Shinichirō Watanabe has been a trailblazer in the realm of sci-fi anime since his co-direction of the acclaimed Macross franchise, specifically Macross Plus. Throughout his illustrious 35-year career, he has crafted some of the most cherished and influential series, such as Cowboy Bebop, a jazz-infused masterpiece that follows a motley crew of space adventurers navigating the neo-noir expanses of the cosmos. The iconic score by Yoko Kanno has been instrumental in keeping Cowboy Bebop timeless, resonating through live performances, soundtrack re-releases, and beyond.

This renowned science fiction series 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 citing Cowboy Bebop as a major influence on their work.

6 Best Anime Like Cowboy Bebop

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Cowboy Bebop has also managed to captivate even those who typically do not watch anime, cementing its status as a vital and enduring entry in the anime canon. If you're looking for what to watch next after your latest (or first) Cowboy Bebop binge, we've curated a list of the best space-faring, globe-trotting, and 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 the art direction and original compositions from Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, Lazarus arrives with significant anticipation, possibly outshining other anime releases of the year. Stylistically akin to Cowboy Bebop, Lazarus brings back the gritty, underdog sci-fi feel that sets it apart from Watanabe's more recent series like Carole & Tuesday, making it strikingly relevant in 2025.

The narrative 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 protagonist, Axel, a regular convict and jailbreaker, tasked with assembling a team to track down the drug's enigmatic creator and compel him to develop an antidote within just 30 days. Brace yourself for a thrilling, darkly wild ride.

Terminator Zero

Netflix

Next, we delve into the more grounded and bleak realms of sci-fi with Terminator Zero, an impressive addition to the Terminator lore directed by Masashi Kudō and produced by Production IG, with creator Mattson Tomlin (known for the Netflix film Project Power starring Jamie Foxx). While it may lack the light-heartedness of Bebop and much of Watanabe's work, it delivers a stylistic flair in action sequences and impeccable gunplay that will satisfy your cravings for high-octane action anime.

Terminator Zero stands out as a contemporary sci-fi reckoning with current technology and cultural dynamics, making it a must-watch in 2025. If you're seeking an aesthetically pleasing anime as visually captivating as Cowboy Bebop, this slick and boundary-pushing series, which reimagines the Terminator franchise's Judgement Day through a distinctly Japanese lens, is unparalleled.

Space Dandy

Crunchyroll

This addition to the Shinichirō Watanabe catalog sees the visionary stepping back to serve as general director, with Shingo Natsume directing this serialized space opera produced by the Japanese animation studio Bones. If you're in the mood for a light-hearted, nostalgic nod to classic Saturday morning cartoons reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy is an excellent choice.

Filled with references to classic sci-fi and anime, this charming adventure follows the titular Dandy, an outer space bounty hunter on a mission to discover and register new alien lifeforms. With the same style and swagger as Spike and Faye Valentine, Dandy's journey takes unexpected and existential turns as he uncovers universal truths and explores his own existence while hunting aliens with his quirky robot and cat crew. While it may not have achieved the global reach of Cowboy Bebop, it's delightfully rewatchable, visually stunning, and incredibly entertaining.

Lupin 3rd

Tokyo Movie

If you're seeking a series that captures the same adventurous spirit and limitless potential as Cowboy Bebop, Lupin III is the perfect pick. Since its debut in 1965, written by Kazuhiko Katō under the pseudonym Monkey Punch, the franchise has expanded across manga, anime, video games, and multiple films. The best entry point for on-screen adaptations is the 1971 anime of the same name, which introduced audiences to Lupin, a laid-back criminal inspired by the legendary 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 starting point to explore the best of Lupin III, and fans have five decades of stories, movies, and shows to explore next.

Samurai Champloo

Crunchyroll

Samurai Champloo serves as the spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop. Conceived during Watanabe's work on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, its art style, structure, and storytelling echo Bebop's essence. Surprisingly, it's a historical action tale rather than the sci-fi Watanabe is renowned for. While the genre shifts, the series remains deeply concerned with themes of life, the price of freedom, and the struggle to overcome and accept mortality.

As with much of Watanabe’s work, the story focuses on a trio of morally ambiguous heroes: the outlaw Mugen, the tea server Fuu, and the ronin Jin. A distinctive aspect of the series is its focus on inclusion and tolerance, inspired by the Edo period setting, which Watanabe used to avoid nationalistic overtones.

Trigun

Adult Swim

If the allure of Cowboy Bebop lies in its stylish action and the compelling narrative of a morally complex anti-hero, Trigun is likely to be your next favorite anime. Adapted from the hit manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, 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, following Vash, a man with a massive bounty on his head due to his uncontrollable superpowers that led to the accidental destruction of a city. As we delve into Vash's story, we also explore the motivations of those hunting him, creating a compelling conflict that propelled the anime onto numerous best-of-the-year lists and significantly boosted the success of the manga in the US.