Best “Ragtag Crew” Introductions in Anime

Some of the most memorable moments in anime are the first times a mismatched group clicks—often by accident—into an unlikely team. These introductions set up dynamics, stakes, and a shared mission, whether it’s hunting bounties in deep space or scraping by in post-apocalyptic chaos. Here are twenty-five standout “ragtag crew” entrances that quickly establish who’s who, why they’re together, and what wild ride is about to start.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998) – Bebop crew

Spike Spiegel and Jet Black’s partnership is established as a working bounty-hunter duo operating from the spaceship Bebop. Faye Valentine crashes into their lives during an early hunt, bringing debt, danger, and a knack for complicating jobs. Radical Edward later joins after a hacking encounter that turns into a recruitment on Earth. Ein, the data-dog, rounds out the ship after being rescued from criminals, giving the crew its full, oddball lineup.

‘One Piece’ (1999) – Straw Hat Pirates

Monkey D. Luffy’s core crew forms across the East Blue as he frees or recruits allies during self-contained arcs. Roronoa Zoro joins after Luffy intervenes at a Marine base, while Nami is folded in through shared enemies and a village-saving heist. Usopp signs on after a pirate raid threatens Syrup Village, and Sanji leaves the Baratie following a pivotal battle. Tony Tony Chopper completes the early lineup after the Drum Island conflict, setting the template for later additions.

‘Samurai Champloo’ (2004) – Mugen–Jin–Fuu trio

The trio assembles after a restaurant brawl where Mugen and Jin, total opposites in fighting style and temperament, clash. Fuu saves them from execution by engineering an escape, then binds them with a promise to help find the “samurai who smells of sunflowers.” Their journey begins with that bargain, turning rivalry into a reluctant alliance. The show’s episodic stops test and cement the ad-hoc deal.

‘Trigun’ (1998) – Vash & Insurance Girls

Vash the Stampede’s path crosses with Bernardelli Insurance Society agents Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, assigned to minimize the destruction that follows him. Their introduction frames a persistent tag-along dynamic as they monitor—often unsuccessfully—Vash’s movements. The trio’s travel structure emerges around incident-of-the-week towns, bandits, and bounties. The setup clarifies roles: Vash defuses threats, while Meryl and Milly document, negotiate, and get pulled into firefights.

‘Outlaw Star’ (1998) – Outlaw Star crew

Gene Starwind and Jim Hawking are small-time contractors who stumble into a larger conspiracy when they accept a job protecting Hilda. A heist-like escape sequence yields the advanced starship Outlaw Star and introduces the concept of grappler-arm combat in space. Aisha Clanclan and later “bio-android” Melfina round out the misfit team during successive chases. That early ship acquisition is the point where the crew coheres and the series’ treasure-hunt arc takes off.

‘Black Lagoon’ (2006) – Lagoon Company

Salaryman Rokurou Okajima is kidnapped by the mercenary Lagoon Company and abandoned by his employer during a hostage exchange. Realizing he’s expendable, he defects and adopts the name “Rock,” taking a seat beside Revy, Dutch, and Benny. The crew’s introduction is grounded in a speedboat escape and a torpedo-dodge against a military helicopter. From there, Rock becomes the negotiator and translator in the group’s gun-for-hire operations around Roanapur.

‘Gurren Lagann’ (2007) – Team Dai-Gurren

Simon and Kamina escape their underground village with the tiny Gunmen Lagann after a surface Beastman attack. Yoko Littner joins during the first battles topside, bringing ranged firepower and local knowledge. The early capture and repurposing of larger Gunmen gives the group a mobile base and a growing following. Naming themselves Team Dai-Gurren marks the moment the scrappy trio becomes a budding resistance.

