Top 15 Awesome Anime Similar to Cowboy Bebop

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Published:

02/01/2023

Updated on: 08/01/2023

Cowboy Bebop depicts the tale of the misadventures of the residents of Spaceship Bebop. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, are bounty hunters who travel through space and catch criminals for a living. On their journey, they are joined by Faye Valentine, an amnesiac con artist, Edward, a child-hacker, and his genetically improvised dog Ed, and end up working together. As they travel further in their life and space, enemies from Spike’s past come back to haunt him. Now, he has to choose between his life with his found family or taking revenge for what’s lost.

It’s a well-written, character-driven story with a film-noir theme. The series is directed by Shinichiro Watanabe with a genre-hybrid concept. It is a fantastic mix of beautiful animation style, original plot, action, space opera, western-themed fiction, comedy, and thriller, topped with an amazing soundtrack. No doubt, you can’t get enough of it. Hence, here is a list of 15 anime series similar to Cowboy Bebop to keep you going.

So, Here are 15 Anime Similar to Cowboy Bebop

Not to keep you waiting any longer, here’s the list. Have a nice time watching your next series.

1. Trigun

Trigun is a series similar to Cowboy Bebop with a western theme revolving around bounty hunters filled with comedy and action. Trigun is like a rollercoaster, filled with lots of ups and downs. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, it has a heap of comedy with melancholic elements giving everything more dimension, making the characters oddly endearing.

The story revolves around Vash, a gunman, also known as ‘the Humanoid Typhoon’ for destroying a whole city with his powers, who has a 60 Billion bounty over his head. Known to cause chaos and destruction everywhere he goes, two insurance agents, Meryl and Milly are assigned to keep him in check. Expecting to meet a ruthless villain who loves death and destruction, they are surprised by Vash’s soft and doughnut-obsessed personality.

2. City Hunter

City Hunter gives a big Cowboy Bebop vibe. You can even find similarities between Spike and Ryo. Both characters are easygoing, skilled, almost always broke, and give their (only financially smart person) partners a hard time, all the time. Although Cty Hunter is not set in a futuristic sci-fi setting, it is similar to Cowboy Bebop an action series filled with comedy and lovable characters.

Saeba Ryo is not only the infamous gun-for-hire City Hunter but also a mokkori-motivated pervert who will take any case as long as a beautiful woman is involved. The only thing stopping him from achieving his goal is his partner Kaori and her 100-ton Hammer. But don’t undermine his skills because of his easy-going womanizing behavior. He will always have the upper hand whether it’s a pickpocket, a gangster, a syndicate, or an assassin.

3. Space Dandy

Similar to Cowboy Bebop

Do you think aliens exist? How many species do you think exist in the Universe? No one knows. And that is why Space Dandy is there. He is one of many bounty hunters whose job is to find new species of aliens and get them registered, for a hefty amount of reward in return. Similar to Cowboy Bepop, it is also a fasted paced space-adventure comedy with a lot of action, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe.

If you think being a space hunter is simple fun and games, then you are absolutely mistaken. Dandy faces new danger every day, traveling to the furthest corners of space while fighting his rivals and trying to stay clear of the evil scientist Dr. Gel. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, he also has a dysfunctional family for a crew that brings out the best humor, drama, and action to keep you entertained.

4. Outlaw Star

Another space opera similar to Cowboy Bebop is Outlaw Star. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this series also starts with a bounty hunter crew of two that soon find themselves in a heap of trouble. Gene Starwind and Jim Hawking are a team of bounty hunters on the planet Sentinel III, who are ready to take up any type of job for money. Their life becomes hectic mess, with a bounty on their own head, when a lady named Hilda hires them as bodyguards.

Now, Gene and the crew are on a treasure hunt for a treasure trove called Galactic Leyline, which can give them unlimited power; but with cops, pirates, aliens, and assassin’s on their trial. However, as long as they have the most advanced spaceship in the Galaxy they can outrun anyone.

5. Carole and Tuesday

Carole and Tuesday take place in the same universe as the Cowboy Bebop. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, it’s also directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and takes place just a few years after it. Humanity and AI have advanced enough to live comfortably on Mars now. In this world, where almost everything is produced by AI, even music, Carole, a poor part-timer, and Tuesday, a runaway from a wealthy family, want to make their own music.

Maybe now, that they are together, they stand a chance to fulfill their dream of pursuing music. Although the theme of the two series is different, you should still give it a try. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, it is also a futuristic sci-fi series with a realistic and gritty but artistic setting.

6. Gun x Sword

It’s a story of a lanky swordsman Van, whose only reason for living is to take revenge for the death of his bride Elena. Gun x Sword is another Western-style action-packed anime similar to Cowboy Bebop. On his journey to find his fiance’s killer, a mysterious man with a clawed hand, he saves a town from bandits, and acquire’s a new companion Wendy, who’s searching for her kidnapped older brother. Now, the two continue on the journey together, meeting new friends and does on the way.

Gun x Sword has a theme similar to Cowboy Bebop, with a mix of Mecha and revenge thrown the mix. It’s a fabulous series with well-written storytelling and amazing characters, that will get you hooked up in no time.

7. Black Lagoon

Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this series is also character driven and focuses on the dark past of the main characters, with lots of action, gunfights, and dark humor. The story starts with Rokurou Okajima, a businessman going on a negotiation trip that ends up with him taken hostage by a mercenary pirate crew called Lagoon Company. And when his superiors refuse to pay for his random, he decides to join the crew that kidnapped him.

Unexpected turn of events, right? But not as much as his life was going to be. Black Lagoon is also about morally ambiguous characters similar to Cowboy Bebop, except instead of space, the series takes place in the oceans.

