Cowboy Bebop is a timeless fusion of sci-fi, jazz, and melancholic storytelling. With its episodic structure, unforgettable characters, and blend of action and existential introspection, it’s as much about bounty hunting as it is about confronting the past.
Underneath the spacefaring coolness lies a raw narrative of emotional wounds, found family, and the fleeting nature of life.
If you’re searching for more series that blend genre with gravitas, style with soul, and punch with poetry, here are 15 underrated anime that echo Cowboy Bebop’s spirit.
1. Ergo Proxy (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.90
Episodes: 23
Studio: Manglobe
In a dystopian future, a female inspector investigates a series of murders tied to mysterious beings called Proxies.
Similarities: Neo-noir aesthetic, existential themes, episodic philosophy, and a world that mirrors its characters’ emotional decay.
2. Michiko & Hatchin (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.85
Episodes: 22
Studio: Manglobe
A free-spirited criminal and a runaway girl journey across a South American-inspired world to find a man from their past.
Similarities: Gritty travel narrative, vibrant cultural fusion, jazz-funk soundtrack, and dynamic duo with deep emotional backstories.
3. Samurai Champloo (2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Funimation
MAL Rating: 8.49
Episodes: 26
Studio: Manglobe
Three wanderers with clashing personalities travel Edo-period Japan searching for a samurai who smells of sunflowers.
Similarities: Same director (Shinichirō Watanabe), episodic structure, genre mash-up (hip-hop and samurai), and introspective character arcs.
4. Black Lagoon (2006)
Streaming: HIDIVE, Hulu
MAL Rating: 8.04
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
A corporate employee is kidnapped and joins a group of outlaws navigating the criminal underworld of Southeast Asia.
Similarities: Anti-hero protagonists, gunplay galore, dark humor, and a stylish dive into moral gray zones.
5. Texhnolyze (2003)
Streaming: HIDIVE
MAL Rating: 7.74
Episodes: 22
Studio: Madhouse
In a decaying underground city, a man with cybernetic limbs becomes entangled in a war between factions.
Similarities: Desolate tone, cyberpunk setting, slow-burn storytelling, and existential dread that mirrors Spike’s fatalism.
6. Darker than Black (2007)
Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.99
Episodes: 25
Studio: Bones
After a mysterious phenomenon gives people supernatural powers at great emotional cost, one Contractor acts as both assassin and enigma.
Similarities: Stylish noir vibe, episodic arcs with underlying continuity, emotionally distant protagonist haunted by loss.
7. Baccano! (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Rating: 8.37
Episodes: 13
Studio: Brain’s Base
Multiple storylines intertwine aboard a 1930s train where immortals, gangsters, and lunatics collide.
Similarities: Non-linear storytelling, sharp character ensemble, cool factor meets chaos, and retro soundtracks.
8. Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance) (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.78
Episodes: 11
Studio: MAPPA
Two teenage terrorists launch cryptic attacks across Tokyo while hiding a painful truth.
Similarities: Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, Yoko Kanno’s haunting soundtrack, and a melancholic take on youth and rebellion.
9. Space Dandy (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.83
Episodes: 26
Studio: Bones
A pompadoured alien hunter explores the galaxy in pursuit of rare creatures and cosmic nonsense.
Similarities: From the same creator, it mixes absurd humor with surprisingly deep existential themes and episodic flair.
10. No Guns Life (2019)
Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.06
Episodes: 24
Studio: Madhouse
A man with a gun for a head works as a Resolver in a cyberpunk city haunted by post-war tech.
Similarities: Gritty noir setting, jaded protagonist, episodic detective missions with hidden emotional resonance.
11. Dimension W (2016)
Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
MAL Rating: 7.19
Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio 3Hz
In a future powered by infinite energy coils, a bounty hunter and an android uncover conspiracies across dimensions.
Similarities: Cowboy Bebop-esque bounty missions, reluctant partnership, futuristic noir backdrop, and jazzy visuals.
12. Megalo Box (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
MAL Rating: 7.90
Episodes: 13
Studio: TMS Entertainment
A nameless fighter enters the futuristic sport of Gear Boxing under the alias “Joe” to prove himself against the best.
Similarities: Retro animation style, underdog protagonist with a haunted past, and philosophical undertones wrapped in grit.
13. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.21
Episodes: 11
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
An economics student enters a shadowy financial battle dimension where futures are traded for currency.
Similarities: Futuristic capitalism critique, moral ambiguity, unconventional power systems, and existential questioning.
14. Garo: The Animation (2014)
Streaming: Funimation
MAL Rating: 7.27
Episodes: 24
Studio: MAPPA
Set in a fantasy world plagued by demonic Horrors, Makai Knights fight to keep humanity safe.
Similarities: Episodic monster-hunting, moral complexity, gritty visuals, and a wandering cast with tragic pasts.
15. Redline (2009)
Streaming: Apple TV, HiDive
MAL Rating: 8.27
Episodes: 1 (Film)
Studio: Madhouse
An intergalactic death race pushes racers to their limits—especially daredevil JP with his classic car and zero fear.
Similarities: High-octane style, stunning animation, anti-hero leads, and rule-breaking coolness with emotional flair.
Why These Anime Work for Cowboy Bebop Fans
These titles carry the torch of Cowboy Bebop’s legacy, mixing sharp aesthetics with emotional depth, action with introspection, and genre experimentation with soulful storytelling.
Whether set in space, underground cities, or alternate timelines, they echo the longing, loneliness, and lacerating cool that defined Spike Spiegel’s world.
For fans who loved the music, the mystery, and the melancholy, these underrated gems strike all the right chords. See you, space cowboy… in the next binge.
