Cowboy Bebop

Samurai Champloo, like Cowboy Bebop, is directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. The pacing of the two series are very similar. Champloo is also a character-based journey in which the audience is presented with scenes and dialogue that incrementally build up to full, rounded personalities by the end. You can certainly expect the same excellence in quality of animation, if not better, because it is more recent. Mugen's character design (hair and physique) smacks a little of Spike, but Mugen quickly proves to be a far less stable personality. Also, just as Spike and crew are driven by their hunting of various people, Fuu and crew are driven by their hunt for a samurai. The action sequences are just as well-paced, smooth, and gorgeous as you find in Bebop, with the same attention to detail in movement. For instance, the way Spike hops lightly when he’s fighting adds to the realism, and in the same way Mugen's movements in combat LOOK and FEEL very accidental because he stumbles and trips etc. Not to mention you’ve got another experimental mix of genres. Bebop is sci-fi western drama with a jazzy score, and Champloo is a samurai action drama with a hip-hop score. However, unlike Bebop, Champloo has less of a gritty, down-beat feel. I see Bebop and Champloo as twins; they share the same genes, but the former is intense and sophisticated, while the latter is relaxed and easy-going. The colours in Champloo tend to be brighter (perhaps because it isn't partly set in the cold, dark vastness of space like Bebop), the score is up-beat, and the overall tone is rendered more light-hearted by the overt dislike between Jin and Mugen, Fuu’s cute face/personality, and the use of far more comic antagonists. The characters' motivations are also more straight-forward and linear. I suspect, though, that Champloo has more of an exploratory purpose (in terms of setting and background) than Bebop, because there are characters and historical situations beyond the protagonists that come across as very interesting. Overall, Champloo is not as ‘cool’, but if you're looking for a great sequel-that's-not-a-sequel to Bebop, this is definitely one to get.

Steven Jay Blum!!! Need i say more? I think not! He is the single best voice actor ever and he is not only the voice of Spike in Cowboy Bebop, but he's also the baddest samurai ever (Mugen) in Samurai Champloo.

I really think that all CB fans will definitely enjoy Samurai Champloo for 3 simple but still important reasons.  They have the same creator, which means that they have common plot-lines and style specifics; the characters are absolutely unique: they might have some resemblances but these are truly limited (ex: Spike and Mugen);  and finally, maybe the most important reason, both CB and SC have magnificent soundtracks made with a  gorgeous mixture of styles and rhythm that will (shall) make you feel the unstoppable fluency of this show and make you want more, more and more of it. Cheers and stay cool. ;)

I watched Cowboy Bebop first and then Samurai Champloo, and I still can't figure out which I like better since they are so similar. Both have a good mixture of action and comedy, and both do a good job of developing characters and plots. Oh, and how can I not mention that they both have great soundtracks?

Both shows are about a rag-tag gang of misfits who get into wild and sometimes random adventures. They are also heavy on action and heavy on comedy (whether witty or goofball). They have a large background story going on, which gets resolved at the end, but they don't make every episode dwell on on it. Many episodes are just about putting the characters into a crazy situation and seeing how they react to it and each other. The two shows are similar in art style and both feature great music.

One trait that sets Shinichiro Watanabe’s work apart is his refusal to accept this Japanese conformity. In his anime, all of the characters define themselves by their individuality, fighting for themselves and ONLY themselves in a vast and lonely world. In Cowboy Bebop, the characters were thrown together by chance and stayed together only as long as convenience allowed. Although the anime was for the most part an action comedy, even the hilarious moments were subdued by this profoundly forlorn undercurrent of internal solitude.

Samurai Champloo has a very similar feel; in the series, three misfits who would otherwise have nothing to do with each other are thrown together by coincidental events. The characters then proceed to engage in a variety of episodic escapades, finally culminating in a suitably climactic and suspenseful conclusion. This basic plot structure, combined with Watanabe’s trademark freeform style, makes it easy to draw comparisons between the two works, despite the radically different settings.

In any case, if you liked one, watching the other is practically a matter of course.

While Samurai Champloo is in a completely different type of genre, it was made by the same people as Cowboy Bebop. The main character in Champloo is similar to a cracked out version of Spike Spiegel. If you love Cowboy Bebop, you will love Samurai Champloo - unless you hate pseudo-historical pieces.

Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo are really alike. If you liked one, you'll like the other! The main characters have their own style which makes these two anime very unique. 

