Shinichirō Watanabe has been blazing a sci-fi trail since his co-direction stint on the popular Macross franchise, Macross Plus. Over his illustrious 35-year career, he 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 as they navigate the neo-noir expanse of deep space. Cowboy Bebop's timeless appeal is significantly enhanced by Yoko Kanno's iconic score, which has kept the series in the public consciousness through live performances, soundtrack rereleases, and more.
The impact of this renowned science fiction show extends far beyond its fanbase, influencing creators like Rian Johnson of Star Wars fame, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino. These creators cite Cowboy Bebop as a massive influence on their work, highlighting its role in shaping cinema and storytelling.
6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop
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Cowboy Bebop stands as one of the few anime series that has successfully captured the attention of non-anime fans. Its enduring popularity, critical acclaim, and cultural impact make it a vital entry in the anime canon. If you're looking for what to watch after your latest (or first) Cowboy Bebop binge, here's a curated 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 newest 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 art and original compositions by Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, Lazarus is generating significant buzz as one of the most anticipated anime releases of the year. It serves as a great stylistic companion to Cowboy Bebop, returning to the grungier, underdog sci-fi style of that series, which feels shockingly relevant in 2025.
The series follows the invention of a life-saving miracle drug that turns fatal three years after its use, putting millions at risk of sudden death. Enter Axel, a regular convict and jailbreaker, who must assemble a team to find the enigmatic doctor behind the drug and enlist him to create an antidote within just 30 days. Start the countdown and buckle up for a darkly thrilling ride.
Terminator Zero
Netflix
For those who enjoy the more grounded and bleak aspects of sci-fi, Terminator Zero is an impressive addition to the Terminator lore. Directed by Masashi Kudō and produced by Production IG, with creator Mattson Tomlin (known for the Netflix film Project Power starring Jamie Foxx), this series offers a serious yet stylistically rich take on action that will satisfy your craving for the kind of gunplay seen in Cowboy Bebop.
Terminator Zero is unparalleled in its contemporary reckoning with technology and culture, making it a must-watch in 2025. For those seeking an aesthetically pleasing modern anime that matches Cowboy Bebop's visual allure, this stunningly slick series offers a fresh perspective on the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens.
Space Dandy
Crunchyroll
This entry in the Shinichirō Watanabe catalog saw him step back to serve as general director alongside Shingo Natsume's direction for this humorous serialized space opera, brought to life by the Japanese animation studio Bones. If you're looking for an easy, breezy throwback to classic Saturday morning cartoon fare that evokes the same nostalgia as Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is a fantastic choice.
Filled with nods to classic sci-fi and anime, this charming adventure follows the titular Dandy, an outer space bounty hunter whose mission is to discover and register new alien lifeforms. With style and swagger akin to Spike and Faye Valentine, Dandy's journey takes unexpected and existential turns as he explores the truths of the universe and his own existence alongside his robot and cat crew. While it may not have achieved the global success of Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is deeply rewatchable, visually appealing, and incredibly fun.
Lupin 3rd
Tokyo Movie
If you seek a series that captures the same adventurous joy and sense of limitless potential as Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III is the perfect choice. This delightfully fun crime caper, debuting in 1965 and written by Kazuhiko Katō under the pseudonym Monkey Punch, has since expanded across manga, anime, video games, and multiple cinematic releases. The best place to start is the 1971 anime adaptation, which introduced audiences to Lupin, a laid-back criminal inspired by the legendary gentleman thief Arsene Lupin.
The first season comprises 23 episodes and features directors like Masaaki Ōsumi, along with future Studio Ghibli legends Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. It's an excellent entry point into the world of Lupin III, and fans will be pleased to know there are five decades of stories, movies, and shows to explore afterward.
Samurai Champloo
Crunchyroll
Samurai Champloo is often regarded as the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. Conceived while Watanabe worked on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, the series shares a similar art style, structure, and storytelling approach. However, it surprises by being a historical action tale rather than the sci-fi genre Watanabe is known for. Despite the different setting, the series remains deeply concerned with life, the cost of freedom, and the struggle to overcome and accept mortality.
Like much of Watanabe's work, Samurai Champloo centers on a group of morally-compromised heroes: an outlaw named Mugen, a tea server Fuu, and a ronin named Jin. A standout feature of the series is its period setting, which inspired Watanabe to emphasize themes of inclusion and tolerance, avoiding nationalistic overtones.
Trigun
Adult Swim
If the stylistic action and the allure of a morally complex anti-hero against the world excite you about Cowboy Bebop, then Trigun is likely to become your next favorite anime. Adapted from the hit manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, which originally ran in Monthly Shonen Captain, the series debuted in Japan in 1998 and reached the US three years later, right at the turn of the millennium.
Trigun, like Cowboy Bebop, is a noir-inspired space western but with heightened stakes. It follows Vash, a man with a colossal bounty on his head due to his uncontrollable superpowers, which led to the accidental destruction of a city. As we delve into Vash's story, we also explore those trying to capture him, setting up a compelling conflict that propelled the anime onto multiple best-of-the-year lists and made the source manga a sell-out success in the US.
