Cowboy Bebop, Studio Sunrise’s classic sci-fi Western series, hardly requires an introduction for anime fans. In honor of the iconic work, Crunchyroll is collaborating with Grammy-nominated rap icon and long-time anime fan Logic to create a new streetwear collection inspired by the cool, retro vibes of the classic space western series.
According to a recent press release, the upcoming Crunchyroll x Logic x Cowboy Bebop collection will feature T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, and hoodies designed by Cowboy Bebop animation director Toshihiro Kawamoto. With Logic’s stylistic direction, these pieces seamlessly blend the artist’s well-known hip-hop brand with manga and anime-style designs featuring Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Jet Black, and a host of other iconic characters. Several pieces also include the show’s iconic episode-ending quote, “See you, Space Cowboy.”
Logic’s decision to merge his brand with Cowboy Bebop stems from the artist’s lifelong love of the show. Notably, he describes it as the work that introduced him to the anime medium, which eventually led to high-profile music collaborations with key industry figures. “Anime was there for me when I was growing up in a drug and violence-ridden childhood and household,” he says. “I discovered anime through Cowboy Bebop and went on to befriend Spike Spiegel’s voice actor, Steve Blum, and collaborate with him on several albums, which was a dream come true. Without Cowboy Bebop, there is no Logic.”
Crunchyroll will debut Logic’s new streetwear collection at this year’s Anime Expo, which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 4 to 7. As in previous years, the prominent streaming service is hosting a number of exciting events, including highly anticipated anime premieres for popular titles such as One Piece, Tower of God, and Overlord. Crunchyroll and Logic will also collaborate on a special “fireside” panel, during which the latter will discuss his love of anime and how it has influenced his music.
Crunchyroll streams Cowboy Bebop, a story about “a motley bunch of intergalactic loners who’ve teamed up to track down fugitives and turn them in for cold hard cash.” The anime is widely regarded as a cult classic, thanks to its iconic soundtrack, exciting action scenes, and fluid animation. However, Logic hopes that his new streetwear will help spread the anime’s popularity even further. “I just hope that collabing with Cowboy Bebop and Crunchyroll will allow me to introduce a lot more of my fans who might not be hip to Cowboy Bebop, and vice versa,” stated the rapper. “I [also] hope that a bunch of people out there who love Cowboy Bebop will realize I’m making fun anime nerd albums.”