Both Champloo and Bebop were made by same author, and have very similar feel to them. Not to mention the main characters - Mugen and Spike have more in common than just their hairstyles and attitudes.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo hold the same sort of fixation on style above all else. And, what makes them more amazing beyond that is the fact that with such a strong fixation, the story comes out unscathed, and fully enjoyable. Both are great to watch if you're a fan of stylish anime.

Both Bebop and Champloo are about a team of two guys and a girl on a quest. Sure, there is a big difference between bounty hunters and a samurai who smells of sunflowers, but either way the journey is hilarious and the back stories are heartwarming.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I do believe the creators of Cowboy Bebop we're involved in the making of Samurai Champloo. I really enjoyed watching both shows. Neither of them is exceptionally long and you almost instantly begin to bond with the characters. I love the male comradery between both main male characters in both shows is what makes both shows worth watching. I cried and laughed watching both Bebop and Champloo. If you haven't watched them, I highly suggest that you do!

Both Samurai and Cowboy mix up various cultures. They were made in the same convention and were directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. Although Cowboy is set in the future and Samurai is set in the past, both anime take a lot from other time periods.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Champloo have intense action, light comedy, and are set to to an edgy soundtrack. Each series is based around a group of companions traveling together, with each companion having their own ordeal to complete.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo have some similarities. Both have an episodic feel, yet devote some episodes to developing the main characters and having them confront their pasts. Also, both are very stylish in their own way, with music being the major contributor to the style. Now while the two series differ in the specific music - one is more jazz-like and the other is more hip-hop centered - if you enjoyed one series you should check out the other.

The same director is enough to put these series together, because Watanabe's way to create is somehow the same with Miyazaki, who share many ideas in his works. The crew contingent is almost the same, a woman and two men (with some exceptions). The story contingent is also almost the same, one episode - one story, with a great story line which has resolution in the end. You'll find moments to laugh yourself to death and to burst into tears. Besides all the above listed you'll enjoy an awesome work with music in these series. It isn't just a background for the main performance, but a very integral part of the creation.

Both series involve folks involved in unlikely partnerships and operating outside social norms (renegade/cowboy types). They have a similar art style and pacing, high quality production, and cover a single major plot arc.

In terms of style, story, setting, even music, by no means are these two shows alike. While CB is a meditation on the past, time and death, filled with smoke and sax tunes, SC is a story focused on life and the power to move on, spiced up with hip-hop and break-dance moves. Yet, the lead characters in both series share the tendency towards bending the rules, together with a rebelious idealism, being heroic at times yet maintaing their human quality, and thus making the two shows very much alike at their core.

Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo do not only share the same director, but also have many other simillarities. Having watched Samurai Champloo before C.B. i realized it was a unique anime, all about style. Not only as for the music, but also the characters and its sense of humour.After wacthing C.B. it seems to me that Samurai Champloo was its evolution! Of course no one, in my opinion, could say that they are really like, as they are too unique to compare, but I am sure one would enjoy both !

Both series are very episodic in nature and tend to have a mix of both serious and comic episodes. The main focus of both series is the random little side adventures that occur as the main story unfolds in the background. They also both have a high emphasis on musical backing albeit a widely different stye of music in both series.

Both series have a similar feel to them with the main differences mainly being their backdrop.

Cowboy Bebop & Samurai Champloo shares similar settings, even though one is about samurai and the other about sci fi. The main characters (a group of friends) are travelling around (by foot or by spaceship), always poor and hungry, and are very likable. Also, a lot of effort has been put into the music to make sure it sets the mood just right, and it does (jazz in cowboy and hiphop in samurai). Both shows are directed by Shinichirō Watanabe.

What I loved about Cowboy Bebop was that "slice of life", one day at a time kind of attitude that the series had. One main story going through all episodes, but still each episode felt very much like it stood alone. Samurai Champloo is very similar, and I greatly reccomend watching it.

Awesome fight scenes meet addictive stories and quirky characters in these action-packed series. Samurai Champloo and Cowboy bebop follow unlikely (and highly entertaining) companions with mysterious pasts sharing their travels as they own up to their histories and learn about each other with lots of fun misadventures on the side.

For the English dub a lot of the same voices appear. It also has the same feel as Cowboy Bebop except with a Hip Hop influence.

Despite the fact that the setting couldn't be anymore different Samurai Champloo nevertheless manages to capture the Cowboy Bebop "feel." Add a marvelous soundtrack, good story and a breakdancing samurai and you have Samurai Champloo.

