History Trivia / CowboyBebopKnockinOnHeavensDoor

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Despite at one point being widely available, in recent years the film has become incredibly hard to find as it is not available on any streaming platforms, isn't available for digital purchase, and was not included on the complete series Blu-Ray. The only current means to watch it officially is to buy an out-of-print DVD second hand, or a PAL-region exclusive Blu-Ray. It was briefly available on Tubi in 2023, but has since been removed.

** Though Creator/{{Sunrise}} was still involved, the film's animation was handled by Bones, as most of the series' staff went over to that company after it ended.

* BTeamSequel: The original anime was produced entirely in-house at Sunrise; ''Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' was instead animated by Studio Bones.

** Though Creator/{{Sunrise}} was still involved, the film's animation was handled by Bones.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Despite at one point being widely available, in recent years the film has become incredibly hard to find as it is not available on any streaming platforms[[note]]Funimation's website states it is available on there, however that is not actually the case[[/note]], isn't available for digital purchase, and was not included on the complete series Blu-Ray. The only current means to watch it officially is to buy an out-of-print DVD second hand, or a PAL-region exclusive Blu-Ray. It was briefly available on Tubi in 2023, but has since been removed.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Despite at one point being widely available, in recent years the film has become incredibly hard to find as it is not available on any streaming platforms[[note]]Funimation's website states it is available on there, however that is not actually the case[[/note]], isn't available for digital purchase, and was not included on the complete series Blu-Ray. The only current means to watch it officially is to buy an out-of-print DVD second hand, or a PAL-region exclusive Blu-Ray.

* BTeamSequel: The original anime was produced by Sunrise; ''Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' was produced by Bones.

* BTeamSequel: This is the first ''Cowboy Bebop'' film not to be animated by Sunrise; instead, it was produced by Bones.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Once the decision was made to make the film a stand-alone interquel rather than a prequel (see WhatCouldHaveBeen), it left the creative team with a specific window for telling a story with the full ''Bebop'' crew during the series. The story would have to take place at some point after the ending of Episode 9 (when Ed had joined the crew, thereby completing the full roster), but prior to the events of Episode 24 (wherein Ed and Faye had both left the ''Bebop''). Watanabe ultimately settled on the interim between Episodes 22 and 23.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Shinichiro Watanabe's original idea for a ''Cowboy Bebop'' movie was a prequel detailing Spike's time in the Red Dragon syndicate and his past with Vicious and Julia. However, when he realized one of the defining characteristics of the series was the ''lack'' of exposition or backstory. Thus, he revised the movie into a standalone story - ''Knockin' On Heaven's Door'' was the result.

** Though Creator/{{Sunrise}} was still involved, the film's animation was handled by Creator/{{Bones}}.

* StudioHop: While the original anime was licensed by Bandai Entertainment in North America, the film was licensed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for a worldwide release.

* CelebrityVoiceActor: The English dub features veteran actor Nicholas Guest (the real-life brother of Creator/ChristopherGuest) as Rashid.

* CelebrityVoiceActor: The English dub features veteran actor Nicholas Guest as Rashid.

* CelebrityVoiceActor: The English dub features veteran actor Nicholas Guest as Rasheed.

** In the Latin America Spanish dub, Yamil Atala voiced Spike due to his original voice actor Genaro Vásquez moving to Canada at the time.

* CelebrityVoiceActor: The English dub features veteran actor Nicholas Guest as Rashid.