Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Knockin' On Heaven's Door) opens today in limited release (LA and New York), but even more important for pop culture retailers is the fact that the DVD release has been set for June 24.  The 26 episodes of the Cowboy Bebop TV series have helped make the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim one of the network's top-rated programming blocks -- a popularity that has in turn made the stylish Cowboy Bebop the best-selling anime DVD series in North America according to the authoritative VideoScan reporting service.  The only problem with Cowboy Bebop, a stylish noir science fiction thriller which benefits from Director Shinichiro Watanabe's striking visual style and Yoko Kanno's superb musical score, is that there are only 26 episodes, and the fans clearly want more.  Enter Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, a 100-minute adventure that fits in between episodes #22 and #23 in the Bebop continuity, and should provide fans with at least a temporary fix for their obsession.

No pricing or details concerning the DVD edition of the Cowboy Bebop movie are available at press time, but the June release date certainly should allow retailers to take advantage of both the film's limited theatrical release and the continuing popularity of the TV series. This looks like a clear winner for both anime fans and retailers.  As for the future, the Los Angeles Times quoted director Watanabe somewhat grudgingly admitting that the adventures of Spike Spiegel, 'will probably continue at some time in the future, although I'm not sure in what form.'