The subject of Ed’s gender has been long debated by Cowboy Bebop fans. They’re androgynous in appearance, and it’s been debated whether they’re a boy, a girl, or non-binary. Making things more complicated is the fact that Ed in the live-action remake is played by a non-binary actor, which has revitalized the debate about Ed’s gender identity.
Is Ed a girl, a boy, or non-binary in the Cowboy Bebop anime and manga?
In the Cowboy Bebop anime and manga, Ed is a girl. It’s not referenced often, but we do get two definite statements that let us know Ed is both biologically female and identifies as a girl:
- At the end of Episode 9 of the anime, Faye exclaims, “You’re a girl!” and Ed responds by giggling.
- In the movie Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Ed states, “I’m not a boy. I’m a girl.”
The only evidence contrary to the above statements comes from series creator Shinichiro Watanabe. In a 2017 interview with IGN, he gave these responses:
“IGN: Yeah, there’s Ed as well. He – or Her – I’m still not quite sure…
Shinichiro Watanabe: Its gender is meaningless, we don’t need it.
IGN: Well actually, I’d like to quickly ask about that. Why did you decide for Ed to be non-binary and have no gender, or have their gender be ambiguous?
Shinichiro Watanabe: I wanted to create a character that surpasses humanity. I personally think that he might not even be human, someone from outer space.”
Note that IGN’s translation has Watanabe referring to Ed as both “it” and “he.” So, this could be a poor translation or a misinterpretation of a joke made by Watanabe. Without the original text or audio, there’s no way to be sure. However, on-screen evidence supersedes any vague comment from an interview conducted almost 20 years after the series was released.
Is Ed a girl, a boy, or non-binary in the Netflix live-action remake?
While Ed’s actor, Eden Perkins, is non-binary (they/them), they refer to Ed as “she” in an interview on the official aftershow. Other interviews and marketing have also plainly stated that Ed is biologically female and identifies as such.
