Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the realm of sci-fi anime since his early days co-directing the acclaimed Macross series, specifically Macross Plus. Over his illustrious 35-year career, he has crafted some of the most cherished and influential anime, including Cowboy Bebop, his jazz-infused masterpiece. This series follows a motley crew of space adventurers as they navigate the cosmos with a neo-noir flair. Cowboy Bebop's timeless appeal is significantly enhanced by Yoko Kanno's iconic score, which continues to captivate audiences through live performances and soundtrack re-releases, keeping the series firmly in the public's eye.
The impact of Cowboy Bebop extends far beyond its fanbase, influencing a wide range of creators in cinema and storytelling. Notable figures such as Rian Johnson of Star Wars fame, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino have all cited Cowboy Bebop as a major influence on their work.
6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop
6 Images
Cowboy Bebop is not only a staple within the anime community but has also attracted a significant number of viewers from outside the anime fandom. This broad appeal, along with its enduring legacy, solidifies its place as a seminal work in the anime canon. If you're looking for what to watch after your latest (or first) Cowboy Bebop marathon, we've compiled a list of the best space-faring, globe-trotting, and morally-ambiguous anime to explore next.
Lazarus
Our first recommendation is Watanabe's latest series, Lazarus, which premiered on Adult Swim at midnight on April 5th. Produced by MAPPA and Sola Entertainment, with John Wick's Chad Stahelski overseeing the art direction and original compositions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, Lazarus has generated significant buzz as one of the year's most anticipated anime releases. As a stylistic companion to Cowboy Bebop, Lazarus harks back to the gritty, underdog sci-fi of Watanabe's earlier works, feeling remarkably relevant in 2025.
The series revolves around a life-saving drug that turns deadly three years after its administration, putting millions at risk. Enter Axel, a convict and jailbreaker, who must assemble a team to track down the elusive doctor behind the drug and create an antidote within 30 days. Brace yourself for a thrilling, dark journey.
Terminator Zero
Staying with the gritty and bleak sci-fi theme, Terminator Zero is an impressive addition to the Terminator franchise, directed by Masashi Kudō and produced by Production IG with creator Mattson Tomlin. While it leans more towards seriousness than Cowboy Bebop, its action sequences and gunplay carry a stylistic flair that will satisfy fans of Watanabe's signature style.
Terminator Zero offers a contemporary take on sci-fi, addressing current technological and cultural issues, making it a must-watch in 2025. If you're seeking a visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing anime, this series delivers with its slick, boundary-pushing style, presenting the Terminator's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens for the first time.
Space Dandy
Space Dandy is another gem from Watanabe's portfolio, where he served as general director alongside Shingo Natsume. Produced by Bones, this light-hearted space opera is a delightful nod to classic Saturday morning cartoons, offering a nostalgic experience akin to Cowboy Bebop.
Packed with references to classic sci-fi and anime, Space Dandy follows the titular character, a stylish outer space bounty hunter on a mission to discover and register new alien species. As Dandy and his quirky crew—a robot and a cat—embark on their adventures, the series takes unexpected existential turns, exploring the truths of the universe and Dandy's own existence. While it may not have achieved the global success of Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is highly rewatchable and beautifully animated, providing endless fun.
Lupin 3rd
For those seeking the same sense of adventure and limitless potential as Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III is an excellent choice. This charming crime caper, which debuted in 1965, has expanded across various media, including manga, anime, video games, and films. The 1971 anime adaptation, directed by Masaaki Ōsumi and featuring early work from Studio Ghibli legends Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is a great starting point.
The series introduces us to Lupin, a laid-back criminal inspired by the fictional gentleman thief Arsene Lupin. With 23 episodes in the first season, Lupin III offers a delightful entry into its expansive universe, with decades of stories, movies, and shows awaiting fans who wish to delve deeper.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is often regarded as the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. Developed while Watanabe worked on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, this series shares similarities in art style, structure, and storytelling. However, Samurai Champloo diverges into historical action, set in the Edo period, yet it retains Watanabe's thematic focus on life, freedom, and mortality.
The narrative follows a trio of morally complex heroes: the outlaw Mugen, the tea server Fuu, and the ronin Jin. A notable aspect of Samurai Champloo is its emphasis on inclusion and tolerance, reflecting Watanabe's progressive approach to storytelling and avoiding nationalistic overtones.
Trigun
If the allure of Cowboy Bebop lies in its stylish action and the journey of a morally complex anti-hero, Trigun is an anime that will resonate deeply with you. Adapted from Yasuhiro Nightow's manga, which ran in Monthly Shonen Captain, Trigun debuted in Japan in 1998 and reached US audiences in 2001.
Like Cowboy Bebop, Trigun is a noir-inspired space western, but with heightened stakes as it follows Vash, a man with a massive bounty due to his uncontrollable superpowers that led to the destruction of a city. As we uncover Vash's story and those hunting him, the series sets up a compelling conflict that earned it spots on numerous best-of lists and propelled the manga to sell out in the US.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
