To mark 25 years since the theatrical release of COWBOY BEBOP: Tengoku no Tobira, a brand-new commemorative visual has been revealed. The film will also return to Japanese cinemas in a newly remastered 4K edition, with screenings starting on October 30, 2026.
The movie originally debuted in September 2001 as the theatrical follow-up to the 1998 TV anime COWBOY BEBOP. Set between episodes 22 and 23 of the series, the story follows the crew of the Bebop as they get caught up in a case on Mars. Familiar faces such as Punch and Judy from BIG SHOT, as well as the three old men, make appearances along the way.
The plot kicks off when an incident resembling bioterrorism occurs in Alba City on Mars. The Martian government places a huge bounty of 300 million Woolongs on the perpetrator. Using footage captured by Faye, who happened to be at the scene, Spike and the others attempt to track down the culprit—but the person in the video appears to be a man who died in a past war…
New Visual for the Anniversary
The newly unveiled anniversary visual is an all-new creation featuring artwork by character designer and animation director Kawamoto Toshihiro, background art by art director Morikawa Atsushi, and design work by Uesugi Toshiaki (of Mach 55), all tied together with a special anniversary logo. Merchandise using this visual is currently in the works, with further details to be announced.
Director’s Comment
Director Watanabe Shinichiro supervised the 4K remaster in full. He offered the following comment: “This work is the crystallization of the passion and soul I poured into it. I hope you will receive it in the darkness of the movie theater.”
The remastered version will be screened at theaters nationwide from October 30, 2026, with admission gifts planned for attendees. For the latest updates, be sure to check the official 25th anniversary special website.
Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Executive Producer | Yoshii Takayuki, Kakuta Ryohei |
| Original Story | Yadate Hajime |
| Screenplay | Nobumoto Keiko |
| Character Design / Animation Director | Kawamoto Toshihiro |
| Mechanical Design | Yamane Kimitoshi |
| Set Design | Takeuchi Shiho |
| Art Director | Morikawa Atsushi |
| Color Design | Nakayama Shihoko |
| Animation Directors | Goto Masami (Mechanical), Nakamura Yutaka (Action) |
| Cinematography Director | Ogami Yoichi |
| Editor | Kakegawa Shuichi |
| Sound Director | Kobayashi Katsuyoshi |
| Music Producers | Sasaki Shiro, Ota Toshiaki |
| Music | Kanno Yoko |
| Director | Watanabe Shinichiro |
| Assistant Director | Takei Yoshiyuki |
| Producers | Ueda Masuo, Minami Masahiko, Takanashi Minoru |
| Animation Production | BONES |
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Spike | Yamadera Kouichi |
| Jet | Ishizuka Unsho |
| Faye | Hayashibara Megumi |
| Ed | Tada Aoi |
| Vincent | Isobe Tsutomu |
| Elektra | Kobayashi Ai |
©Sunrise, BONES, Bandai Visual
