I first viewed Outlaw Star during its initial run on the after school block of Toonami. As a kid, I recorded all the episodes and would often sit and binge the whole show through a weekend. The English Dub cast is handled by Animaze, the same studio that handled Cowboy Bebop and yet again they do an amazing job at selling the characters and the story here. Over my 30 years I've watched all kinds of series, but there's something special about the crew of the Outlaw Star that keeps me coming back time and time again.
What I always enjoyed about Outlaw Star was the universe seemed so big and full of different mysteries. It always left me wanting more as a kid. Thought about checking out Itou Takehiko's Uchuu Eiyuu Monogatari which is a manga set in the previous century of the universe. In the show the priests on Mt Tenrei make several comments about Gene, his caster gun and, red hair - it makes it seem as there is some bigger legend in world that's been long forgotten by most.
I guess kids these days think this show has way too much filler. For me, "filler" like this and Sailor Moon helps round out the characters and the world in an otherwise flat production (Sailor Moon Crystal). In the days of 10 episode seasons every few years really have soured people's reaction to a "filler episode" (which is usually how they refer to any non larger plot episode). Filler in a long running show like One Piece, Naruto, DBZ I can understand being annoying, but as a whole I don't view Outlaw Star's episodes as such. Episode 13, "Advance Guard From Another World" was the lowest rated on Serilized, but its one of my favorite episodes. It's not a larger plot episode, but it does so much for the world building. It starts off with the narrator telling us about the different known species in the universe and plays with interesting ideas of humanity with our new unknowns - Melfina and the Cactus. The shop next to the Cactus' Ice Cream shop says "Spit Sperm", which is just 10/10 hilarious.
I hate that this series is split into two parts on AniList. The first episode of the "Special" is one of the more mediocre episode, while the second episode is #23 and it's one of the best! It's a hot spring episode, so ecchi hi-jinks arise, but it's also a big lore episode; It has to do with the history of castors and the magicians that make them. I'm not one for fan service really, but the overall tone of the episode is so fun and comedic. This episode was also left out of my initial TV watch, but I saw it when I later rented the VHS.
It seems like the anime community at large typically looks past Outlaw Star in favor for Watanabe Shinichiro's Cowboy Bebop. They feel like different parts of the decade despite being released the same year. Outlaw Star retained that more classic style of animation, with different animators taking the helm for individual episodes. Where Cowboy Bebop feels a bit more on the modern end with it's glossy presentation and overall creative direction coming from a single auteur's vision. Outlaw Star is off model and messy, but with that it gives it so much heart and soul.
Almost 30 years later, and it still has me laughing, crying, and yelling at Gene for being an asshole. I wish we got to spend more time in this universe, even if it wasn't with this crew. I'm currently watching its follow up Angel Links, but it's missing the charm found here. Out of all things in this universe, space cops was the last thing I wanted.
