Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the sci-fi genre since his co-direction of the Macross franchise's Macross Plus. Over his illustrious 35-year career, he has crafted some of the most cherished and influential series, including Cowboy Bebop, his jazz-infused masterpiece. This series follows a group of unconventional space adventurers navigating the cosmos with a neo-noir flair. A significant part of Cowboy Bebop's enduring appeal is its iconic score by Yoko Kanno, which has kept the series relevant through live performances, soundtrack re-releases, and more.
Cowboy Bebop has significantly influenced cinema and storytelling, with creators like Rian Johnson of Star Wars, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino all 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 captivated even those who typically don't watch anime. Its impact and staying power make it a cornerstone of the anime canon. If you're looking for what to watch next after a Cowboy Bebop binge, here's a curated list of space-faring, globe-trotting, and morally ambiguous anime that you'll love.
Lazarus
Our top 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 and original compositions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, Lazarus has generated significant buzz. It's a stylistic match for Cowboy Bebop, revisiting the gritty, underdog sci-fi of Watanabe's earlier work, feeling remarkably relevant in 2025.
The series revolves around a life-saving drug that turns fatal three years after use, endangering millions. Enter Axel, a convict and jailbreaker, who assembles a team to find the drug's creator and develop an antidote within 30 days. Buckle up for a thrilling, dark journey.
Terminator Zero
Next, we have Terminator Zero, a grounded and bleak take on sci-fi directed by Masashi Kudō, produced by Production IG, and created by Mattson Tomlin. While more serious than Cowboy Bebop, it offers the same stylistic action and impeccable gunplay, filling the void left by Bebop.
Terminator Zero stands out for its contemporary take on sci-fi, addressing current technology and culture. It's a must-watch in 2025, offering a visually stunning and boundary-pushing series that reimagines the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens.
Space Dandy
Space Dandy, another entry in Watanabe's portfolio, sees him stepping back to serve as general director alongside Shingo Natsume. This lighthearted space opera, brought to life by Bones, offers a nostalgic nod to classic Saturday morning cartoons.
The series follows the stylish and charismatic Dandy, an outer space bounty hunter on a mission to discover and register new alien species. While the premise might seem simple, Space Dandy delves into existential themes as Dandy explores the universe's truths and his own existence, all while hunting aliens with his robot and cat companions. Though it didn't achieve the global success of Cowboy Bebop, it's highly rewatchable and a joy to watch.
Lupin III
For a series that captures the same adventurous spirit and limitless potential as Cowboy Bebop, look no further than Lupin III. Debuting in 1965, created by Kazuhiko Katō under the pseudonym Monkey Punch, this franchise spans manga, anime, video games, and films. The best starting point is the 1971 anime adaptation, introducing audiences to the laid-back criminal Lupin, inspired by the fictional gentleman thief Arsène Lupin.
With 23 episodes in its first season, directed by talents like Masaaki Ōsumi, Hayao Miyazaki, and Isao Takahata, Lupin III offers a gateway to a vast universe of stories, movies, and shows that span five decades.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop, developed while Watanabe worked on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Though set in a historical context rather than sci-fi, it shares Bebop's focus on life, freedom, and mortality.
The series follows a trio of morally ambiguous heroes: the outlaw Mugen, the tea server Fuu, and the ronin Jin. Notably, Samurai Champloo emphasizes themes of inclusion and tolerance, avoiding nationalistic overtones, showcasing Watanabe's forward-thinking approach.
Trigun
If you're drawn to Cowboy Bebop's stylish action and morally complex anti-hero, Trigun is an excellent follow-up. Adapted from Yasuhiro Nightow's manga, which ran in Monthly Shonen Captain, the series debuted in Japan in 1998 and in the US in 2001.
Trigun is a noir-inspired space western, following Vash, a man with a massive bounty on his head due to his uncontrollable superpowers, which once led to the destruction of a city. As we delve into Vash's story and those pursuing him, the series unfolds a gripping conflict that earned it spots on multiple best-of lists and boosted the manga's sales in the US.
