Outlaw Star: That OTHER 90s space western anime
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- You all know Cowboy Bebop, you all know Trigun, but let me take a minute to give some props to their less-appreciated sister series.
I've had this one in the works for a really long time, and I kept shelving and un-shelving it, so now it's time to finally release it! - เกม
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Easily the greatest anime that never got the recognition it deserved
Kinda sad really, but dammit its a One-Hit Wonder that can't really be replicated. And sadly Japan did Try to capitalize on its moderate success,...with Angel Links. A Boring as fuck, rushed product of an anime that's a spin-off to Outlaw Star and a failure. It really did not work.
Facts!
FUCKING A!
Going by what I've researched, if Angel Links wasn't made there's a good chance we'd have got a second season of Outlaw Star instead. (I could sperg out and go into detail on that, but I don't want to write an essay.) Having said that, I find it hard to hate on Angel Links too bad because it was handled by the original creator (Takehiko Ito) of Outlaw Star. Ironically, the much better anime, Outlaw Star, didn't receive a lot of input from Ito. In the end though, it's a canonical part of Outlaw Star's universe and shouldn't be ignored outright. (I know, it _is_ pretty boring.) If only its soundtrack was handled by Kow Otani.
@John Williams Maybe you're thinking of the typical length of modern anime. Modern anime is usually 13 episodes in length. Previously it was usually around 26 episodes. Outlaw Star's original broadcast was 24 episodes. "Hot Springs Planet Tenrei" and "Demon of the Water Planet" were added as DVD bonuses. No second season sadly! But there almost was. Bringing back characters like Shimi or introducing a new ship were cool ideas.
This anime deserved a sequel.
A proper sequal at that!
It was going to get an OVA called Sword od Wind but it got scrapped. 😭
Live action adaptation by whoever did those ruroni kenshin films
No it doesn't
Nope. It was perfect.
Gun that uses magic shells, personal force fields, Tao magic. That's enough for this to stay in my top 3 forever.
Ill always be grateful for this cartoon for starting my fascination with Taoism
Literally my favorite anime ever. I hate that we have countless videos analyzing DBZ but trying to find a video essay on Outlaw Star is like searching for the Galactic Leyline. Thank you for making this.
I was a HUGE fan of Outlaw Star. Even more than Trigun or Cowboy Bebop. This was the series that got my 23yo son hooked on anime, and he still steaks VERY highly of it.
Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Yu Yu Hakusho, and GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) are my favorites since I started watching Anime when I was 13 in 2002.
Man, my brothers and I loved Outlaw Star. I've been rewatching episodes here on TH-cam, and I honestly forgot how much this series influenced me.
While Dragon Ball Z had a major influence on me, I find myself trying to create stories and games that reflect my love for Outlaw Star over DBZ, and that's because there's something special about Outlaw Star.
It feels gritty.
Also, I *swear* I remember seeing that hot springs episode on Toonami. I remember feeling confused, because when they aired the series again, it suddenly wasn't there. It got to the point that I felt that the episode was a figment of my imagination. I was happy to find out years later that I wasn't just imagining things.
The voice actress for Aisha is Rouge from the original X-men
It's on Hulu right now. Thank the anime Lords
I'm so glad someone else remembers this anime it holds a special place in my hart cause it was the only anime my dad would watch with me those where the good days
one of the greatest anime ever made.
This show is so underrated loved it in the Toonami block and Adult Swim run.
I bought the Blu-Ray a couple years ago pretty much on the strength of the old Broken Dreams Toonami promo. I was very pleased.
This was better than Trigun or Cowboy Beebop to me growing up.
I like this guy's energy, happy yet falling asleep.
This show was my childhood it help me become who i am today it will always be close to my heart
This kinda reminds me about how everyone forgot about Ronin Warriors. I loved that show.
Aisha was voiced by Lenore Zann who also voiced Rouge in the original X-men cartoon.
It's also a shame Bob Buchholz never got any other starring roles because he has a really distinctive voice.
Outlaw Star is on Hulu!! I'm so happyyyyy
Crazy how no one else talks about outlaw star.
Every friend i ever introduced to outlaw star instantly fell in love with the show
Holy shit! Firefly makes more sense now.
I feel like nobody makes this connection but I always thought this anime was quite literally an anime adaptation of Treasure Island with a space western setting.
I mean one of the main characters of OLS shares the same name as the main character of Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins. They’re searching for a treasure in a place that’s hard to find but widely fought over. Oh and... pirates...
That opening song gives me chills man! Best anime ever !!!!
Outlaw star was always my favorite
Loved it, underrated. Love firefly. Never saw the connection! Mindblown
I have SUCH good memories of watching Outlaw Star along with DBZ and Gundam Wing on Toonami back in the day. Kou Ootani also composed the music for Gundam Wing, which is fun because if you listen to the 2 OSTs back to back, it's so incredibly obvious that they have the same musical language; it's instantly recognizable that they shared a composer.
I might be due for a rewatch. I have DBZ on bluray and Gundam Wing on DVD, I wish I could get my hands on Outlaw Star in physical media too.
