Ask John: Is Cowboy Bebop Influenced By Lupin the III?

Question:
Is Cowboy Bebop influenced by Lupin III? When you think about it, they’re very similar, two best friends, a tomboy babe, the third character that makes the group complete, chases, a lot of guns, etc.

Answer:
Although I don’t recall ever seeing any conclusive link between Cowboy Bebop and Lupin, I think the similarities are far too numerous to be coincidence. Lupin the III has been such a ubiquitous franchise in Japan for the past 30 years that I’d guess it’s virtually impossible for professionals in the anime industry to not be influenced by Lupin. As you’ve said, both Lupin and Cowboy Bebop feature loyal but emotionally distant partners (Lupin & Jigen, Spike & Jet), a strong willed, selfish and independent attractive female (Fujiko & Faye), and an expert who appears in times of need (the master swordsman Goemon, and the hacker extraordinaire Ed). Cowboy Bebop, with its nostalgic, free-wheeling 1970s attitude, also recalls the hectic, jazzy and free-spirited atmosphere that characterizes the vast majority of Lupin III animation. Finally, Spike himself, with his tall and lanky build, dark hair, and ever-present suit and tie seems a melancholy futuristic reincarnation or descendant of Aresene Lupin III.

However, I’m not suggesting that Cowboy Bebop is in any way of rip-off of Lupin. It’s difficult to imagine that Cowboy Bebop was not created as an intentional homage to Lupin, but Cowboy Bebop clearly stands on its own as an original concept and production. Cowboy Bebop may not be original in the sense that its elements are genre staples most often associated with Lupin III, but Bebop is original in the sense that it takes pre-existing character types and situations and themes and creates a unique, surprising and inventive new mix with them.