a guess...

The missing government recipients are: New ChungKing City Bank; Kuill City Office (I thought it might be Kuwait, but there's just no w in there); Ganymede City Dep. of Treasurer; Io electric power company; Mars.com; New Philadelphia City Bank; and New Mogadiscio City Office. I'm wondering if that was supposed to be Mogadishu. You'd be appalled at how many people out there think "cherish" is spelled "cherious."

Well done!! Can you check and see which is right on those spellings, because some of those letters are really tough, and I'm not sure myself.

At first I thought everyone on the list might be writers. But Jomo Kasavubu is a combination of Jomo Kenyatta, first prime minister of Kenya after independence, and Joseph Kasavubu, first president of independent Republic of Congo, so I guess it's a free for all. Whatever you find!

[scoobdog]

Don't worry, I'm backing up the "egg" posts, so if it gets deleted, we can just bring it back.

[GinaSzanboti]

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Destiny_needs_CB wrote:

Wow Gina.. you've outdone yourself.. To quote Dogma "May it be known that your **bleep** retentive attention to detail yeilded a positive result!"  This thread is awesome, and I will most definately keep my eyes peeled.  *fanning my face* I might need a cigarette now (reading this was that exhiliarating)

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Thanks, I'm really glad you're enjoying it. I can't tell you how much fun (and educational!) it's been digging this stuff up, and that's why I hope other people will go crazy on those names, for starters. And even though I still have literally pages of stuff I've found that I haven't posted yet, I'm hoping others will beat me to it because they're looking now. It's just as much fun for me to see other people's discoveries, too (still bowled over by that dang anagram - how did he ever spot that??).

And I admit it, I'm about as a-r as they come. But doesn't obsessive-compulsive sound so much nicer?

Btw, Destiny, did you just rank-up?

Message Edited by GinaSzanboti on 08-06-2004 10:22 PM

[Destiny_needs_CB]

I was thrilled the day i discovered where you got your name.  And i did it all on my own.  But can i correct you?  Gina Szanboti is the name Ein uses when he's hacking, not Ed.