‘Baccano!’ (2007) – Flying Pussyfoot ensemble

The series opens with multiple groups—gangsters, thieves, and immortals—converging on the transcontinental train the Flying Pussyfoot. Short vignettes introduce each faction’s motives, identities, and methods before their stories collide. The structure positions unlikely temporary alliances as survival becomes the immediate goal. That first train arc functions as the crew-of-necessity introduction, even as allegiances shift across timelines.

‘Durarara!!’ (2010) – Ikebukuro ensemble (Dollars)

The Dollars’ nebulous membership is hinted through anonymous chats that intercut with character arrivals in Ikebukuro. Key figures—Mikado, Masaomi, Anri, Celty, and others—enter via street encounters, job errands, and urban legends. A mass text and impromptu meetup reveal how the colorless gang mobilizes without hierarchy. The sequence establishes the Dollars as a loose, crowdsourced crew assembled by circumstance and connectivity.

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011) – Exam quartet

Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio meet during the Hunter Exam’s grueling early phases, beginning with the airship and tunnel runs. Shared obstacles—endurance tests, psychological games, and combat trials—force cooperation. Between phases, the foursome swaps skills and information, setting baseline roles for later arcs. By the end of the exam storyline, the core group is formed, even as their goals diverge.

‘Fairy Tail’ (2009) – Team Natsu

Lucy Heartfilia’s first trip to the Fairy Tail guild hall introduces the chaotic but supportive environment that anchors Team Natsu. Natsu Dragneel and Happy rope Lucy into a job that quickly spirals, demonstrating how quests catalyze new bonds. Gray Fullbuster and Erza Scarlet integrate via guild missions that require complementary magic and coordination. Their early S-rank-adjacent jobs cement the recurring party lineup.

‘Made in Abyss’ (2017) – Riko–Reg–Nanachi

Riko and the amnesiac robot boy Reg set out from Orth after deciphering notes from the Abyss. Their duo becomes a trio when they meet Nanachi in the lower layers, following a survival-driven detour involving Mitty. The introduction weaves medical care, fieldcraft, and artifact knowledge into the party’s daily routine. From that point, the team structure reflects each member’s specialized strengths for descent and recovery.

‘Space Dandy’ (2014) – Aloha Oe crew

Dandy recruits Meow after a botched alien-registration attempt and adds QT as the ship’s pragmatic robot. The first outing lays out the job premise—catalog rare aliens for cash—and the slapdash methods used to do it. Their base is the spaceship Aloha Oe, with the chain-restaurant BooBies as a recurring waypoint. The crew introduction pairs bounty-style objectives with episodic sci-fi detours that reset or diverge wildly by design.

‘Great Pretender’ (2020) – Team Confidence

Makoto Edamura is lured into a long con by Laurent Thierry after a pickpocketing duel and passport gambit. Abigail Jones and other associates emerge during the first case, each with a role in staged scams and cover identities. The Los Angeles job introduces the show’s structure of multi-episode “Cases” assembled like heist films. Their opening collaboration outlines division of labor—frontman, grifter, fixer, and mark research.

‘Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress’ (2016) – Kotetsujyo survivors

A kabane outbreak forces a rapid evacuation onto the armored train Kotetsujyo. Ikoma and Mumei’s abilities against the infected reframe them as essential, if distrusted, protectors. The train crew—engineers, samurai retainers, and civilians—becomes the mobile base of operations. That initial flight sequence defines the traveling convoy as a survivalist, ad-hoc team.

‘Akudama Drive’ (2020) – Akudama crew

Anonymous job notices summon distinct criminals—Courier, Brawler, Hacker, and others—to a high-risk heist in a neon-flooded Kansai. A civilian caught in the chaos is mislabeled “Swindler” and pulled into the team under false pretenses. Their first mission lays out specialized roles and explosive problem-solving methods. The introduction frames them as a temporary alliance bound by collars, payouts, and escalating contracts.

