The popularity of space Westerns has waxed and waned over the years, not only in fictional media overall (Firefly/Serenity, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Guardians of the Galaxy, Borderlands) but also in anime specifically. However, anime viewers, particularly those somewhat newer to the medium, might be surprised by how many entries to the subgenre can be found here aside from iconic and much-beloved classics such as 1998’s Cowboy Bebop and Trigun.

When anime fans think of space Westerns, these series are certainly likely to appear at the top of people’s lists, and for good reason. Cowboy Bebop is well-known as a masterpiece of both anime and storytelling in general, gaining critical acclaim worldwide. Meanwhile, Trigun is also commonly considered to be one of the best anime of all time by U.S. fans, thanks in large part to its American frontier-esque setting. However, these two shows’ deserved success does not mean that the space Western subgenre is devoid of other interesting anime.

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Outlaw Star Was Produced By the Same Studio as Bebop – And Came Out Before It

Cast of Outlaw Star

Animation studio Sunrise has long been a juggernaut of the industry, although anime fans may be surprised to learn that it created not only Cowboy Bebop but also Outlaw Star -- and that the latter actually began airing first. Originally serialized as a seinen manga from 1996-1999, the anime has long been overshadowed by Bebop despite Shinichiro Watanabe’s most famous work not arriving on screens for another three months.

The story follows main character Gene Starwind, who has long dreamed of piloting his own ship freely throughout space despite his current odd-job employment on a small planet. However, his life is turned upside down when he and his partner accept a job from Rachel Sweet, who turns out to be a treasure-hunting outlaw. Now tasked with defending a mysterious young woman named Melfina, Gene and his crew find themselves encountering the likes of bounty hunters, space pirates and everything in between as they navigate the stars aboard their ship, the titular Outlaw Star.

Despite being constantly compared to Cowboy Bebop -- often not favorably -- it would be a mistake to pass up on Outlaw Star because of this, or even to assume that Outlaw Star does all the same things that Bebop does. The anime is very much its own creation, and while both shows might be space Westerns, this does not prevent Outlaw Star from being not only unique but also genuinely good. From the celebrated spaceship designs and worldbuilding details to the fine balance struck between serious space opera and outright comedy, Outlaw Star hits a lot of high notes throughout its runtime -- overall, a fun action/adventure space romp set against an intriguing neo-Wild West backdrop.

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Coyote Ragtime Show Pairs the Space Western With the Classic Girl-With-Guns Concept

Coyote Ragtime Show

Ufotable is best known by far for producing the anime adaptions of Fate/Zero, Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works and of course, the shonen megahit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. However, it is one of the studio’s earlier titles, 2006’s Coyote Ragtime Show, that remains one of its best productions to date. Like Cowboy Bebop, this is an anime-original that combines space adventure with an Old West-style setting -- and despite the later tie-in manga having the dubious honor of being labeled "one of the worst manga" out there in 2007’s Manga: The Complete Guide, the anime promises to be a rollicking good time for anyone interested in classic shootouts and bank heists.

The series introduces viewers to Mister -- a space outlaw (known as a "coyote") who, upon breaking out of prison after being locked up for a year due to a traffic offense, seeks out a girl named Franca. Left in Mister’s care after the death of her father, the precocious Franca is the daughter of the legendary Pirate King Bruce, who was killed by the boss of a criminal syndicate. Hot on her and Mister’s heels are a pair of federal investigators, as well as the syndicate and their android assassins, all of whom are racing to locate the whereabouts of Franca’s inheritance treasure.

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coyote ragtime show mister holding gun smiling

What Coyote Ragtime Show lacks in sophistication and finesse, it more than makes up for in sheer enthusiasm. The ADV version of the trailer sums up the proceedings completely unironically: "Bullets. Blades. Bombs. Beauty. And babes. If it’s capable of destruction or distraction, it’s fair game." Simultaneously self-aware and over-the-top, the series is fast-paced and action-packed, and while its story and characters are neither complex nor even multilayered, there’s a certain charm about Coyote Ragtime Show that comes from its unabashed sense of humor. Viewers shouldn’t anticipate much in the way of depth, but they can certainly expect plenty of intentionally dumb yet exhilarating entertainment.

Both Outlaw Star and Coyote Ragtime Show are available to stream on Funimation. However, for those who may have already watched them, or who are on the lookout for more space Westerns to round out their exposure to this admittedly still-underserved subgenre of anime, they might also try the likes of Gun X Sword, Wild Arms: Twilight Venom, Shinichiro Watanabe’s Space Dandy or of course, Leiji Matsumoto’s Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999.