“Coyote Ragtime Show” is like a party sampler of some of the best animes ever made, but while it may ooze potential, it never attains the level of quality of the shows it imitates. Part of this has to do with its surprisingly short length (a mere 12 episodes), but it’s mostly because it makes the age-old mistake of choosing style over substance. Sure, “Coyote Ragtime Show” may be fun to look at, but once you get past the sharp animation, it’s pretty shallow stuff. The series, which follows a team of space pirates as they attempt to uncover a hidden treasure while being pursued by a police inspector and an android assassin, feels a lot like “Firefly” and “Cowboy Bebop” rolled into one, only you’re never given the chance to truly get to know the main characters. Showgate really missed out on the opportunity to make the best of such a great cast of characters, and had the series wrapped up the treasure hunt storyline quicker, “Coyote Ragtime Show” might have enjoyed bigger success. As it is, the show is more like an appetizer than a full meal, and though there’s nothing too negative to say that would prevent anyone from watching it, you might be better off investing your time in something a little more… substantial.
