Top 10 Must-Watch Anime If You Loved “Cowboy Bebop” & Where To Watch Them!

Cowboy Bebop is a story about a bounty hunter, Spike Spiegel. His boisterous partner Jet Black and him make their living by collecting rewards for chasing bounties.

While adding new crew members on their journey, Spike is on his way to find out that the past that has been haunting him for a long time.

This story portrays the life of a bounty hunter through light-hearted comedy and high octane action sequences.

So, let’s begin with the top 10 list of anime that closely resembles Cowboy Bebop.

10. Michiko & Hatchin

Michiko & Hatchin deals with a quirky story of a convict mother and her daughter.

Michiko & Hatchin

Air Date: October 2008Status: FinishedStudio: ManglobeNo. of Seasons: 1No. of Episodes: 22

Michiko Marlando is a stunning hardened criminal. She breaks out of the prison in her 4th attempt in search of a man from her past. She gets the first clue in the form of Hana Morenos, who is a young girl relentlessly tortured by her foster family.

Michiko & Hatchin Official Trailer
Michiko & Hatchin

Being helpless, Hana dreams about her prince charming rescuing her from there, which turns out to be Michiko, who claims to be her mother. Their search for the man begins facing dangerous hurdles on their way.

9. Space Dandy

Space Dandy is the circus of a universe full of whimsical clowns.

Space Dandy

Air Date: January 2014Status: FinishedStudio: BonesNo. of Seasons: 2No. of Episodes: 26

Dandy is an alien-hunter, who earns rewards by hunting mysterious and unclassified aliens throughout the universe. But every time he happens to find one, he comes across Zombies, mystical ramen chefs and adorable orphans, inevitably ending in disaster.

Space Dandy - Official Trailer
Space Dandy

Along with his adorable robot vacuum QT and cat-like alien Meow, they wander around the galaxy in the ship name Aloha De, to find new species to survive in their not-so nonchalant adventures.

8. Outlaw Star

Outlaw Star elaborates on the trouble of accepting candy from a stranger.

Outlaw Star

Air Date: January 1998Status: FinishedStudio: SunriseNo. of Seasons: 1No. of Episodes: 24

Gene Starwind, alongside his partner James Hawking has been working odd jobs while dreaming about piloting his own ship throughout the endless space.

But the duo’s fate changes when they take the task of protecting a mysterious girl, Melfina, from Rachel Sweet. Unknown to them was the fact that Rachel was a treasure-hunting outlaw.

Outlaw Star - The Complete Series - Coming Soon
Outlaw Star

Boarding on a highly advanced ship, Outlaw Star, they wander through the stars to disclose the mysteries regarding Melfina while encountering bounty hunters, pirates, and catgirls.

7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Ghost in the Shell skillfully displays the consequences of advancement in science.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Air Date: October 2002Status: Season 3 OngoingStudio: Production I.GNo. of Seasons: 3No. of Episodes: 76

Mankind has reached a period where anyone can turn their body into machines by complete body transplants. While civilization advances towards a new direction, there is always a faction that takes the advantages of this technology for dangerous crimes.

For nullifying those crimes, the Japanese government has established an independently operating police unit called Section 9, which has been successful.

top 10 anime like cowboy bebop
Ghost in the Shell

Until they were challenged by a new, ‘A’ level hacker nicknamed “The Laughing Man” who has put the nation in a state of chaos.

6. Baccano!

Baccano! is a gem of a mystery dwelling with alchemy, survival, and immortality.

Baccano!

Air Date: July 2007Status: FinishedStudio: Brain’s BaseNo. of Seasons: 1No. of Episodes: 13

During the early 1930s, The transcontinental train, Flying Pussyfoot, is starting its legendary journey in Chicago, which will leave a trail of blood all over the country.

At the same time in New York, scientist Szilard along with his aide, Ennis are looking for missing bottles of the immortality elixir while, on the other hand, the war between mafia groups is getting worse.

top 10 anime like cowboy bebop
Baccano!

