With Netflix’s live-action Cowboy Bebop shining a spotlight on the seminal anime series, many are experiencing Shinichiro Watanabe’s jazz-fueled neo-noir space opera for the first time. The adventures of Spike Spiegal and his bounty-hunting crew have remained at the top of lists of best anime since the shows original run, and its style and themes have been incredibly influential.
After waving so long to the series, new fans might be looking for something to fill the Bebop-shaped hole in their hearts. And while the anime is really unlike anything else, there are some series whose themes, characters, or settings often resonate with Bebop fans.
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is probably the anime recommended most often to those looking for something like Bebop, which, considering they share a creator, is completely justified. In many ways, Champloo is truly the anime most similar to Bebop, with Watanabe’s strong personal style shining through both series.
Like Bebop, Champloo features a defined setting that’s heavily influenced by music (hip-hop flavored Edo Japan instead of space jazz) and centers a trio of well-developed and engaging characters. Watanabe also explores some similar themes in Champloo through a much different lens, providing an experience reminiscent of Bebop while also being completely unique.
Trigun
Trigun is another obvious choice for Bebop fans, being a space Western starring a “criminal” main character and his various escapades in an episodic, character driven series. However, while they share surface level similarities, Trigun‘s tone and characters are so fully its own that it easily stands apart from Bebop, leaning much more into cat-and-mouse comedy with a heavier emphasis on the Western aspect than Cowboy Bebop‘s heavily noir-influenced approach.
Trigun‘s appeal lies in its main character, Vash the Stampede, who is genuinely fun and endearing while also leading some excellent gun-centric action scenes. His growth from a semi-serious criminal into an antihero facing complicated moral dilemmas feels natural and engaging, guiding the series from simple cowboy fun to an interesting exploration of justice.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
Another classic series, none of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s five currently animated parts (with Part Six: Stone Ocean to be released on Netflix in December) should be skipped. However, Stardust Crusaders, the second JJBA story arc, might especially appeal to Bebop fans. Resembling a road movie, Stardust Crusaders is an adventure story about a small group of characters traveling together on a journey to defeat iconic anime villain Dio.
The focus on character relationships while on this journey and the themes of redemption and revenge certainly echo some of Bebop, but Stardust Crusaders also has a distinct Western influence. Those looking for a more action-packed, over-the-top take on Bebop’s niche Western-influenced character dramas that do not take place in the American West’ genre might find JJBA to be perfect for them. And, most importantly, this anime also has a small dog as a main character.
Noir
Noir is known best for defining the “girls with guns” genre, centering two female assassins trying to uncover the mysteries of their past while also taking on bounties. Bebop fans will enjoy the balance of slick action sequences, episodic storytelling, and a slowly revealed complex, emotional plot. Noir also explores many of the same themes of identity and morality, though its much more serious take might not appeal to some.
Like Bebop, Noir’s soundtrack is one of its greatest strengths, and its music is an integral part of the well-crafted atmosphere of the series. The soundtrack is particularly notable for being one of the first created by renowned anime composer Yuki Kajiura (known for scoring Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sword Art Online, and Demon Slayer), and that alone makes it well-worth the watch.
Ergo Proxy
For those looking for a series that leans more into the neo-noir aspect of Bebop, Ergo Proxy is well worth checking out. A stylish cyberpunk psychological thriller, Ergo Proxy packages its complex, heavily-existential plot in dystopian grime and experimental storytelling. While the show asks a lot more questions than it can answer, the questions themselves (and how they are asked) better suit the show’s handling of philosophy, presenting these kind of thematic interrogations as part of an ongoing process rather than a journey with a distinct destination.
The art direction and designs in Ergo Proxy are also worth highlighting, presenting thrillingly grotesque monsters and inventive cyberpunk landscapes and creations. Faye fans shouldn’t miss out on Re-l, a standout cyberpunk heroine with similar themes of identity and memory, or the inimitable and adorable Pino, who is unarguably the best part of the entire show.
Lupin III Part IV
Lupin III is a classic anime franchise revolving around the antics of gentlemen thief Arsene Lupin III and his friends and enemies. Lupin‘s episodes and story-lines often involve big heists or cons with all the action and mystery that accompanies them, but the highlight of the series has always been the characters. Lupin is an incredibly influential series, and was one of the biggest inspirations for Bebop, which took a more serious, neo-noir lens to Lupin’s structure.
Lupin III Part IV is the 2015 anime series and provides an easy entry point to the long-running franchise, requiring no prior Lupin knowledge. Part IV‘s tone and structure is also more similar to Bebop’s than prior series, balancing the serious and the silly while also working in an interesting and emotionally driven overarching plot.
The Great Pretender
A newer Netflix series, The Great Pretender is a fun crime comedy following a hapless amateur con man getting roped into much bigger schemes (and mysteries) after accidentally partnering with a professional. While the entertainment of watching how the characters manage the situations they find themselves in is a good enough reason to watch, Pretender reveals a surprising amount of depth as it progresses, bolstered by effortlessly endearing characters.
The style of the anime is especially worth noting, excellent art direction highlighting fluid, high-color animation that perfectly compliments the fast-paced criminal antics. Pretender has clearly taken influence from Bebop but its homage is well executed, taking inspiration while still creating something entirely its own.
Darker than Black
Created by one of Bebop’s storyboard artists, Darker than Black feels somewhat like a cousin to Bebop. It similarly focuses on flawed or morally grey characters and episodic storytelling, though Darker than Black is supernatural rather than sci-fi and follows a strict two-episode-arc format. This format lets Darker than Black move between characters and stories with ease, providing a more full and multifaceted view of its world.
The setting, a version of Earth where a Heaven’s and Hell’s Gate spawned and granted people supernatural abilities, is a particular strength of the series. The world-building is well-done and interesting, providing a solid base for Darker than Black’s exploration of justice and responsibility to play out on. Coupled with the strength of the character writing, Darker than Black is an excellent supernatural take on the crime thriller genre.
Monster
Monster takes all of Bebop’s existential anguish and questions of morality and ratchets it up to ten, resulting in a brutal examination of some of the most uncomfortable aspects of human nature. Monster follows Dr. Kenzou Tenma as he deals with the result of choosing to save the life of a young boy instead of his town’s mayor, specifically his incredible sense of guilt and respectability when that boy grows up to become a serial killer.
Monster is, put simply, a cat-and-mouse game between the doctor and his “monster,” but the incredible writing of the series expands that into an engaging psychological thriller, balancing nerve-wracking action, genuine horror, and stark philosophical questioning. The well-executed atmosphere compliments the constantly mounting suspense, and the depth of the characters makes Monster’s worst moments hit all that much harder.
Michiko & Hatchin
If there is a series that can match Bebop for style, its Michiko & Hatchin. Following escaped-convict Michiko and runaway Hatchin as they flee from their dangerous wasteland city on a motorcycle, the show balances its flashy, stylish animation with a deeply emotional story examining abuse, poverty, and systemic violence and oppression. But, more than that, it’s the story of Michiko and Hatchin, whose development throughout the series reveals an impressive depth of character writing.
Like Bebop, music plays an integral part in setting the tone for the series, as important as the art in establishing thrilling chase scenes or soft character moments. Without its soundtrack, Michiko & Hatchin would be missing a very fundamental part of itself, and the interplay between the art, the writing, and the music makes for an unmissable anime experience.