8. Bubblegum Crisis

Similar to Cowboy Bebop, Bubblegum Crisis also has a futuristic setting centered around a group of mercenaries. The series is set in 2032 japan, where after the second great Kanto earthquake, Tokyo is divided into two parts. Genom, a powerful corporation has employed Boomers to help rebuild the city and assist humans. But some of them are going rogue and causing chaos and AD police are unable to stop them.

Knight Saber is a vigilante team and the only hope of people against these boomers. They are not only stopping the boomers from causing chaos but also trying to bring forth the truth and corruption behind the Genom. Although it’s not set in space, the vibe and the anime style of the series are still quite similar to Cowboy Bebop.

9. The Big O

Can you imagine a whole city, not one or two people, but a whole city forgetting everything about its past beyond a certain time? Hard to think right? But this is what happened with the residents of Paradigm City. It’s a city shrouded in mystery and amnesia. Roger smith, a city resident, started as a professional negotiator but somehow ended up as the gray Knight of the city, serving Justice to the villains of the city with the help of a gigantic relic robot named Big O and unfolding the truth behind the events that happened 40-years-ago.

Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this series is also presented in a noir style with a futuristic setting and Western theme. If you liked Cowboy Bebop, then you will probably like the Big O with its amazing background and unique plotline.

10. Iria : Zeiram The Animation

The concept of different planets and their inhabitants existing together is intriguing, isn’t it? Similar to Cowboy Bepop, in Iria, a world with several different planets with their own traditions and customs exists, with easy travel connecting each other. The story is about two siblings, Gren and Iria. Gren is a skilled bounty hunter who takes up a job to find out the mystery relating to the lost crew and cargo of a space station. But in his pursuit of the truth, Gren loses his life.

And now Iria is searching for Zeiram, the monster that killed her brother while trying to expose a conspiracy that might shake world peace. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, Iria is also gonna keep you engaged and entertained. It’s a beautiful story, do give it a try.

11. Hyper Police

Can you imagine a time when humanity is an endangered species? In the present time and nature, probably not. But in an alternate universe, where monsters, humans, and goblin lives together, humans are far too less and their rights are protected by the law from their more powerful counterparts.

Sasahara Natsuki, a half-human half-cat beast, is a rookie bounty Hunter in the Police Company, assigned to pursue the monsters infringing the rights of the humans. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this is another intriguing series with awesome characters and unique background. It’s an entertaining series with lots of laughs and action that will have you wanting more episodes.

12. Rage of Bahamut

It’s another bounty hunter series similar to Cowboy Bebop with a fast-paced storyline. In a world where humans, demons, and Gods live together peacefully, Favaro Leone and Kaisar Lidfard are bounty hunters. One day Favaro meets a mysterious girl named Amira, who contracts him to take her to Helheim, to find her lost mother. Later the two are joined by Kaisar, a fallen Knight who considers Favaro as his arch-nemesis.

The two unknowingly get involved in a battle of humans, good and demons, and the conspiracy of the revival of Bahamut. Now, Favaro and Kaisar, with a newfound team are burdened as heroes to save the world from its conspiring destruction. It has drama, suspense, and a lot of action, similar to Cowboy Bebop. Give it a try, you might come to like it.

13. Mezzo

Some people are motivated by money or fame, then there are some people, who are motivated by thrill. This is a story of a group of people who will do anything as long as there is danger… and of course, money. Similar to Cowboy bebop, this is also a thrilling series filled with action and gunfights, revolving around a group of misfits. Mezzo is about a private contract agency called DSA or Danger Service Agency, run by three eccentric (for lack of a better word) individuals, Mikura, Harada, and Kurokawa.

They are ready to take any job irrespective of danger as long as it gives good money. If you enjoyed the deadly chase, shot out, and combat in Cowboy Bebop, then you will love this series. It is not only light-hearted but filled if interesting characters and fantastic art.

14. Coyote Ragtime Show

Promises are meant to be kept, right? Even if you have to stage a prison break just before 10 days of your release. Well, this is the rule that Mister goes by. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this anime is also a space opera revolving around criminals filled with adventure. The series orbits around the adventure of Mister, a space coyote who sets out to help Franka, acquire the treasurer left by her late father. But it’s not so easy, with federal agents and the criminal guild’s assassin on the tag and his two old partners as the only help.

If you enjoyed Cowboy Bebop, then this is a series you should give a try too. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, it is sci-fi with a fabulous mix of action and comedy, roped together by a game of chase between the cops and bounty hunters.

15. Ghost in the Shell

It’s another futuristic sci-fi anime similar to Cowboy Bebop. Similar to Cowboy Bebop, this series is set in a world where humans have significantly advanced in technology. Now, people can change their body parts with cybernetics and increase their physical and cybernetic power. Criminals have also found innovative ways to use these cybernetics and commit dangerous crimes. The Japanese government has established a special unit called Section 9 that deals with sensitive crimes.

Daisuke and Motoko, successful head of Section 9, are now faced with a new level-A threat, a hacker named ‘The LAughing Man’, who is leaving nothing but a trail of amnesiac people to lead them. Although it’s not a space or bounty hunter-related series but the fabulous knit between cybernetics, thriller, and the Western theme will surely remind you of cowboy Bebop.

So, here are some series similar to Cowboy Bebop to keep your enthusiasm for space fantasy and bounty hunters going. Most of these series relates to the same genre or theme of Cowboy Bebop, such as space-fantasy, action-adventure, thriller, neo-noir, and western theme. Hope you find an anime to enjoy after watching Cowboy Bebop in this list. Do comment below and let us know which of these series you enjoyed the most.

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2 comments


  1. i like Iria : Zeiram The Animation

    • Oh!! That’s a good one. I like City Hunter and Trigun the most.