Common Sense Media Review
Space adventures meant for mature anime fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cowboy Bebop
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a captivating mix of action, humor, and philosophical themes, with stunning animation and a legendary soundtrack. However, it features significant violence, smoking, mild language, and some adult content, making it more suitable for mature teens rather than younger viewers.
- mature audiences
- violence prevalent
- philosophical themes
- complex characters
- stunning animation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
One of the easier anime series to follow for viewers just starting out, COWBOY BEBOP—which was based on a manga series originally published in the 1990s—is a good introduction to the genre. Set in 2071, the show centers on a group of bounty hunters (known as "cowboys") and their travels through space in a former fishing trawler called Bebop. This setup allows for many different plotlines over the course of the series, with stand-alone bounty stories interwoven with flashbacks that develop each cowboy's personal history.
Is It Any Good?
Due to this show's mature nature, it's not a good fit for younger viewers, but older teens and adults are likely to appreciate its creative sensibility. As with most anime series, there's extensive backstory, but encyclopedic knowledge of Cowboy Bebop's fictional world isn't required for viewing enjoyment.
Heavily influenced by American jazz and rockabilly from the 1940s and '50s, with an opening credits sequence reminiscent of '60s spy shows and cartoons like Jonny Quest—plus individual episodes named for popular songs like "My Funny Valentine" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"—Cowboy Bebop's atmospheric animation is a notch above the static images of many anime shows. And, as a bonus, ship design, space station layout, and many other sci-fi elements are well thought out (one main character's transport ship looks like a cross between a '59 Bel Air and an X-Wing).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cowboy Bebop's mature content: violence, alcohol, etc. Do these elements enhance or distract from the main plot and messages?
What characterizes an "anime" series? If you're familiar with anime, what themes do you see repeated in different series?
In general, how is animation different in kids' shows and more adult-oriented shows like this one? Why use animation to tell grown-up stories in the first place? How does animation affect the story being told?
How do the bounty hunters demonstrate teamwork in Cowboy Bebop? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 2, 2001
- Cast : Beau Billingslea , Wendee Lee
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate