Herman
CharacterA pirate and hacker with a bounty on his head, Herman heads a small raiding crew that disables other vessels with a computer virus and strips them of cargo, right up until the Bebop's team flips that same weapon back on him.
Appearance
Standing five feet eleven, Herman operates as one member of a three-person pirate outfit. On screen his voice belongs to Shinichiro Miki in Japanese and to Bill Timoney in English. The credits list the name as Herman, yet the bounty display and the shooting script both render it Harman, and the spelling Harmen turns up as well.
Personality
The show offers little of Herman beyond his methods, which paint him as a calculating raider. He leans on stealth and technical trickery rather than open fights, content to cripple a target quietly and fence the spoils afterward.
History
During 2071 Herman works beside George and Ruth, disguising their operation as a trucking ship so they can drift up on unsuspecting craft. Mounted on their vessel is a grappling cable able to punch into a target's computer systems and shut them down, after which the truck splits open and swallows the helpless ship whole. Whatever they seize is quietly sold off. The Bebop eventually comes after them, and the pirates do manage to knock it out, along with the Swordfish II and, separately, the Red Tail. Their advantage does not last: the bounty hunters turn the very same virus back on the raiders' ship, locking it up until it bursts apart and kills the crew. Herman and his two partners take their names from the baseball great George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Herman in Cowboy Bebop?
Herman is a pirate and hacker with a bounty on his head in Cowboy Bebop, who leads a small three person raiding crew that disables ships with a computer virus and strips them of cargo.
What episode does Herman appear in?
Herman appears in the Cowboy Bebop episode Wild Horses.
How does Herman's pirate crew operate?
Herman and his partners disguise their ship as a trucking vessel, use a grappling cable to inject a computer virus into a target's systems and shut it down, then split open their truck to swallow the disabled ship and sell off whatever they seize.
How does Herman die?
After Herman's crew disables the Bebop, the Swordfish II, and the Red Tail, the bounty hunters turn Herman's own virus back on his ship, locking it up until it bursts apart and kills the crew.
Who are Herman's partners, and where does his name come from?
Herman works alongside George and Ruth, and the trio takes its names from baseball legend George Herman Babe Ruth Jr.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Herman? The Cowboy Bebop Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Cowboy Bebop anime series, manga, and official materials. Cowboy Bebop was created by Hajime Yatate, published by Sunrise, and animated by Sunrise. All rights to Cowboy Bebop and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byHajime Yatate
- Published bySunrise
- Animated bySunrise
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Sunrise and Sunrise.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to the game's respective publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: volume covers, credited to Sunrise and Hajime Yatate.
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