‘Tower of God’ (2020) – Team 25th Baam

Entrants meet during floor tests that force three-person teams to form under pressure. Baam aligns with Khun and Rak after surviving the initial culling challenges. Subsequent games—like crown matches and position drills—assign formal roles such as Fisherman, Spear Bearer, and Light Bearer. The early trials function as a structured introduction to teamwork and strategy for this makeshift squad.

‘Dr. Stone’ (2019) – Kingdom of Science core

Senku wakes in a stone-petrified world and revives Taiju, establishing a duo focused on rebuilding technology. Yuzuriha joins after de-petrification, bringing crafting and practical skills. The revival of Tsukasa introduces a split that clarifies the Kingdom of Science’s mission and membership. From these first revivals, the crew grows around a lab, a village, and a pipeline of inventions.

‘Edens Zero’ (2021) – Edens Zero crew

Shiki Granbell meets Rebecca and Happy on Granbell, a defunct theme-park planet, during an encounter that sparks his first trip into space. They acquire the ship Edens Zero and uncover its link to the Demon King, Shiki’s adoptive guardian. Early allies like Weisz and Homura join through planet-to-planet incidents that require Ether Gear talents. The opening arc maps the crew’s quest across space with the ship as a unifying hub.

‘Fena: Pirate Princess’ (2021) – Goblin Knights & Fena

Fena Houtman escapes an arranged fate and is rescued by the Goblin Knights, who reveal a past connection to her family. The team’s introduction divides responsibilities—navigation, combat, intelligence—under Yukimaru’s protection. Their ship becomes the base for a treasure-trail expedition tied to Fena’s lineage. The early episodes outline codes, codenames, and combat formations that define the group.

‘Trigun Stampede’ (2023) – Vash, Meryl & Roberto

This retelling introduces Vash alongside rookie reporter Meryl Stryfe and veteran journalist Roberto De Niro during a town-level crisis. Their association is framed through coverage rather than insurance oversight, shifting the professional glue of the trio. Encounters with bandits and local authorities quickly standardize their travel pattern. The setup positions the reporters’ investigation as the reason the group sticks together.

‘Gintama’ (2006) – Yorozuya

Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura form the Yorozuya after Shinpachi’s encounter with Gintoki leads to part-time work and Kagura seeks shelter and employment. Set in an alternate Edo under Amanto occupation, their early jobs establish a world of sword bans, alien technology, and cash-strapped freelancing. Operating from Gintoki’s apartment-turned-office, they take ad-hoc tasks ranging from bodyguard gigs to debt collection and missing-persons searches. Initial arcs quickly connect them with recurring groups like the Shinsengumi and Kabuki District residents, mapping a loose network that supports the crew’s episodic contracts.

‘Banana Fish’ (2018) – Ash & allies team

Photographer assistant Eiji Okumura meets Ash Lynx during a gang investigation, introducing civilian outsiders to a criminal power struggle. Associates like Shorter Wong and Max Lobo link the media, military, and street networks into a working circle. An initial crisis around a mysterious drug forces rapid coordination across safehouses and turf lines. That collision of worlds forms the show’s core coalition.

‘Dororo’ (2019) – Hyakkimaru & Dororo partnership

Dororo meets Hyakkimaru while the latter hunts demons to reclaim stolen body parts. The introduction shows Dororo assuming guide and interpreter duties as they travel between villages. Together they make deals with locals, track monsters, and piece together Hyakkimaru’s history. Their two-person “crew” becomes a mobile problem-solving unit with a clear, goal-oriented route.

‘Log Horizon’ (2013) – Log Horizon guild

Shiroe, Naotsugu, and Akatsuki link up shortly after being trapped in the MMORPG-turned-reality, Elder Tale. Their first dungeon and city-management tasks establish party roles—tactician, tank, and assassin. Formalizing the guild Log Horizon gives a base, member charter, and diplomatic mission with other player groups. The founding sequence sets a cooperative framework for raids, governance, and cross-guild projects.

Share your favorite “ragtag crew” first-meet scenes in the comments—who did we miss, and which introduction hooked you right away?