Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the sci-fi genre ever since his co-direction of the acclaimed Macross franchise, specifically Macross Plus. Throughout his illustrious 35-year career, Watanabe has crafted some of the most beloved and influential series, including his jazz-infused masterpiece, Cowboy Bebop. This iconic series follows a band of ragtag space adventurers navigating the neo-noir depths of space. Cowboy Bebop's timeless appeal is significantly enhanced by its legendary score, composed by Yoko Kanno, which has kept the series in the public eye through live performances, soundtrack re-releases, and more.
This renowned science fiction show has not only captivated audiences but has also shaped cinema and storytelling. Influential creators such as Rian Johnson of Star Wars fame, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Diego Molano of Victor and Valentino have all cited Cowboy Bebop as a major influence on their work.
6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop
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Cowboy Bebop stands out as one of the few anime series that have garnered attention even from those not typically drawn to anime. Its enduring popularity and impact make it a vital and long-lasting entry in the anime canon. If you're looking for what to watch next after a Cowboy Bebop binge, we've curated a list of the best space-faring, globe-trotting, and morally-ambiguous anime that you can 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 the 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 style of that series—distinct from his more recent works like Carole & Tuesday—and 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 our hero, Axel, a regular convict and jailbreaker, who must assemble a team to find the elusive doctor who created the drug and enlist his help to create an antidote within just 30 days. So, start the countdown and prepare for a darkly thrilling ride.
Terminator Zero
Netflix
Continuing with the grounded and bleak take on sci-fi, next up is Terminator Zero, an impressive addition to the Terminator lore from director Masashi Kudō, Production IG, and creator Mattson Tomlin, known for directing the Netflix film Project Power. While it's more serious than Bebop—and much of Watanabe's work—it offers a stylistic flair to the action and impeccable gunplay that will satisfy fans of Cowboy Bebop's action sequences.
When it comes to contemporary sci-fi that grapples with today's technology and culture, Terminator Zero is unparalleled, making it a must-watch in 2025. If you're seeking an aesthetically pleasing modern anime that's as visually striking as Cowboy Bebop, you'll struggle to find a better option than this sleek, boundary-pushing series that reimagines the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens for the first time.
Space Dandy
Crunchyroll
This addition to the Shinichirō Watanabe catalog sees the trailblazer stepping back to serve as general director to Shingo Natsume's direction in this hilarious serialized space opera, brought to screens by the Japanese animation studio Bones. If you're craving an easy, breezy throwback to classic Saturday morning cartoons that evokes the same nostalgia as Cowboy Bebop, this is an excellent choice.
Filled with nods to countless 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. Just as stylish as Spike and Faye Valentine, Dandy has enough swagger to save the world. Though the premise may seem simple, the show ventures into unexpected and existential territories as Dandy uncovers the truths of the universe and his own existence while hunting aliens alongside his endearing crew of a robot and a cat. While it might not have achieved the global reach and success of Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is deeply rewatchable, visually stunning, and incredibly fun.
Lupin III
Tokyo Movie
If you're seeking a series that captures the adventurous spirit and sense of limitless potential found in Cowboy Bebop, look no further than the delightfully fun crime caper 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. For on-screen adaptations, the best starting point is the 1971 anime of the same name, which introduced audiences to Lupin, a uniquely laid-back criminal inspired by the legendary and fictional gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin.
The first season spans 23 episodes and features directors like Masaaki Ōsumi, and future Studio Ghibli legends Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. It's an excellent entry point to explore the best of Lupin III, and the good news is, if you become a fan, you have five decades of stories, movies, and shows to dive into next.
Samurai Champloo
Crunchyroll
Samurai Champloo is often considered the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. The series began taking shape while Shinichirō Watanabe worked on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, which is reflected in the art style, structure, and storytelling of Champloo. However, it might surprise you that this is a historical action tale rather than the sci-fi Watanabe is best known for. Despite the different genre, the series is equally concerned with themes of life, the cost of freedom, and the struggle to overcome and eventually accept mortality.
Like much of Watanabe's other work, the story centers on a group of morally compromised heroes: an outlaw named Mugen, a tea server named Fuu, and, fitting for an Edo period setting, a ronin named Jin. One of the standout elements of this series is its forward-thinking focus on inclusion and tolerance, avoiding nationalistic overtones due to its historical setting.
Trigun
Adult Swim
If the stylistic action and the allure of a morally complex anti-hero in Cowboy Bebop excite you the most, then Trigun is likely to become your next favorite anime. Adapted from the hit manga of the same name by Yasuhiro Nightow, which originally ran in Monthly Shonen Captain, the series debuted in Japan in 1998 and in the US three years later, at the turn of the millennium.
Like Cowboy Bebop, Trigun is a noir-inspired space western but with heightened stakes, following Vash, a man with an immense bounty on his head due to his uncontrollable superpowers that led to him accidentally destroying a city. As we delve into Vash's character, we also explore those trying to kill him, setting up a compelling conflict that landed the anime on multiple "best of the year" lists and propelled the manga to such success that it sold out in the US.
