Gene Starwind has dreamed of being the pilot of his own starship and exploring the stars ever since he was a kid. This desire of Gene’s is the only thing helping him get by in his day to day life working odd jobs with his best friend, James Hawking, on the planet Sentinel III. However, Gene and James soon get their chance to live up to this dream when they accept a strange job from Rachel Sweet, an outlaw. Faced with protecting a mysterious girl named Melfina from very dangerous people looking for her as well as suddenly being put in charge of a ship known as the Outlaw Star, Gene is faced with an adventure even he never could have dreamed of.

Outlaw Star is by far the most similar anime to Cowboy Bebop that wasn’t created by Shinichirō Watanabe. Not only is it similar on the surface in terms of it being a western set in outer space as well as having a similar amount of episodes, it also shares similarities the deeper you go into the series. Like the Bebop, the crew of the Outlaw Star is small in number and picks up some unique characters that end up joining the crew. Both share similar tones in terms of blending comedy, drama, and romance. Both series also have an underlining main plot yet also have episodes solely focused on certain adventures. Even the character archetypes that make up both crews share similarities with one another: James and Jet tend to be the intellect, Gene and Spike tend to be the unofficial leaders, and so on. All in all, Outlaw Star is the best anime to start with if you’re looking for another space western made in the same era that Cowboy Bebop was made.

It only makes sense that in a universe as big as Dandy’s, there are plenty of unknown aliens and creatures that have yet to be discovered, and Dandy feels it is his job to reach out and make contact with them. For a big cashout after registering them of course. With the help of QT, a robot vacuum that cleans, and Meow, a cat-like alien, Dandy and his crew make it their mission to explore the farthest reaches of the universe aboard the Aloha Oe to discover as many new alien species as they can. With each adventure resulting in Dandy and his crew exploring the unknown as well as the hijinks and mishaps they get into because of their ineptitude, you’ll never know what’s going to happen next!

The latest series from Shinichirō Watanabe, Space Dandy is definitely another solid example of an adventure type anime set in outer space, and shares some similarities with Cowboy Bebop in terms of it being a small crew on a unique ship going on various adventures. That being said, Space Dandy tends to be a lot goofier and doesn’t take itself as seriously, and also takes a 1950’s vibe in its futuristic setting. However, if what you enjoyed about Cowboy Bebop was the humor as well as the concept of adventures in space, then Space Dandy is the go-to anime to fulfill those needs.

Fuu Kasumi was just a normal young girl working as a waitress in a small teahouse. When she accidentally spills a drink over one of the customers, things escalate pretty quickly, resulting in 2 particularly strong samurai not only killing the local magistrate’s son, but also destroy the entire teahouse in the process. Set to be executed, the two samurai are recused by Fuu at the last second, only to be forced to accept her request: to help her find the samurai who smells like sunflowers. An unlikely trio, Mugen, Jin, and Fuu embark on a quest together to find this mysterious warrior.

Another work created by Shinichirō Watanabe, Samurai Champloo might not appear to be the same as Cowboy Bebop at first glance, as this series is set in alternate Edo Period of Japan as opposed to outer space in the future. That being said, the core of Samurai Champloo bears a strong resemblance to Cowboy Bebop. The interaction between Mugen, Jin, and Fuu can be similar to Spike, Jet, and Faye at times, and both series in the end focus on side adventures with an underlying plot that comes into play at key moments. Samurai Champloo is also known for its unique soundtrack that accompanies the series, as the music alone can set it apart from most. The voice actor for Spike Spiegel in the English dub, Steve Blum, also provides the voice for Mugen, who already bears a physical resemblance to Spike! If you’re not too hung up on the series being set in space and are focused on both the adventure elements as well as the music, Samurai Champloo is your best bet hand down.

In a future where space travel is reality, not fiction, many amazing achievements have been made by the human race, including the colonization of the moon. Ai Tanabe, like many others, believes her future lies in the cosmos, and soon finds herself working for Technora Corporation as a member of their Debris Section. Her responsibility: removing dangerous space junk between the orbits of both the Earth and the moon. Faced with a department that is severely underappreciated as well as a unique group of misfits that already make up the team, Tanabe and her new friends live ordinary lives in an extraordinary environment as they strive for their dreams.

When compared to Cowboy Bebop, Planates definitely delivers in terms of setting and pacing. Planetes begins with episodic adventures as we get to learn who the main characters are before beginning the main plot. The backdrop is also somewhat similar in terms of space travel being a completely normal part of the characters’ lives. If you found yourself while watching Cowboy Bebop wondering what life would normally be like in their world as opposed to being on adventures all the time, Planetes is the series that can provide you that answer.

With a bounty of $$60,000,000 on his head, Vash is an extremely wanted man for laying waste to all who oppose him and wiping out entire cities for the thrill of it. Anyone that makes eye contact with him is already a gone…or so they say. The reality is that Vash is a really good guy who not only avoids violence at all costs, but also suffers from amnesia. With the companionship of 2 insurance agents as Vash navigates the planet Gunsmoke, Vash does his best to try and avoid the bounty hunters looking to collect the price on his head. But sooner or later, his past will eventually catch up to him, and he will have to make some difficult choices…

Trigun is almost a reverse Cowboy Bebop set in a similar setting. The main character is a criminal avoiding bounty hunters as opposed to the characters in Bebop being bounty hunters looking for criminals at times. Shinichirō Watanabe also pushes the concept of western further in terms of the setting, as many scenes take place in a desert-like wasteland. But Trigun does share the similar blend of action, adventure, and comedy that Cowboy Bebop has. If you liked the adventure themes but prefer the perspective to be from the hunted as opposed to the hunter, then Trigun’s your best bet.

Rokurou Okajima is an average Japanese business man leading an average life when he gets the chance to make a delivery trip to Southeast Asia. Things soon take a turn for the worst when he is captured by a mercenary group called Black Lagoon to be used as a hostage only for negotiations to completely fail. Faced with a tough choice to make, Rokurou decides to join Black Lagoon in order to survive the crime-filled city that I Roanapur. But he’ll have to adapt fast if he wants to continue to survive the vast illegal activities that take place…

Black Lagoon is set on Earth; no space travel in this one. That being said, the dynamic that exists between the mercenaries that make up Black Lagoon is very reminiscent of the dynamic shared by the crew of the Bebop. You have the hot girl with a no nonsense attitude, the stowaway, the tech genius, and the former good guy turned against the system (who also happen to be bald). Not to mention the massive violence that take place, the dark humor used throughout, and the thorough characterization of the main cast. If you enjoyed Cowboy Bebop because of the characters, Black Lagoon will give you that same vibe.