The American frontier was a period in history that captured something an essence most people still yearn for - the idea of freedom, making one’s own rules, and the spirit of adventure. Though that time has long since passed, our society today continues to find new ways to recreate those feelings, whether in reality or experienced vicariously through other means and mediums.
Enter the Anime Western. Though a curious mix of genres, Japanese manga, and animes with wild west certainly have an exciting appeal and capture a small essence of that freedom. The idea of cowboys and ronin enmeshed together against a rugged, desolate expanse just seems to tick all the right boxes. Whether faithfully recreating the wild west itself or portraying a rag-tag group in lawless space, these anime and their respective characters have captured the hearts of many viewers, remaining iconic despite their years.
6 Dandy From Space Dandy
The atmospheric and feel-good vibes of Space Dandy continue to delight fans to this day. Released back in 2014, Space Dandy featured an eccentric alien hunter with a greaser aesthetic traveling throughout the cosmos in search of adventure and well, some fun lady action on the side. The show is hilarious and also has an equally awesome soundtrack to go with it.
Essentially Anime’s answer to Johnny Bravo (at least in certain mannerisms), Dandy is an egotistical, incorrigible man who is incredibly selfish and self-serving. Despite that, he is equally charming and wholesome in his way - displaying a soft heart of gold to helping people in need. Though perhaps on top of it all, Dandy is admired for his staunch conviction to do things his way, even if it means things need to go sideways.
5 Rushuna Tendo From Grenadier
Though only around for just 12 episodes, Grenadier delivered the quintessential anime western back in the early to mid-2000s, albeit with tons of fan service. Rushuna Tendo herself is a solid guns slinger who specializes in disarming her would-be assailants. Paired with side-kick Yajiro, a hired sword, the two go on a journey to face down the mysterious and sinister Jester.
Rushuna eventually becomes a Senshi or ‘Enlightened One’ after becoming extremely skilled with guns. Though the show is ecchi and displays many visits to hot springs, Rushuna Tendo herself is still pretty badass in several of the firefights that occur during the series.
4 Space Captain Harlock From Gun Frontier
Once a regular sea captain, Space Captain Harlock traded his ship for guns to accompany Tochiro Oyama, a Japanese man who eventually creates the space battleship Arcadia. Like most other silent and self-reliant guys from Western genres, Harlock is no different and stands stoic in the face of adversity and corruption. In addition to this, he handles his alcohol well.
Loyal to his friends and a true man of honor, Harlock embodies all the qualities of the traditional masculine hero. Whilst some people may find this character one-dimensional and stale, Harlock is perfect for those who want that quintessential American-west character. Though the anime should be viewed, most fans would say that the manga is better.
3 Van From Gun X Sword
One can’t get more ruggedly western than Gun X Sword, it’s even in the title of the anime. The show follows the story of protagonist Van, a drifter wandering the planet known as ‘the Endless Illusion’ to avenge his murdered wife. Joined by several other characters along the way, Van travels across the world to track down his wife’s killer. Featuring a gun that can shapeshift into a blade, shield, and grappling hook, Van is quite the gunslinger in a tight firefight.
Sharing similarities with another anime protagonist (to be mentioned soon), Van is partially trapped in the past and is still hurting from his loss. Though his character is relatable to viewers, Van is still best remembered for his unique items and the self-discoveries he makes on his healing journey.
2 Vash The Stampede From Trigun
In anime, bounty hunters and cowboys are synonymous with one another, and Vash is no exception. Having lived for more than a century under many aliases, Vash has seen more than most other characters can even dream of. With an insanely high bounty on his head, the guy blazes through desolate frontier towns on the forsaken post-apocalyptic world of Gunsmoke. However, in reality, Vash is a major pacifist and the huge amount of destruction attributed to the poor man is incidental as things only get worse when people get the wrong idea about him or want to cash in some lucrative award.
Vash is followed by 2 insurance agents who attempt to minimize his impact on the public but as things escalate and legendary assassins are sent after the trio, Vash will have to make decisions that will challenge his moral code and push him to the breaking point. Trigunis a must-see for anyone interested in anime cowboys or space westerns.
1 Spike Spiegel From Cowboy Bebop
Perhaps the most famous bounty hunter in the history of anime, Spike’s story, and character have attracted numerous fans and cemented him as one of the greatest anime characters of all time. The show itself is brilliant as it has a banger soundtrack, creative ways to tell the story, and an amazing last stand to name just a few. Despite its age, the show has something for every viewer.
As an unconventional cowboy, Spike is a decent pilot with moves and a complex fighting style that pays homage to Bruce Lee. His character arc that focuses on his past and the inability to fully sync in with the present creates interesting nuances and development that are equally captivating as they are tragic.