Cowboy Bebop's anime contains a talented voice cast behind an eclectic range of complex characters. The anime series premiered in the late 1990s and was considered a huge critical success both in Japan and internationally. Many regard the English dub as one of the best dubbed anime of all time and view Cowboy Bebop as a gateway into the medium as a whole.
Taking place in the year 2071, Cowboy Bebop occurs after Earth has become almost uninhabitable and most of the population has settled on nearby planets and moons in the solar system. A legalized contract system enables bounty hunters, also known as Cowboys, to catch criminals in return for a monetary award. Cowboy Bebop has been praised for its blend of genres such as science fiction, Western, and noir films, and draws on heavy themes like loneliness and a person's inability to escape their past.
One of the most compelling elements of the show is the characters and their complicated histories. As the Bebop crew travels together through space, getting in and out of tough situations, they have to learn to come to terms with the less appealing parts of themselves that they'd rather leave behind. Here's the guide for the Cowboy Bebop anime's characters and who voices them in Japanese and English.
The Bebop Crew
Kōichi Yamadera (Japanese) and Steve Blum (English) as Spike Spiegel - Spike used to be a part of the Red Dragon Syndicate before becoming a bounty hunter aboard the Bebop. He regularly experiences flashbacks of his time in the Syndicate with his true love Julia, who he believes abandoned her after they planned to flee together. Yamadera is known for his role as Shun Akiyama in the Yakuza video game series, as Togusa in Ghost in the Shell, Ryoji Kaji in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Beerus in Dragon Ball Super, and Gentle Criminal in My Hero Academia. Blum has voiced Wolverine in multiple animated projects, and has also appeared in Naruto as Orochimaru, The Legend of Korra as Amon, and Star Wars Rebels as Zeb.
Unshō Ishizuka (Japanese) and Beau Billingslea (English) as Jet Black - Jet is a former cop who often acts as Spike's opposite. While Spike appears lazy, Jet is very hardworking. After his partner with the Intra Solar System Police betrayed him, exposing corruption within the force and resulting in Jet losing one of his limbs, he quit in disgust. Ishizuka has voiced several Pokémon such as Onix and Steelix in Pokémon, Kizaru in One Piece, Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and took over as Mr. Satan in Dragon Ball. Billingslea did voice work for projects like Digimon as Ogremon and Naruto: Shippuden as Ay the Fourth Raikage, and live-action work for Star Trek Into Darkness among others.
Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese) and Wendee Lee (English) as Faye Valentine - Faye spent decades in suspended animation after a terrible accident, only being revived once medicine had advanced enough to save her. Waking with no memory of her past and a large amount of debt she has no means to pay, Faye is forced to go on the run and eventually joins the Bebop crew despite Spike and Jet's disapproval. Hayashibara is perhaps best known as Rei Ayanami in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Lina Inverse in Slayers, Shiho Miyano in Detective Conan, and Rebecca in One Piece. Lee has voiced Moegi in Naruto, Yoruichi Shihōin in Bleach, Shura Kirigakure in Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga, and Queen Serenity in Sailor Moon.
Aoi Tada (Japanese) and Melissa Fahn (English) as Ed - The androgynous hacker's carefree and, to the other characters, somewhat confusing attitude acts as a nice change of pace from the more solemn nature of the rest of the crew. Her exact age and origins are unknown, but Ed did spend some time in an orphanage after her father left. Tada primarily works as a singer, but has also appeared in the anime Kindaichi Case Files as Ogura Noeru and Digimon Tamers as Terriermon. Fahn is best known for her work as Hello Kitty in Hello Kitty's Paradise and voicing the Invader Zim character Gaz Membrane.
Kōichi Yamadera (both versions) as Ein - Ein is a scientifically enhanced Pembroke Welsh Corgi who is able to perform many tasks that a normal dog could not such as answering the phone and steering a car. When Ed joins the Bebop, Ein quickly grows attached to her and follows her when she leaves the crew.
