I also remember that BGC 2040 had different 
character designs because AIC (I think) couldn't 
get the rights to the original character designs 
and were forced to change them.  I agree that 
with most studios, AIC especially, the studio 
picks an art style for the year and every show it 
does that year they all seem to have that style 
no matter whether it is a remake, continuation or 
whatever...although what went really wrong with 
Shin Tenchi I'll never know ^_~  Here's to hoping 
the Cowboy Bebop movie won't be drastically 
changed and that Taro happens to get tons of cels 
from that :)