Fans of science fiction and anime were eating well in the 90s. From Trigun and Ghost in the Shell to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop, viewers were spoiled for choice, and these series have remained popular to this day. The latter, in particular, often finds itself named the best space western anime ever made, and has also ended up on countless 'Greatest Anime of All Time' lists. Its jazzy soundtrack, memorable characters, and expert blend of suspense and well-timed comedy put Cowboy Bebop on the map, but one other series in the medium managed to quickly become a cult classic after appearing on Toonami in the early 2000s: Outlaw Star.

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Though its influence has been overshadowed in the decades following its run on Western television, Outlaw Star's addition to the Toonami lineup on January 15, 2001, marked a major moment for the anime block, introducing eager viewers to something utterly fresh and fun. The sci-fi romp replaced Superman: The Animated Series in the lineup, and aired alongside heavy hitters like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Ronin Warriors, eternally cementing it in the minds of young people who remember running home from school to binge the day's serving of anime.

While its impact on the medium is far removed from those other masterpieces, Outlaw Star remains a curious piece of anime history and a fun piece of media, packed with gunslinging action, spicy romance, plenty of goofy gags, and an epic One Piece-like treasure hunt. Its consistant use of bright colors and memorable character designs still inspire, and the fast-pace of its first few episodes make it effortless to dive in for the long haul. However, once brought to the West, much of its depth and charm was, unfortunately, lost.

Outlaw Star Was a Unique Addition to the Toonami Lineup When It Debuted on January 15, 2001, but Tons of Content Was Cut

In the world of Outlaw Star, the human race has discovered a way to travel faster than the speed of light via spacecraft, thanks to the discovery of a mysterious material on Earth. While the ability to travel the cosmos is an amazing thing, human beings tend to trend towards chaos and violence, and quickly, the universe was taken over by assassins, pirates, and outlaws, making it tough for normal, peace-loving people to venture beyond our planet. Protagonist Gene Starwind and his partner Jim run a normal jack-of-all-trades business, but they suddenly find themselves in possession of a mighty spaceship, dubbed the Outlaw Star, which can be used to locate the "Galactic Leyline," a legendary place packed with treasure, knowledge, and unspeakable power. They aren't the only ones looking for it, of course, and danger is behind every corner.

Many of the machines in Outlaw Star may look familiar to the seasoned anime fan, with legendary mecha artist Shoji Kawamori (Macross, Gundam) designing some of the series' vehicles and the titular spaceship itself. Additionally, while its music may not be as profilic as Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, the jams in this oft-forgotten sci-fi series were, curiously, created by Kow Otani, who provided the music for the legendary action-adventure game Shadow of the Colossus. Those who only remember Outlaw Star vaguely will likely still remember its bombastic theme song, which packed a serious punch with both its sound and smooth 90s visuals.

Censorship was commonplace for many anime series that appeared on Toonami, but Outlaw Star, in particular, saw heavy editing throughout its 26-episode run. Many instances of nudity and more lewd scenes were altered or removed, profanity was replaced with more child-friendly language, and violent scenes were heavily cut down, all of which changed the overall feel of the space opera. Episode 23, which followed the crew of the Outlaw Star as they traveled to a hot spring planet, was cut altogether and didn't air on Western TV until 2018, when the series was shown on the late-night programming block Adult Swim.

Outlaw Star Was Overshadowed by Cowboy Bebop, but It Differentiated Itself From Other Entries in the Genre

While Outlaw Star featured many cliché elements of the typical space western and was released during a more oversaturated era of the genre, its characters have withstood the test of time. The ragtag crew is anything but commonplace, with Gene, despite being the captain, having a crippling fear of outer space, making every adventure all the more tense. Aisha Clan-Clan hails from the Ctarl-Ctarl race, and boasts feline features and super-strength, while Melfina is a bio-android found tucked away in a suitcase and Suzuka is a kimono-clad ninja-assassin. It's no surprise that this bizarre mishmash of personalities and backgrounds made Outlaw Star popular with overseas audiences, since individuality and freedom seemed to be at the forefront of the series' creation.

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Space Western's is a subgenre in anime that has barely been touched, yet these series show why there should be more in the genre.

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By C.M Edwards

Soon after the anime series aired, many eagle-eyed viewers began making comparisons to the legendary 2002 live-action space western series Firefly, created by Joss Whedon. The two share several bizarre similarities, as many pointed out that Firefly's character River Tam and Outlaw Star's Melfina have almost identical backstories and reveals. The ships in both shows also look similar, and there are a few other suspicious details that have prompted many to claim that Whedon ripped off Outlaw Star when creating his masterpiece. The filmmaker has denied these claims, stating that inspiration came after reading The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Still, the rumors persist. Needless to say, Firefly fans looking for something to watch shouldn't miss out on this piece of anime history.

While the space opera genre isn't quite as popular these days, some recent series have inspired new fans to go back and watch some of the quintessential releases of the late 90s. 2014's Knights of Sidonia follows Nagate Tanikaze, who must become a space pilot to defend the last human settlement from a hostile alien species. Those wanting a dose of steampunk in their space western should look no further than Appare-Ranman or Gun X Sword, both of which are streaming on Crunchyroll now.

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