It follows a 15-year-old girl and the pair of swordsmen she’s roped into escorting her across the country on the hunt for a fabled samurai who smells of sunflowers. Champloo features a stripped-down narrative that takes place in Japan’s Edo era. If what you’re looking for is something similar to Cowboy Bebop not so much in narrative but in vibe, you’ll dig Samurai Champloo, another acclaimed series from Shinichiro Watanabe. Still, even if you’re familiar with the universe, it’s worth revisiting through the lens of Bebop’s influence, which feels significant over the course of the show’s run. Again, statistically speaking, if you’re a person who watches television, you’ve probably already watched at least an episode or two of Mando. The show’s episodic nature feels of a piece with Bebop’s guns for hire drifting between planets looking for the next gig and maybe something resembling peace. Still, in terms of modern live-action television, there are few shows that tap into the storytelling of Bebop quite like this one. Look, realistically speaking, you probably don’t need to be told to watch The Mandalorian. The show served as a crucial piece of Toonami’s ’90s run, and while its legacy isn’t quite as sterling as that of some of its peers, it’s a fun space romp for anyone craving a fix after finishing Bebop.

Headed up by Gene Starwind, an underrated scowly ’90s Anime Boyfriend, it’s full of the sort of rogues and rascals Bebop specializes in. The Outlaw Star is a state-of-the-art ship designed with one purpose in mind: find the Galactic Leyline, a legendary treasure said to hold the ultimate power in the universe. Adapted from a three-volume comic by manga-ka Takehiko Ito, the show spans 26 episodes and follows the exploits of the space outlaws who pilot the titular spaceship. Outlaw StarĪ couple of years before Bebop aired, Outlaw Star was the name of the game when it came to space westerns in anime and manga. From nameless drifters to existential lawmen, it’s not a total lost cause to find something that taps into the alchemy of Cowboy Bebop. Still, with the anime’s full series now streaming on Netflix (perhaps the most accessible platform of its streaming run) alongside the service’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation, it’s a good time to dive into the film and television that influenced the original show and those that were influenced by it after its run. It is the rare genre mash-up/homage that is more than the sum of its parts, so much so that it’s gone on to influence imitators of its own (you will not find Firefly on this list). Bebop the anime series is a singular accomplishment, one of the great pieces of art of the 20th century regardless of medium. If what you’re in pursuit of is a film or TV show with a comparable vibe or level of artistry, you won’t find it. In a sense, it’s a moot point to imagine there’s something else to watch after finishing Cowboy Bebop.

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