Both of these shows center themselves upon the style rather than the story. They each use different musical genres to add to each episode, throwing in the perfect mood's and overtones. If you enjoyed one of these, its almost a given you would like the other.

Animes where the adventure and journey take presidence over a long storyline often produce some outstanding animes. Certainly both Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop managed to pull this off with spectacular results. You don't have to worry about getting confused with a heavy laidened story, but instead can sit back and watch the characters as they endure their endless task of getting enough food to survive. It is a definate that if you enjoyed one you'll like the other despite their completely different settings.

Both series also exhibit an interesting range of characters and music to accompany the series. Well worth watching both.

Mugen and Spike Spiegal both have similar nonchalant, badass attitudes and personalities. Both anime have fight scenes where the music/rhythm plays a big roll. They also have similar story structure, as there's a new adventure every episode or two.

Both of these shows have the same "feel" to them even though they have completely different characters, genre, and storylines. If you loved one, you should love the other and will end up buying both ;- )

Both of these series are based on journey stories. During their journeys, chacters exposes themselves to the audience. With each new destination (or adventure), audience learns about their feelings and histories as well as the development on their social relationships. Therefore, the basic theme for both series is quiet similar (and, at least for me, magnificient).

Both are writen and directed by the ingenious Shinichiro Watanabe. Both have no "wasted" episodes - all have some value, whether it is character or story development. Both have great animation. The only complaint your average fan has is in regards to the hip-hop music in Samurai Champloo, other than that (which if you like hip-hop is actually a good thing:P) they're both great animes :)

Both series have a similar feel with a wandering ensemble cast.  Spike and Mugen remind me of one another, although they are definately not the same character re-written. The plotlines are strong and engaging, though Samurai Champloo feels darker and more brooding than Cowboy Bebop, in my opinion.  They both have great character development as well; the viewer learns quite a bit about the entire casts through each series, and the characters are not flat in the least.  Finally, for those interested, they are both directed by Shinichirō Watanabe.

Amazing animes with a very similar musical style, animation and incredible history. A mix betwen the old, the new.

Style and music is similar. There is a similar set of characters. The episodes have a  closed story most of the time. Most actors are adults.

The defining element of both shows is great character development. Both series also have great music and individual episodes well crafted. The fight scenes are made beautifully. In Cowboy Bebop the episodes sometimes may seem a bit disjoint. However, Bebop has better music and more interesting characters.

Both Bebop and Champloo have incredible animation, loveable characters and a soundtrack that not only accompanies the mood of the series but would also please fans of their respective genres. If you loved either one of them you'll love the other one!

Echoing what has been said, there is a distinct similarity between Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop. Both are a rag tag group on a slightly indistinct path. The way the story is told gives you hints of the ultimate goal (finaling confronting someone who has wronged you.. sorta).

Both series have this gentle overall plot filled in with amazingly styled episodic jaunts throughout. Both are beautifully animated, and both even have reoccuring themes (water as a fighting style, anyone?)

All in all, they are both fabulous pieces of work I'd recommend to most anyone.

Both anime are very similar in presentation and style.  Both are heavily stylized with contemporary "self aware" humor, and a colorful cast.  Both are episodic.  Both have a great combination of Action, Drama and comedy.  And both are fantastic watches.

Mercenaries. That's the biggest connection between these two anime, although certainly not the only important one. Both go for a gritty feel, although Bebop is more style-gritty and Black Lagoon dirt-gritty. Bebop is a sci-fi, whereas the other is an action series set in today's world. However, Black Lagoon has enough shiny toys to satisfy even a Trekkie. More importantly, Bebop and Black Lagoon share a mature approach to violence, characterisation and plot. They also brilliantly combine an episodic pace with intricate character development; the small details reveal big things about the people involved. Both also use a slightly gimmicky supporting cast to bring in a hint of quirkiness and humour e.g. the Maid in BL and the fat assassin in Bebop. If you're basically looking for more of what one of these offers, you can't go wrong with the other.

Like VivisQueen said, if not for anything else, you'll like it becouse it also deals with independent mercenaries. But it has a lot more in common with Cowboy Bebop than just mercenaries. Humor, great characters, both main and supporting, action choreography, alternation between character introspection and, well, action. What can I say, I have a really good gut feeling you'd like Black Lagoon if you liked Cowboy Bebop.

Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon give off the same feel of comedic violence, even though they are on the 'opposite' sides of the fight.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon have mercenaries working hard to get some money, but usually end up with their pockets empty. Bebop's crew is a happy bunch of good guys who chase criminals in space, and Lagoon's crew is a happy bunch of bad guys sailing through the south Asian seas. Besides that difference and some minor crew member differences, these series are pretty much the same. ;)

So, one is about badasses in space, and the other is about badasses on the sea, if you liked one, you'll love the other.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon have a group of mercenaries whose members have a troubled past, an uncertain future, and wander on the wrong side of the law.  

Both series tell the story of the characters' conflict of interest and their need to rely on each other to survive. Each has humour, some drama, and violence.

Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon both are about a group of unlikely characters who work together and take on jobs for some cash, and the stories are filled with action.

Both Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon share the same basic premise: throw a bunch of outcasts on a ship and force them to work together. Overall, Cowboy Bebop has a deeper plot and characterization, but Lagoon does a better job of delivering on the action. Both series follow an episodic format as well. While definitely not derivative of each other, these series are similar enough that fans of one should enjoy the other.

Outcasts trying to make money through violence, some humor, some action, some self discovery and introspection (but not too much); Black Lagoon and Cowboy Bebop fit together like peas in a pod.

Black Lagoon is arguably the raunchy version of Cowboy Bebop. While the story follows the same pattern in both series (a bunch of completely different individuals end up together on a ship and try to sort out their differences while having dangerous day jobs), BL is far more gory, cladden with black humor and ultraviolence. CB on the other hand is a lyrical journey, where violence is poetically entangled in the story. While being stylistcally different, both shows touch deeper themes such as loneliness in the modern world, dealing with the past and one's true identity,

Both series are about a band of folks who work towards a common goal, yet they don't always get along. Both are gritty series, yet Bebop never loses its sense of style. You can't really say that Black Lagoon compares to Bebop in terms of style, yet the two series are similar enough to say that you'll like them both if you've seen one of them already.

Black Lagoon and Cowboy Bebop both follow the everyday lives of your "typical" bounty hunter, smuggler, and straight up outlaw. Doing oddjobs to make a buck with plenty of gunplay in between neverlooked so sweet. If you liked one you'll like the other.

It's very strange because I don't think I've known two anime series to be so similar yet completely differently based in this Space cowboys meet modern-day Pirates recommendation! I think its largely in part due to the dynamics of the groups - 4 unlikely protagonists, frequently brushing against the law in order to get by in the ‘real world', a world packed full of violence, gun wielding and ass-kicking. Both a great pleasure to watch if you're a fan of action based anime but enjoyed the glimmer of humanity in each.

While, Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon may take place in different settings there are quite a few simliarites. Both typically deal with one major underlying theme throughout the series as well as pieceing together a story across one or two episodes. Both are heavy on the gun action, with more mature themes. Spike and Revy have very simliar character traits of a dark past, and beyond normal combat skills. Either anime is a great watch for an action fan, and both deal with the bounty hunter or mecernary scene.

Both cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon are action anime about bounty hunters (mercenary groups) and lots of guns! Both have interesting and badass characters including female characters that don't take shit from anyone! Both anime are about style and creating a mess no matter where you are! So, if you liked one of them, I suggest you watch the other one as well, and I'm sure it's going to leave a very good impression!

Cowboy Bebop is one of the all time classics. Black Lagoon revives the gunslinger loose knit family that is formed from necessity. Graphics on both are excellent, but what really hooks you is the story lines that both have. Each episode is stand alone, but fits well within the overall story plot. Must see.

Both anime series express a great deal action one first examination but also hide a darker sub-text underneath. Definetly something to concidering if you like the moderately realstic feel and pace given to the action in either including that more hidden daker edge both series have underneath.

Explosive action, witty repartee and a fun and affectionate use of Hollywood movie action cliches - either one of these anime are just a bloody good time - and though Black Lagoon focuses more on the action, that series has its share of character moments and a really wonderful cast as well. If you liked one, don't pass the other up.

Both anime's are episodic, yet action based. They are full of gunfights and packed with one mishap after another.

In each anime, you have a central gathering place where the main characters join up and wait for their next mission, thus creating a episode per mission type episodic feel. There are some scenario's that strech out to two episodes, but the fact remains that they are both based on either a mission they need to complete or a bounty to collect, and in the process there is character development.

Black Lagoon and Cowboy Bebop are both "adult" action anime, with a face paced and heavily stylized presentation.  Both are a great deal of fun, and high quality watches