Space Dandy’s Trailer Is Now In English

By Rudie Obias | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Over the weekend, Cartoon Network’s Toonami aired the premiere episode of the new anime series Space Dandy in a late night time slot. The new anime series from the creators of Cowboy BeBop and Samurai Champloo — screenwriters Dai Satō and Keiko Nobumoto, and director Shinichirō Watanabe — takes place in a faraway galaxy where humans and aliens live together in a (somewhat) united society. Space Dandy was also the first new anime series to air in both Japan and America at the same time. Now a new trailer has been released that features Space Dandy‘s English-speaking cast.

Although Space Dandy isn’t the first anime to air on American television, it is the first to be aired in an English dub and not in subtitles. Usually, Japanese animes are delayed for months before they make their way to the States because the American producers have to translate the series from Japanese to English. Space Dandy was made with both the Japanese and American markets in mind. Whatever reasons went into FUNmation deciding to release Space Dandy in Japan and the United States at the same time, it may help cut down on Internet piracy. In fact, episodes will be available for free on FUNmation’s website after they air on the Cartoon Network. Now we can legally enjoy new anime in America!

Space Dandy‘s first episode, “Live With the Flow, Baby,” follows Dandy and his robot companion, QT, as they travel the galaxy looking for new species of aliens to catalog. While scoping out a space “breastuarant” called Boobies, they come across a potential bounty, Meow, a cat-like alien who eventually partners up with Dandy and QT. During their first mission, the gang gets into some serious trouble with a rare alien lifeform. While its zany nature is entirely Japanese, Space Dandy‘s story of a vain, egotistical bounty hunter has universal appeal. I’m not going to spoil the episode’s ending, but it’s definitely one of the most unexpected things I’ve ever seen in a series premiere.

The new anime series has Satō, Nobumoto, and Watanabe’s trademark humor and action that Cowboy BeBop and Samurai Champloo is known for, while also delivering plenty of fan service. You can watch the first 10 minutes of the premiere episode right here. The animation itself is fluid and full of imagination and wonder. Space Dandy has a very interesting world that will be explored episode after episode, while its post-modern storytelling is refreshing and clever.

Space Dandy‘s next episode, “The Search for the Phantom Space Ramen, Baby,” will air on the Cartoon Network’s Toonami on January 11 at 11:30/10:30c. If you haven’t watched the series premiere, FUNmation is streaming the episode for FREE on its website.