Parents' Guide to

Cowboy Bebop

By Scout Davidson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Space adventures meant for mature anime fans.

TV Cartoon Network Science Fiction 2001
Cowboy Bebop Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 14 parent reviews

Heowen
Heowen Adult
April 8, 2020
age 10+

One of the best animes out there

This show is one of the best animes I have ever watched. The more episodic nature of the show makes it approachable for new fans of the genre, while the symbolism and great writing will entertain most Otakus.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
Holly R.
Holly R. Parent of 0-year-old
September 18, 2018
age 16+

I found it boring but alot of people like it

The only episode that held my attention is the episode where everyone is tripping on mushrooms. The dog started bouncing like a toy dog and everyone else was acting bizzarre as well. This show is not for kids and it might not even hold their attention anyway. I only saw the anime so I could scratch it off my anime watch list. It's not the worst I have seen and many people enjoy it but I didn't care for it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

One of the easier anime series to follow for neophyte viewers, COWBOY BEBOP -- which was the first anime series to air during Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block in 2001 -- 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 set-up allows for many different plot lines 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?

Our review:
Parents say (14):
Kids say (47):

As with most anime series, there's extensive back story, but encyclopedic knowledge of this fictional world isn't required for viewing enjoyment. That said, due to its mature nature, it's not a good fit for younger viewers. But older teens and adults are likely to appreciate its creative sensibility.

Heavily influenced by American jazz and rockabilly from the 1940s and '50s, with an opening credits sequence that 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. 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 the series' mature content -- violence, alcohol, etc. Do these elements enhance or distract from the main plot and messages? Also, 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?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity 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