Cowboy Bebopis a staple in any anime fan’s collection. Even some folks who aren’t normally fans of anime still recognize this as a masterpiece of both storytelling and animation. It is a legend so needless to sayany sequel or spiritual successorto it would have some big shoes to fill.
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EnterSamurai Champloo. Instead of mixing jazz and space gunfights, this series was mixing classic samurai tropes with hip-hop influences. It reviewed well when it came out and there are many that believe it to be just as good asCowboy Bebopif not better. Yet it still never made quite as meteoric of an impact. Was it unfairly snubbed by critics and fans?
Animation: Cowboy Bebop
Both anime serieshave some of the finest animation around. That can be thanked both to the studios that worked on them along and Shinichiro Watanabe’s direction.Cowboy Bebopslightly edges outSamurai Champloothough.Samurai Champloois more stylized which is a plus to make its animation distinct, but again, on a whole,Cowboy Bebopis a masterpiece of animation.
Fight Sequences: Samurai Champloo
The one aspect of the animation thatSamurai Champlooexcels at aboveCowboy Bebopis the fight sequences. Spike gets into plenty of fistfights within the series, but it’s also a lot of gunplay too.
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These scenes are great but they can’t compare to how visceral the action feels inSamurai Champloobecause of how close and personal everything gets. Mugen’s breakdance fighting style alone is something a lot of anime could learn from.
Concept/Uniqueness: Cowboy Bebop
WhileSamurai Champlooadds a lot of original style to its depiction of samurai culture in Japan, at the end of the day it is another samurai anime. That’s not to say space anime shows are also not plentiful out there, but the worldCowboy Bebopenvisions makes it stand out above many otherspace anime shows. From the bounty hunter angle to the warp gates to the money and mobs controlling everything, it all feels like a real plausible world.
Comedy: Samurai Champloo
Both anime series have some classic comedy bits within them with Ed being the standout star ofCowboy Bebop. Pound for pound thoughSamurai Champloohas a lot more laughs in it. This is great considering how well-balanced it manages to be asan action animeon top of a funny one as well.
One of the best episodes has Mugen trying to get close to this female ninja who keeps leading him on and or maiming him in the process. Mugen definitely shines at slapstick comedy.
Intro Theme: Cowboy Bebop
“Battlecry” fromSamurai Champloois a great song and the title sequence that goes along with it is another example of this anime’s style. However, anime intros are there to get people jazzed about a show. There isno anime betterthanCowboy Bebop’sintro then as it literally uses jazz to pump up fans before an episode begins. No fan in their right mind would skip this intro. It’s too good of a song to pass up.
Music: Samurai Champloo
“Tank” fromCowboy Bebopmay be a better intro song, butSamurai Champloohas the better soundtrack overall. The jazz that accompaniesCowboy Bebop’sanime is beautiful and is some of the best music out there. It fits the noir vibe too, butSamurai Champloo’smix of hip hop with traditional Japanese music makes it stand out just a bit more. It’s another reason why the style inSamurai Champlooworks so well as everything coalesces into this almost transcendent experience.
Legacy: Cowboy Bebop
Samurai Champloohas seen some spinoffs and tie-ins over the years including a manga, figures, anda PS2 game. It, unlikeCowboy Bebop, did not get a movie though. Both anime have appeared on Adult Swim butCowboy Bebophas had the longer tenure on that network which is why this anime is so ingrained in the minds of anime fans. Given timeSamurai Champloocould catch up but it has a long way to go especially if that live-action NetflixCowboy Bebopshow ever appears.
The Journey: Samurai Champloo
The formula ofboth anime seriesshare a lot of common themes. For example, both parties are constantly in need of money for various needs especially food. Fuu, Mugen, and Jinn may not be bounty hunters specifically, but they definitely do odd jobs similarly to Spike’s crew.
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What makesSamurai Champloostand out then is the journey concept of the anime with the Sunflower Samurai being the lead goal, stringing the heroes along on their journey across Japan.
Individual Episodes: Cowboy Bebop
To sound like a broken record, both anime series are must watches. Each one has 26 episodes to them which are all great. However, if one were to rank the individual episodes of each in terms of rewatchability,Cowboy Bebopwill win every time.
From the story episodes involving Vicious to the wackier episodes including Andy and the Teddy Bomber,Cowboy Bebophas some real hits.
Verdict: Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebopisthe quintessential animeto watch for any fan of the genre. It even transcends the genre, bridging the gap for people that don’t like anime but do likeCowboy Bebop. While it’s impossible to deny the underrated gem that isSamurai Champloo, this anime simply shines as a long-enduring hit that will surely continue being loved by all long into the future.
