Everything about the classic Cowboy Bebop anime is on point: the story, the music and of course the artwork. Artist and animation wizard Toshihiro Kawamoto created the striking, angular designs that make watching this series a real treat.
Since his success with Bebop, Kawamoto joint-founded Studio Bones in 1998, which produced two of the popular series below and collaborated with Sunrise to produce the Cowboy Bebop movie in 2001. Here are five anime for fans who enjoy Kawamoto's captivating art style.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
The 1991 OVA series Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory consists of 13 episodes and is set in the Gundam universe. In the year 0083 of the Universal Century, the end of the One Year War marks the defeat of the Principality of Zeon by the Earth Federation. However, a group of Zeon soldiers survive and conceal themselves.
In the wake of three difficult years, they attempt to ascend again, sending Delaz's pro pilot, Anavel Gato, to penetrate a Federation research base and take one of two covertly created model Gundams -- along with its dangerous atomic warhead. Undermined by the rebel Gundam suit and trying to maintain harmony, the Earth Federation prepares the recently evolved Albion transporter to recuperate the hijacked unit.
Wolf's Rain
The 2003 animated series Wolf's Rain, also featuring majestic art from Toshihiro Kawamoto, is set in a perishing Earth. There exists an old legend: the arrival of the apocalypse will open the doorway to heaven. This perfect world is the salvation for the sole survivors of a ruined planet; however, the legend declares no one but wolves can find this realm.
Assumed extinct, wolves actually exist and live alongside people, camouflaging themselves through intricate deceptions. The story follows Kiba, a loner who finds himself drawn to Freeze City, a seemingly desolate place that also attracts the interest of wolves.
Wolf's Rain is available for streaming on Funimation.
Towa no Quon
Towa no Quon is a 2011 anime film series consisting of six movies directed by Umanosuke Iida and further strengthened by Kawamoto's art designs. Set in Tokyo, people with otherworldly abilities are being pursued by a mysterious association named Custos. Known as Attractors, these outstanding people must work together to survive. They are driven by a kid named Quon, a dreamer with a good heart who will stop at nothing to protect his fellow Attractors.
Towa no Quon is available for streaming on HiDive.
Noragami
The 25-episode Noragami consists of two seasons, with the first debuting in early 2014 and the second in late 2015. The story centers around ordinary girl Hiyori Iki, who falls victim to a bus accident after trying to help a stranger. This accident causes a separation of her soul from her body, with the trauma making her aware of the presence of two worlds: the Near Shore, where ordinary people and animals dwell, and the Far Shore, where devils and human spirits wait.
Terrified by this awakening, Hiyori makes a desperate plea to fix her body. Her wish leads her to the bizarre Yato, a god without a name or shrine who will grant any wish to acquire a name.
Noragami is available for streaming on Hulu.
Space Dandy
For anime fans who thought Cowboy Bebop was full of bizarre characters, prepare for a ride when entering the world of Space Dandy. While the former's protagonist was inspired by Bruce Lee, Space Dandy's Dandy is inspired by none other than Elvis and his flamboyance. Similar to Spike Spiegel, Dandy is a bounty hunter of sorts whose job is to chase down unclassified outsiders and register them for an award.
These outlaws include zombies, otherworldly ramen gourmet specialists and cute vagrants. With the assistance of the charming robot vacuum QT, the cat-like creature Meow and his rickety ship the Aloha Oe, Dandy explores the wonders of the universe. Space Dandy reunites the creative crew of Cowboy Bebop, including Masahiko Minami and Shinichiro Watanabe, and is only bolstered by Toshihiro Kawamoto's sensational designs.
Space Dandy is available for streaming on Hulu.