An underappreciated anime that deserves better recognition. I like the space western aspects of this sci-fi series. Well worth a watch for character study. 😊
definately a underated gem
One for the old heads and never forget space pirate wizards !
This is one of my fave animes 2. Its definitely an easier rewatch than cowboy bebop. As much as I like that show it needs more emotional energy to get through. Thanks for doing a video outlaw star. Love it
This is truly a forgotten gem
Still my favorite show of all time over any other show just had the best elements
Dude props for finding that parallel I dig both of those shows. Outlaw Star on Toonami was dope!
Apparently, Aisha’s voice actress is Lenore Zann, who voiced Rogue in X-Men: The Animated Series, and would go on to voice ROLL.EXE in the English dub of Megaman NT Warrior.
I wish I could say I didn’t quote Harry as much as I do. I had an enormous crush on Mel as a kid, and still have a soft spot for her, to the extent of being ecstatic when I met a cosplayer of her after years of going to cons and at least 15 years after first seeing the show.
It kills me that “Nothing good can ever come from hanging out with normal people” is one of my favorite quotes, knowing that he punches her immediately after saying it.
update: outlaw star is now on hulu. i just finished it and then i found this video!
Really miss this show.
@The Trooth you did such an awesome job! Our childhoods were the same with outlaw star.
My favourite Anime Series ever!
🤘😎🤘
That episode where they fought the pirate and Jim is heartbroken because he got stood up but doesn't realize he just killed his 1st love and that's the reason she never came to meet him... it breaks my heart, too. Every. Single. Time.
Amazing video my friend. You summed up how great this show was to me as a teen. Thank you.
I think I can wholeheartedly say, in the Fall of 2000, at the impressionable age of 13, to have THIS and Gundam Wing, and Steve Blum as TOM on the evening block of Toonami, was truly EPIC.
"Believe in yourself create your own destiny don't fear failure!"
It's on Hulu! And I watched this growing up too!
I just remembered I saw this as a kid and didn't realized which show it was until toonami showed it again this year.
I loved this show. So damn much
Fun fact; For reasons I never quite thought about, I never watched Cowboy Bebop as a kid. I do however have an outlaw star dvd box set just looking at me rignt now
I found this on blu ray today. Thanks for a great video. I'm enjoying the series so far.
Toonami totally shafted this cartton and never even gave it a shot. They took it off air as soon the series did its first run.
It had the coolest aesthetic out of any anime to this day. Best character design. Bangin theme song. Plus this show introduced me into Taoism.... ill always be grateful to it
I loved Outlaw Star. It’s in my top 5 anime of all time
Aisha was voiced by Lenore Zann who voiced Rouge in the original x-men animated series but also did roll in megaman nt warrior but she was a Canadian parliament member and was a voting member losing in 2021 to a conservative. She’s currently back as rogue in the upcoming x-men animated series reboot. She has been doing rogue her entire career and did other voices too.
Damn I can't wait to watch this I seen 2 videos in the last day about this show
"I guess just come over to my place and watch it" lol hell yeah dude.
In my personal top 20 favorite anime. Outlaw Star, which i earn to this day in DVD, was phenomenal. I loved those days of Outlaw Star, Trigun and Cowboy Bebop.... Great video. Outlaw Star rewatchability is soooo damn good, for me. And Trigun is top top also.
This was one my favorite shows and I enjoyed how fleshed out the universe was. Perhaps it’s good thing it isn’t as widely known so it can avoid a fate like the live action GitS movie or most Netflix adaptations.
Outlaw is such a good anime
>dub, "Eat Your Hamburgers, Apollo"
Anyway, I'll definitely give this series a go considering I loved Cowboy Bebop and Trigun, thanks for introducing me to it.
I don't care much if its a sub or a dub, but I definitely hate any kind of censorship especially done by toonami so i'll watch the original.
Absolutely love outlaw stat
In Spain Cartoon Network project this anime on the "toonami" space with Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Jack.
Good chilhood.
agreed! hands down my fav anime
Outlaw star is an amazing 90's anime series. 😀👍
Rewatching my DVDs again for the first time in a decade and the series holds up. True, it's not Cowboy Bebop but it doesn't need to be. It has its own unique identity that's impossible to mistake or forget. From the grappler ships and caster guns to the quirky characters and locations, the show has a distinct worldbuilding going on. It can be mentioned in the same breath with the likes of Trigun and Bebop without feeling like a third wheel because it's good, too.
I started watching cowboy bebop and kept waiting for that cool red ship with arms I always saw on toonami previews to show up. Guess this video explains a few things...
Great video. This anime is top 10 in my book
Felt like rewatching this essay since I just started firefly lol xD
Anyway these days outlaw star is at least on hulu for anyone who happens across this comment!