The several events seeming to be unrelated are the part of a much bigger story that will be merged by the kindhearted thieves, Issac and Miria.

5. Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon is a high octane thriller delving into the depths of human righteousness.

Black Lagoon

Air Date: April 2006Status: FinishedStudio: MadhouseNo. of Seasons: 2No. of Episodes: 24

Rokurou Okajima, an average Japanese businessman, was kidnapped by a mercenary group called Black Lagoon while on his delivery trip to Southeast Asia.

Black Lagoon - The Complete Series - Available Now on BD/DVD Combo - Trailer
Black Lagoon trailer

Rokurou joins Black Lagoon after being betrayed by his former employee during negotiations to save him. To survive, he must quickly adapt to the new environment where bloodshed is a familiar spectacle.

4. Trigun

Trigun skillfully deals with a victim of fake news through a compelling story.

Trigun

Air Date: April 1988Status: FinishedStudio: MadhouseNo. of Seasons: 1No. of Episodes: 26

Vash the Stampede was given the title “The Humanoid Typhoon” for mercilessly killing people and flattening cities for fun. For which he has a whopping bounty of $60,000,000,000.

top 10 anime like cowboy bebop
Trigun

But in actuality, Vash is soft at heart and claims to have never taken a life. To minimize his impact on the public, he is followed by two insurance agents, Meryl and Milly, while traveling across the wasteland of the planet Gunsmoke.

But soon, he is targeted by a group of legendary assassins bringing misfortunes evolving life-or-death situations.

3. Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass portrays the threats surrounding the violation of private information through psychological fiction.

Psycho-Pass

Air Date: October 2012Status: FinishedStudio: Production I.GNo. of Seasons: 3No. of Episodes: 41

In the 22nd century, Japan has enforced the Sibyl System. In this system, each citizen is given a Psycho-Pass, which determines their threat levels by examining their mental state.

Inspectors, along with Enforcers, take custody of anyone with the slightest ill-will. Akane Tsunemori is a young woman who has joined the system alongside veteran Enforcer, Shinya Kougami.

Psycho-Pass - Season One - Coming Soon - Trailer
Psycho-Pass Season One Trailer

She soon realizes that the Sibyl System isn’t that perfect as it seems and embarks on a journey to find the true justice she believes in.

2. Darker than Black

Darker than Black deals with a war in the shadows where justice doesn’t prevail.

Darker than Black

Air Date: April 2007Status: FinishedStudio: BonesNo. of Seasons: 2No. of Episodes: 37

It has been 10 years since Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate appeared in South America and Japan, respectively.

The Gate does not abide by the laws of physics and grants supernatural abilities to Contractors, who accept them by giving up their humanity.

top 10 anime like cowboy bebop
Darker than Black | Source: IMDb

In a Japanese city surrounding the Hell’s Gate, Chief Misaki Kirihara finds herself at odds with Hei, an infamous contractor known as “Black Reaper.” Hei deals with those who threaten the existence of Contractors.

1. Samurai Champloo

Samurai Champloo is the coolest samurai show you’ll ever watch.

Samurai Champloo

Air Date: May 2004Status: FinishedStudio: ManglobeNo. of Seasons: 1No. of Episodes: 26

While saving Fuu Kasumi from a group of Samurai, Mugen and Jin destroys an entire shop and ends up killing the local magistrate’s son accidentally.

Just when they were going to be executed for their crimes, Fuu saves them by hiring them as her bodyguard.

Samurai Champloo | Trailer
Samurai Champloo trailer

Fuu wishing to find a certain samurai with the smell of sunflowers enlists both of them to do so. They agreed to help, but it will be Fuu’s liability to stop Mugen and Jin from killing each other on this mission.

Honorable Mention

There are some other series that has resembles with Cowboy Bebop to some aspects, they are:

Black Cat, Ergo Proxy, Coyote Ragtime Show.

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