You ever see a movie that feels like a fever dream filtered through a pack of Marlboros and a stack of French sci-fi comics? That’s basically Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie. Released in 1982, this thing is a massive, neon-soaked slab of space opera that shouldn’t work as well as it does. It’s got a hero who looks like a buff Jean-Paul Belmondo, a gun for an arm, and a cigar that seemingly never goes out, even in the vacuum of space.
Honestly, the first time I sat down with it, I expected a standard Star Wars rip-off. Everybody was doing them back then. But director Osamu Dezaki—a literal god in the anime industry—wasn’t interested in just copying George Lucas. He took Buichi Terasawa’s manga and turned it into something way more experimental and, frankly, weirder. It’s a movie that prioritizes vibes and "coolness" over rigid logic. And you know what? It’s better for it.
The Psychogun and the Pirate Guild
The plot is... a lot.
Basically, we follow Cobra. He’s a legendary space pirate who got so bored of being famous and hunted that he had his face surgically altered and his memories erased. He was living a quiet life as "Johnson," a regular salaryman, until a "Trip Movie" (think Total Recall style virtual reality) accidentally jolts his brain back into gear.
Once the Psychogun—that iconic hidden laser in his left arm—comes out, there’s no going back.
The movie kicks off properly when Cobra meets Jane Flower, a bounty hunter looking for her two sisters, Catherine and Dominique. They’re the keys to a wandering planet called Miras that could basically blow up the galaxy. Standing in their way is Crystal Bowie (or Crystal Boy, depending on which dub you’re watching).
Crystal is arguably one of the coolest villains ever put to paper. He’s made of indestructible polarized glass. You can see his golden skeleton inside him. He doesn't just shoot people; he rips out his own ribs and uses them as throwing blades. It’s metal as hell.
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Why the Visuals Feel Like a 1980s Fever Dream
If you’ve watched any classic anime, you’ve seen Osamu Dezaki’s work, even if you didn't know his name. He’s the guy who pioneered the "postcard memory"—those dramatic, hand-painted still frames that pop up at the end of a big scene.
In Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie, Dezaki goes absolutely nuts. We’re talking:
- Split-screen action that feels like a 1970s detective thriller.
- Multiple exposures where characters overlap with psychedelic patterns.
- Extreme lighting that makes the characters look like they're in a noir film, not a space cartoon.
The backgrounds, handled by the legendary Shichiro Kobayashi, are breathtaking. They don't look like sterile space stations. They look like oil paintings of a universe that’s rotting and beautiful at the same time. There are scenes on a snow planet that are so detailed you can almost feel the frostbite.
The Sound of Space: Yellow Magic and Jazz
We need to talk about the music.
The original Japanese score by Osamu Shoji is pure 80s synth-jazz fusion. It’s slick. It’s sophisticated. It makes Cobra feel like a cosmic James Bond. The opening theme, "Daydream Romance" by Shigeru Matsuzaki, is an absolute banger that captures that specific "lonely but cool" vibe the movie excels at.
But here’s where it gets weird for Western fans. When Manga UK brought the film over in the 90s, they did something controversial. They stripped out the entire original score and replaced it with music by the Swiss pop duo Yello.
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Yeah, the "Oh Yeah" guys.
Surprisingly, it works. The Yello soundtrack gives the movie a darker, more industrial, "underground rave" feeling. If you grew up with the UK dub, the original Japanese score might actually sound a bit too light for you. It’s one of those rare cases where both versions of the film offer a completely different atmosphere.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cobra
A lot of people dismiss Cobra as just a "power fantasy" for guys who like cigars and girls in bikinis. And, okay, I’m not gonna lie—there’s plenty of that. The female character designs are heavily inspired by Jane Fonda in Barbarella. It’s very 1970s "men’s adventure" aesthetic.
But if you actually look at the story, Cobra isn't some invincible god. Shigeru Matsuzaki’s voice acting (and even the English dubs to an extent) brings out a weirdly melancholic side to him. He’s a guy who tried to quit. He’s lonely. His only permanent companion is Lady Armaroid, a cyborg who used to be a human woman and now lives in a cold, metallic shell.
There’s a deep sense of tragedy running through the movie. Without spoiling too much, the quest to save the three sisters doesn't go the way you’d expect. It’s not a "save the princess, get the medal" kind of ending. It’s heavy. It’s about sacrifice and the physical weight of love.
The Legacy: From Metroid to 4K
You can see Cobra’s DNA everywhere. Samus Aran’s arm cannon in Metroid? Heavily influenced by the Psychogun. The "man with a hidden past" trope in Cowboy Bebop? Cobra did it first (and arguably with more swagger).
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Even recently, we’ve seen a bit of a Cobra renaissance.
- The 4K Restoration: Discotek Media put out a 4K UHD Blu-ray that is honestly a revelation. Because the movie was shot on 35mm film with incredible detail, the 4K scan makes it look like it was animated yesterday. The colors are so vibrant they’ll make your eyes bleed (in a good way).
- Video Games: We just saw the release of Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening in late 2025. It’s a side-scrolling action game that uses actual footage from the movie. It’s a bit clunky, but it proves people still care about this cigar-chomping rogue.
How to Actually Watch It Today
If you want the best experience, track down the 4K Ultra HD release. If you’re just curious, it often pops up on streaming services like Crunchyroll or even YouTube (legally, via TMS Entertainment’s channel).
I’d suggest watching it twice. Once with the original Japanese audio to get Dezaki’s full intended vision. Then, find the Manga UK dub just to hear how those Yello tracks change the entire energy of the space battles.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Space Pirate
If you're a fan of retro sci-fi or just want to understand where modern anime tropes came from, here’s how to dive in:
- Watch the Movie Before the Series: While there is a 31-episode TV show (which is also great), the movie is a self-contained "remix" of the best parts of the manga. It’s the perfect entry point.
- Pay Attention to the "Dezaki-isms": Look for the triple-takes (when an action is shown three times from slightly different angles) and the light flares. It’s a masterclass in making "limited" animation look like high art.
- Don't Expect Star Wars Logic: The physics in Cobra make zero sense. He breathes in space because he has "strong lungs." Just roll with it. The movie is about style, not science.
There’s something about the way Cobra strikes a match on the side of a spaceship that just hits different. In an era where everything is sanitized and CGI, Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie is a reminder of how wild and tactile hand-drawn animation used to be. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s still the coolest thing in the galaxy.
To get the most out of your viewing, start with the 1982 theatrical film, then move on to the TV series if you find yourself hooked on the Psychogun's curving laser shots. If you can find the Wayô Records vinyl of the soundtrack, it’s the ultimate way to experience the jazz-fusion soul of the franchise.