Currently watching it on Prime - must say I'm impressed 😎
I just finished watching through all twenty-six episodes in a day. It's one of the few anime shows I can return to without cringing constantly. Escaflowne is up there for me too. Harry was my favorite character, by far, growing up, but as I've matured, that honor goes to the elder MacDougall. Hands down John Snyder's most nuanced, natural performance in an anime, and he's got a lot of 'em. Speaking of the performances, though--Christ, what a cast, and what an amazing job they did! Steve Staley's Harry is remarkably flexible, yet consistent. Lenore Zann (Aisha) is a scene stealer. Brianne Siddall as Jim is utterly believable. Ezra Weisz nails the gentle camp of Fred Luo. The stately Milton James makes Gwen Khan a cool, brainy winner. And who can forget Gilliam's iconic delivery, courtesy of Peter Spellos? You know, a big reason I still come back to this show IS the dub. Even the friends of mine who generally prefer Japanese voice work prefer Outlaw Star's English dub. It's so expressive and organic, with a few exceptions.
My music is heavily inspired by this show. Fuck with me.
To add to funny coincidences.
This anime is Treasure Planet years before treasure planet(treasure island in space)
I have all 3 DVD collections from Outlaw Star... and OS definitely drew heavily from it's "sister anime" 'Angel Links', even sharing the same Universe. I was surprised you didn't mention it. Oddly enough, I also love Firefly/Serenity and never drew the parallels to it until I watched this video. Per the writer's other works (Angel Links)(Ito Takehiko): "The Galactic Leyline is a data repository that contains the known universe's knowledge in the Toward Stars Era" -- Great video!!!
Forgotten? Not a chance. I’ve got the ship along with figures of Gene and Mel in my merch collection. This show was one of the ones that made me the fan I am. And it’s the only one of the 3 (OLS, Zoids, and Tenchi) that I can still rewatch and say it’s still just as good.
I loved Tenchi as a kid, and I have a massive Zoid collection, but those shows haven’t aged well, particularly the dubs.
People always forget outlaw star. I have heard it called a dumbed down cowboy bebop. I love it but of the three , trigun i my personal fav
Yeah I too am a big fan of outlaw star fell in love with it in the very very beginning. I also have the Blu-ray of the series. I Trigun and cowboy Bebop. Now I do think outlaw star has a small loyal fan base for the series and some have been clamoring for a second season but both of those productions didn’t get off the ground in Japan and were canceled.
Pa gu wa sun fa , pa gu wa sun fa , PA GU WA SUN FA!!
Gene is that one guy, jim is that one kid, and aisha is rogue from the 90s x-men cartoon.
This video is a master piece
Thank you for telling me about this
Hey man, I'm glad you made this video. Brought back some good memories :) though, I did want to mention that any time you played audio clips, they were too loud and it was very hard to hear what you were saying during them, which was especially an issue when you played the entire intro or outro song
Great video. Love OutLaw Star
I have all episodes downloaded on my playstation and a external hard drive
I like this more than cb and tg.
It will be my next show to watch, Just got done watching paranoia agent so im a little burnt out from the craziness but ya, looks good.
It's on Hulu now incase you're looking to recommend still
I think we shared the same opinions when they were going on.
DVD.com (formerly Netflix) USED to have the whole series, but now are down to just the first two disks.
I remember when I first saw the scene at 16:21. That fight was perfectly crafted with that chilling harmonica. Ive been trying to find the name of it
same feelings man, same feelings....
My favorite cartoon
Outlaw star didn't get noticed because of scheduling in the West and the fact that everyone who worked on it wasn't established in their careers yet so no one was looking out for it.
You just not going to mention the beauty of the Japanese end theme?
I'm fans of both. They're both good. lol. I get enjoyment out of both of them. They're both masterpieces. Cowboy Bebop is more stylistic and genre bending. Outlaw Star is more of an odyssey.
No mention of the Caster Gun?
And now i know why i liked firefly so much lmao...
I have to agree. Of all the anime I’ve watched Outlaw Star still sticks in the back of my mind. I remember watching it on Cartoon Network many years ago. I’ll go years without thinking of it then I’m like “oh man I miss that !”
Cowboy Bebop only had a manga after the anime. I love all 3 cowboy space shows. Outlaw Star is great though for sure :)
Outlaw Star is a great show that was overlooked. I was 42 when it came on Toonami in 2001. It had great animation, characters, plots and music. It is better than Firefly and Cowboy Bebop.
We got robbed that there was only 1 season of outlaw star
I will say I did have a good time from the beginning. And then it got weird when they find the Galactic Layline.
I never really considered Outlaw Star to be a Space "Western" just like I never really considered Trigun to be a "Space" Western. Though it did spark my love of "Hobo's in Space", or people who do random jobs while trying to survive with a spaceship and a dream (Firefly and Cowboy Bebop were already mentioned, but I also add Farscape, Vandred, and Lost Universe to the general "Hobo's in Space" list.... Probably more).
This is definitely one of those shows that I generally don't go back and watch the whole series, but pick certain episodes depending on my mood. I do tend to not ever watch the last 3 episodes (really the last 4 since it is rare I watch the hot springs episode) and I also skip some of the others like Beast Girl Ready to Pounce, Advanced Guard from Another World, and the set of episodes between Suzu joining and the space race.
Farscape is amazing
Of these three I would only really call trigun a western. Bebob is film noire to its core, and outlaw star is some weird amalgam of pulp fiction tropes best exemplified by 80s scifi tabletop rpgs like battletech and shadowrun.