Supporting Characters
Norio Wakamoto (Japanese) and Skip Stellrecht (English) as Vicious - Vicious is a ruthless member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate and Spike's archenemy. He and Spike used to be partners until Spike fell in love with Julia, who was dating Vicious at the time. Although Vicious is only 27, the same age as Spike, he appears much older due to his gray hair and the heavy bags beneath his eyes. Wakamoto has voiced Yusuke Amade in Sailor Moon, Cell in Dragon Ball Z, and Gouki in Yu Yu Hakusho. Strellrecht is known for voicing Might Guy in Naruto and Ryu in Street Fighter.
Gara Takashima (Japanese) and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English) as Julia - Julia is a beautiful woman from Spike's past who was going to desert the Syndicate with him until Vicious discovered their plan. To protect them both, Julia went into hiding, never meeting with Spike or letting him know what had happened. Takashima voiced Eri Kisaki in Detective Conan and Azusa Amano in Magic User's Club. McGlynn has voiced Kurenai Yūhi in Naruto, Zabimaru in Bleach, and Governor Arihnda Pryce in Star Wars Rebels.
Recurring Characters
Tsutomu Tareki (Japanese) and Paul St. Peter (English) as Punch - Punch is the co-host of the TV show Big Shot, which provides unreliable information on bounty heads. Tareki narrated Choujin Sentai Jetman and Shuriken Sentai Ninninger. St. Peter voiced Kurama in Naruto, Razor in Hunter x Hunter, and Yammy in Bleach.
Miki Nagasawa (Japanese) and Lia Sargent (English) as Judy - Judy is the other co-host of the Big Shot TV show. Nagasawa was Wedy in Death Note and Maya Ibuki in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Sargent voiced Artemis in Cyborg 009 and Neige in Wolf's Rain.
Kenyu Horiuchi (Japanese) and David A. Thomas (English) as Grencia Mars Elijah Guo Eckener - Gren was a soldier for the war on Titan who was arrested as a spy after Vicious betrayed him. Experimental drugs imbalanced his hormones enough that he developed more of a feminine body figure. Horiuchi voiced Hokushin in Yu Yu Hakusho, Tobirama Senju in Naruto, and Oguma in Beastars. Thomas voiced Cleve Kelso in Fast & Furious: Spy Racers and The Sorrow in the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Subsistence video games.
Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese) and Derek Stephen Prince (English) as Lin - Lin is a loyal Syndicate member who sacrifices himself by taking a bullet meant for Vicious. Midorikawa voiced Zelgadis Greywords in Slayers, Marth in the Fire Emblem series, Zora Ideale in Black Clover, and Garou in One-Punch Man. Prince was Uryū Ishida in Bleach and Vexen in the Kingdom Hearts series.
Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese) and Kirk Baily (English) as Shin - Shin is Lin's older brother who reveals Vicious's coup when he rescues Spike and Jet from assassins. In Yu Yu Hakusho, Hiyama voiced Hiei, and in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, he voiced Link. Bailey appeared as Kevin "Ug" Lee in Salute Your Shorts and Tetsuya in Fushigi Yûgi.
Hitoshi Hirao (Japanese) and Kevin Seymour (English) as Antonio - Antonio is one of three elderly men who regularly appear throughout the series, making various conflicting claims about what they used to do with their lives such as bounty hunting and piloting. Hirao voiced Iwao Fujiki in Kamen Rider Drive, and Seymour voiced Gehrmann in Monster.
Toshihiko Nakajima (Japanese) and Steve Kramer (English) as Carlos - Carlos is the second of the three old men. Nakajima was the voice of several characters in Inuyasha including Hachi and Samurai, and voiced Masami Hirukawa in Paranoia Agent. Kramer voiced Darkonda in Power Rangers in Space.
Hiroshi Naka (Japanese) and Kevin Seymour (English) as Jobim - Jobim is the third old man. Naka voiced Vice Admiral Garp in One Piece and Greta's Father in A Little Snow Fairy Sugar. Along with Cowboy Bebop, Seymour has voiced characters in Trigun, The Legend of Black Heaven, Ghost in the Shell and Lt. Bernard Monsh in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.