25 years ago this underrated space western premiered on Toonami

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

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Although its influence has been overshadowed in the decades following its run on Western television, Outlaw Stars addition to the Toonami lineup on January 15, 2001, marked a huge moment for the anime block, introducing eager viewers to something completely fresh and fun. The sci-fi game replaced Superman: The Animated Series in the lineup, and aired alongside heavy hitters such as Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moonand Ronin Warriorsforever cementing it in the minds of young people who remember running home from school to drink the day's serving of anime.

Although its impact on the medium is far removed from the other masterpieces, Outlaw Star remains a strange piece of anime history and a fun piece of media, packed with gunslinging action, spicy romance, tons of silly gags, and an epic One Piece-as a treasure hunt. Its consistent use of bright colors and memorable character designs still inspires, and the fast pace of the early episodes makes it easy to dive into the long run. But once it was brought to the West, much of its depth and charm was sadly lost.

Outlaw Star was a unique addition to the Toonami series when it debuted on January 15, 2001, but a lot of content was removed

In the world of Outlaw StarThe 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 a wonderful thing, humans tend to evolve toward chaos and violence, and quickly the universe was taken over by assassins, pirates, and outlaws, making it difficult for normal, peace-loving humans to venture beyond our planet. Protagonist Gene Starwind and his partner Jim run a normal business, but they suddenly find themselves in possession of a powerful spaceship, called the Outlaw Star, which can be used to locate the “Galactic Leyline”, a legendary place packed with treasure, knowledge and untold power. Of course, they're not the only ones looking for it, and danger lurks around every corner.

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

Censorship was common for many anime series that appeared on Toonami, but Outlaw Starin particular saw heavy editing throughout its 26-episode run. Many instances of nudity and more indecent scenes were changed or removed, profanity was replaced with more child-friendly language, and violent scenes were heavily cut, 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 entirely and did not air on Western television until 2018, when the series aired in the late-night Adult Swim slot.

Outlaw Star was overshadowed by Cowboy Bebop, but it was different from other entries in the genre

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

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7 Underrated Space Western Anime

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

Soon after the anime series aired, many eagle-eyed viewers began drawing comparisons to the legendary 2002 live-action space western series Fireflycreated by Joss Whedon. The two share several bizarre similarities, as many pointed out Fireflys character River Tam and Outlaw Stars Melfina has almost identical backstories and reveals. The ships in both shows also look the same, and there are a few other suspicious details that have led many to claim that Whedon cheated Outlaw Star when he creates his masterpiece. The filmmaker has denied these claims, stating that the inspiration came after reading The killer angels by Michael Shaara. Still, the rumors persist. Of course, Firefly fans looking for something to watch shouldn't miss this piece of anime history.

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