Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop

Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the sci-fi genre since his early days co-directing the acclaimed Macross franchise, notably Macross Plus. Over his illustrious 35-year career, Watanabe has crafted some of the most beloved and influential series, including Cowboy Bebop, his jazz-infused masterpiece. This series follows a ragtag group of space adventurers navigating the neo-noir depths of the cosmos. The iconic score by Yoko Kanno has significantly contributed to Cowboy Bebop's timeless appeal, keeping it relevant through live performances, soundtrack re-releases, and more.

Cowboy Bebop has profoundly influenced the realms of cinema and storytelling, with creators such as Rian Johnson of Star Wars, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino citing it as a major inspiration for their work.

6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop

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Cowboy Bebop is one of the few anime series that has attracted a significant number of non-anime fans, making it a vital and enduring entry in the anime canon. If you're seeking recommendations after your latest (or first) Cowboy Bebop binge, here's a list of the best space-faring, globe-trotting, and morally ambiguous anime to dive into next.

Lazarus

Adult Swim

Our first recommendation is Watanabe's latest series, Lazarus, which premiered its first episode on Adult Swim at midnight on April 5th. Produced by MAPPA and Sola Entertainment, with John Wick director Chad Stahelski overseeing the art direction and original compositions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobo, Lazarus is one of the most anticipated anime releases of the year. It serves as a stylish companion to Cowboy Bebop, returning to the gritty, underdog sci-fi feel of that series, and feels shockingly relevant in 2025.

The plot revolves around a life-saving miracle drug that turns fatal three years after its use, putting millions at risk of sudden death. Enter our hero, Axel, a regular convict and jailbreaker, who must assemble a team to track down the enigmatic doctor who created the drug and convince him to develop an antidote within just 30 days. Buckle up for a thrilling and darkly wild ride.

Terminator Zero

Netflix

Next on our list is Terminator Zero, a grounded and bleak addition to the Terminator universe, directed by Masashi Kudō and produced by Production IG, with creator Mattson Tomlin (known for Project Power on Netflix). While more serious than Cowboy Bebop and much of Watanabe's work, it offers a stylistic flair to the action and impeccable gunplay that will satisfy fans of that aspect of Cowboy Bebop.

As a contemporary sci-fi reckoning with current technology and culture, Terminator Zero stands out in 2025. It's also visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing, making it a perfect choice for fans of Cowboy Bebop's visual style. This series reimagines the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens for the first time.

Space Dandy

Crunchyroll

Another gem from Watanabe's repertoire is Space Dandy, where he served as general director alongside Shingo Natsume. Produced by Studio Bones, this series is a hilarious serialized space opera that harkens back to classic Saturday morning cartoons, evoking the same nostalgia as Cowboy Bebop.

Filled with nods to classic sci-fi and anime, Space Dandy follows the titular character, an outer space bounty hunter on a mission to discover and register new alien lifeforms. With style and swagger reminiscent of Spike and Faye Valentine, Dandy embarks on existential journeys that explore the truths of the universe and his own existence, alongside his quirky crew of a robot and a cat. While not as globally recognized as Cowboy Bebop, it's highly rewatchable and visually captivating.

Lupin III

Tokyo Movie

For a series that captures the adventurous joy and sense of unlimited potential found in Cowboy Bebop, look no further than Lupin III. This delightful crime caper, created by Kazuhiko Katō under the pseudonym Monkey Punch, debuted in 1965 and has since expanded into manga, anime, video games, and numerous films. The best starting point is the 1971 anime adaptation, which introduced audiences to the laid-back criminal Lupin, inspired by the legendary gentleman thief Arsène Lupin.

The first season spans 23 episodes and features directors like Masaaki Ōsumi, and future Studio Ghibli legends Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Fans of Lupin III have five decades of stories, movies, and shows to explore.

Samurai Champloo

Crunchyroll

Samurai Champloo is often considered the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. Conceived while Watanabe was working on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, it shares similarities in art style, structure, and storytelling. However, it diverges into a historical action tale rather than Watanabe's more familiar sci-fi genre. Thematically, it explores life, the cost of freedom, and the struggle to accept mortality, much like Watanabe's other works.

The series follows a trio of morally ambiguous heroes: the outlaw Mugen, the tea server Fuu, and the ronin Jin. Set during the Edo period, Samurai Champloo stands out for its focus on inclusion and tolerance, avoiding nationalistic overtones.

Trigun

Adult Swim

If the allure of Cowboy Bebop lies in its stylistic action and the narrative of a morally complex anti-hero, Trigun will likely become your next favorite anime. Adapted from Yasuhiro Nightow's hit manga, the series debuted in Japan in 1998 and in the US in 2001.

Like Cowboy Bebop, Trigun is a noir-inspired space western with heightened stakes, following Vash, a man with a massive bounty on his head due to his uncontrollable superpowers, which led to the accidental destruction of a city. As we delve into Vash's world, we also explore the motivations of those hunting him, creating a compelling conflict that earned the anime multiple accolades and propelled the manga to sell out in the US.