Space Cobra

Space Cobra is a spacefaring rogue who has spent years on the run, dodging people who want him dead. To vanish for good he surgically altered his face and wiped his memory so his enemies would never locate him. Time passes and the past catches up as his memories return. He reenters the orbit of his former ally Lady Armaroid and the trusty ship Tortuga, drawn back into a life of fast heists and high speed escapes. Cobra hops between star systems, taking on the merciless Pirate Guild while staying one step ahead of the Milky Way Patrol, the law that still pursues him.

Released in 1982, Space Cobra was directed by Osamu Dezaki and adapted from Buichi Terasawa's Cobra manga. The voice cast features Nachi Nozawa as Cobra and Yoshiko Sakakibara as Armaroid Lady, with Reiko Tajima and Gara Takashima in supporting roles.

Even decades later this series is remembered for its bold space opera vibe and its signature look. Dezaki's framing and Terasawa's world building helped set a template for space adventure cartoons and left a lasting impression on fans of late 80s anime, inspiring subsequent space myths and designs.

Audience reactions have tended to praise the fast paced action and sci fi flair. The show also probes questions of identity memory and personal freedom as Cobra negotiates trust loyalty and his own sense of duty within a corrupt galaxy.