Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the sci-fi genre since his co-direction of the acclaimed Macross franchise, Macross Plus. Throughout his 35-year career, he has crafted some of the most cherished and influential series, including his jazz-infused masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop. This series follows a ragtag group of space adventurers navigating the cosmos with a neo-noir flair. The timeless appeal of Cowboy Bebop is significantly bolstered by Yoko Kanno's iconic score, which has kept the series relevant through live performances, soundtrack rereleases, and more.
Cowboy Bebop's impact extends beyond its fanbase, influencing creators across the globe, including Rian Johnson of Star Wars, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino. These creators have cited Cowboy Bebop as a major influence on their work, showcasing its profound effect on storytelling and cinema.
6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop
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Cowboy Bebop has not only captivated anime enthusiasts but also attracted a broader audience, cementing its place as a vital and enduring entry in the anime canon. If you're looking for your next watch after a Cowboy Bebop binge, here are some of the best space-faring, globe-trotting, 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 art and original compositions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, Lazarus is one of the most anticipated anime releases of the year. It serves as a stylistic companion to Cowboy Bebop, returning to the gritty, underdog sci-fi that characterized that series, and feels remarkably relevant in 2025.
The series revolves around 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 mysterious doctor who created the drug and enlist his help to develop an antidote within just 30 days. Buckle up for a thrilling, darkly wild ride.
Terminator Zero
Netflix
Continuing with a more grounded and bleak approach to sci-fi, next up is Terminator Zero, an impressive addition to the Terminator lore. Directed by Masashi Kudō, produced by Production IG, and created by Mattson Tomlin (director of the Netflix film Project Power starring Jamie Foxx), this series, while more serious than Bebop, offers a stylistic flair in its action sequences and impeccable gunplay that will satisfy fans of Cowboy Bebop's action-packed scenes.
Terminator Zero stands out as a top-tier sci-fi series in 2025, reflecting contemporary technology and culture. It's a must-watch, especially for those seeking an aesthetically pleasing and boundary-pushing anime that's as visually captivating as Cowboy Bebop. The series offers a fresh, Japanese perspective on the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day.
Space Dandy
Crunchyroll
Space Dandy, another addition to the Shinichirō Watanabe catalog, saw him step back to serve as general director, with Shingo Natsume directing. Produced by the Japanese animation studio Bones, this series offers a hilarious, serialized space opera that harks back to classic Saturday morning cartoons, evoking the same nostalgia as Cowboy Bebop.
Filled with references 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. As stylish as Spike and Faye Valentine, Dandy's swagger is undeniable. While the premise may seem simple, the show delves into unexpected and existential territories as Dandy explores the truths of the universe and his own existence alongside his quirky crew of a robot and a cat. Though it may not have achieved the same global success as Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is highly rewatchable, visually stunning, and incredibly entertaining.
Lupin 3rd
Tokyo Movie
For a series that captures the same adventurous spirit and sense of limitless potential as Cowboy Bebop, look no further than Lupin III. Since its debut in 1965, written by Kazuhiko Katō under the pseudonym Monkey Punch, this charming franchise has expanded across manga, anime, video games, and numerous cinematic releases. The best place to start is the 1971 anime adaptation, which introduced audiences to Lupin, a laid-back criminal inspired by the fictional gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin.
The first season, comprising 23 episodes, was directed by Masaaki Ōsumi, along with future Studio Ghibli legends Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. It's an excellent introduction to Lupin III, and fans can explore five decades of stories, movies, and shows that follow.
Samurai Champloo
Crunchyroll
Samurai Champloo stands as the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. Conceived while Watanabe worked on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, its art style, structure, and storytelling reflect this influence. Though it diverges into historical action rather than sci-fi, Samurai Champloo shares Cowboy Bebop's thematic concerns with life, the cost of freedom, and the struggle to accept mortality.
The series follows a trio of morally ambiguous heroes: an outlaw named Mugen, a tea server Fuu, and a ronin named Jin. Set in the Edo period, Watanabe's inclusion of themes of tolerance and inclusivity adds a modern touch to this historical tale, steering clear of nationalistic overtones.
Trigun
Adult Swim
If Cowboy Bebop's stylistic action and morally complex anti-hero captivate you, then Trigun is likely to become your next favorite anime. Adapted from Yasuhiro Nightow's hit manga of the same name, which originally ran in Monthly Shonen Captain, Trigun debuted in Japan in 1998 and in the US three years later, at the dawn of the new millennium.
Like Cowboy Bebop, Trigun is a noir-inspired space western but with heightened stakes. It follows 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 story, we also learn about those pursuing him, creating a compelling conflict that propelled the anime onto numerous best-of-the-year lists and boosted the manga's sales to sell-out levels in the US.
