Cowboy Bebop is 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 say any sequel or spiritual successor to it would have some big shoes to fill.
Enter Samurai 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 as Cowboy Bebop if 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 series have 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 Bebop slightly edges out Samurai Champloo though. Samurai Champloo is more stylized which is a plus to make its animation distinct, but again, on a whole, Cowboy Bebop is a masterpiece of animation.
Fight Sequences: Samurai Champloo
The one aspect of the animation that Samurai Champloo excels at above Cowboy Bebop is the fight sequences. Spike gets into plenty of fistfights within the series, but it’s also a lot of gunplay too.
These scenes are great but they can’t compare to how visceral the action feels in Samurai Champloo because 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
While Samurai Champloo adds 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 world Cowboy Bebop envisions makes it stand out above many other space 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 of Cowboy Bebop. Pound for pound though Samurai Champloo has a lot more laughs in it. This is great considering how well-balanced it manages to be as an action anime on 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” from Samurai Champloo is 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 is no anime better than Cowboy Bebop’s intro 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” from Cowboy Bebop may be a better intro song, but Samurai Champloo has the better soundtrack overall. The jazz that accompanies Cowboy Bebop’s anime is beautiful and is some of the best music out there. It fits the noir vibe too, but Samurai Champloo’s mix of hip hop with traditional Japanese music makes it stand out just a bit more. It’s another reason why the style in Samurai Champloo works so well as everything coalesces into this almost transcendent experience.
Legacy: Cowboy Bebop
Samurai Champloo has seen some spinoffs and tie-ins over the years including a manga, figures, and a PS2 game. It, unlike Cowboy Bebop, did not get a movie though. Both anime have appeared on Adult Swim but Cowboy Bebop has had the longer tenure on that network which is why this anime is so ingrained in the minds of anime fans. Given time Samurai Champloo could catch up but it has a long way to go especially if that live-action Netflix Cowboy Bebop show ever appears.
The Journey: Samurai Champloo
The formula of both anime series share 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.
What makes Samurai Champloo stand 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 Bebop will win every time.
From the story episodes involving Vicious to the wackier episodes including Andy and the Teddy Bomber, Cowboy Bebop has some real hits.
Verdict: Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is the quintessential anime to watch for any fan of the genre. It even transcends the genre, bridging the gap for people that don’t like anime but do like Cowboy Bebop. While it's impossible to deny the underrated gem that is Samurai Champloo, this anime simply shines as a long-enduring hit that will surely continue being loved by all long into the future.