<p>In <a href="http://youtu.be/Y4Z1uvexzrQ?t=7m15s">this more recent interview</a> to Shinichiro Watanabe by Red Carpet News TV on MCM London Comic Con 2013, around minute 8 he says:  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I've never actually said whether he is alive or dead in that final scene. That's up to the person watching to decide. I think that people who watch that and think that Spike is asleep are probably right. Just sleeping.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Although he still leaves the matter up to the viewer's interpretation, he seems to suggest that he is more likely to be alive.<br>
Later on on the interview he also states that Spike is his favourite character, but then again, that does not mean he can't die at the end.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-26T18:23:47.080Z
2014-11-19T16:52:05.247Z
2014-11-19T16:52:05.247Z
JNat
<p>Shinichiro Watanabe has stated:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I've never officially said that he died. At this point, I can tell you that I’m not sure if he’s alive or dead</p>
</blockquote>

<p>He decided to leave it open-ended, so, even with the many hypothesis on the internet, I guess the real answer is to ask yourself.</p>

<p>Source is the same as in Rapptz's answer: <a href="http://mrsspooky.net/bebop/TheDailyTexan.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://mrsspooky.net/bebop/TheDailyTexan.pdf</a> at the top of page 5.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T21:09:37.480Z
2016-04-25T07:31:56.287Z
2016-04-25T07:31:56.287Z
Kirby
<p>I feel it was made pretty clear when the star winked out at the end. Spike died. Based on the quotations posted above, however, it seems the creator is giving you permission to believe that Spike is alive if you want to.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-28T06:49:49.030Z
*Spoilers!*  I just finished watching all of Cowboy Bebop again, and I'm starting to think now that the star that winked out was not Spike's, but the star of Vicious.  The guide Jet talked to said that everyone has a star, so I would think that in the case of the final battle, we would have seen two stars wink out instead of just one.  This is my view though and could be wrong.
foxmom85
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-28T06:52:31.190Z
*Spoilers again* Also the ending statement says "You're going to carry that weight," which makes me think it's a message to Spike, saying you will have to carry the weight of your dead love and the fact that you killed the  man who was once your friend.
foxmom85
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-09T02:02:39.817Z
2015-10-09T02:02:39.817Z
Bla
<p>According to Wikipedia:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>However, in an interview, Watanabe stated, “I’ve never officially said that he died. At this point, I can tell you that I’m not sure if he’s alive or dead.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The link to the source is <a href="http://mrsspooky.net/bebop/TheDailyTexan.pdf">here</a>. Though it's very hard to look at it, unfortunately.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-11T21:05:06.750Z
2013-01-24T16:29:30.270Z
2013-01-24T16:29:30.270Z
Rapptz
<p>At the end of the last episode of Cowboy Bebop, Spike collapses.  It's not clear, but it looks as though he may be dead.  Is there a way to know whether he is alive or dead (something in the background, comments from the director, a continuation in the story in the manga, etc.)</p>

<cowboy-bebop>
Do we know what happens to Spike at the end of Cowboy Bebop?
# Do we know what happens to Spike at the end of Cowboy Bebop?
Posted by: username_0 on 2012-12-11
At the end of the last episode of Cowboy Bebop, Spike collapses. It's not clear, but it looks as though he may be dead. Is there a way to know whether he is alive or dead (something in the background, comments from the director, a continuation in the story in the manga, etc.)
**Tags:** cowboy-bebop
---
## 4 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2012-12-11. Score: 34 | Accepted answer
According to Wikipedia:

> However, in an interview, Watanabe stated, “I’ve never officially said that he died. At this point, I can tell you that I’m not sure if he’s alive or dead.”

The link to the source is [here](http://mrsspooky.net/bebop/TheDailyTexan.pdf). Though it's very hard to look at it, unfortunately.
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-26. Score: 18
In [this more recent interview](http://youtu.be/Y4Z1uvexzrQ?t=7m15s) to Shinichiro Watanabe by Red Carpet News TV on MCM London Comic Con 2013, around minute 8 he says:

> I've never actually said whether he is alive or dead in that final scene. That's up to the person watching to decide. I think that people who watch that and think that Spike is asleep are probably right. Just sleeping.

Although he still leaves the matter up to the viewer's interpretation, he seems to suggest that he is more likely to be alive.  
Later on on the interview he also states that Spike is his favourite character, but then again, that does not mean he can't die at the end.
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2012-12-11. Score: 14
Shinichiro Watanabe has stated:

> I've never officially said that he died. At this point, I can tell you that I’m not sure if he’s alive or dead

He decided to leave it open-ended, so, even with the many hypothesis on the internet, I guess the real answer is to ask yourself.

Source is the same as in Rapptz's answer: <http://mrsspooky.net/bebop/TheDailyTexan.pdf> at the top of page 5.
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-10-09. Score: 4
I feel it was made pretty clear when the star winked out at the end. Spike died. Based on the quotations posted above, however, it seems the creator is giving you permission to believe that Spike is alive if you want to.
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2016-01-28): *Spoilers!*  I just finished watching all of Cowboy Bebop again, and I'm starting to think now that the star that winked out was not Spike's, but the star of Vicious.  The guide Jet talked to said that everyone has a star, so I would think that in the case of the final battle, we would have seen two stars wink out instead of just one.  This is my view though and could be wrong.  
> **username_4** (2016-01-28): *Spoilers again* Also the ending statement says "You're going to carry that weight," which makes me think it's a message to Spike, saying you will have to carry the weight of your dead love and the fact that you killed the  man who was once your friend.  
---
