Joss Whedon anime influence?

[Infinite Chaos]

Maybe I'm just stupid...but I've been seriously wondering if Whedon was at all influenced by anime. Because I just started watching Cowboy Bebop, and was amazed at the similarities to firefly. The Bebop even looks like the Serenity to an extent...
Bebop
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l9_M3jYn25...n+the+hole.JPG
Serenity
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4IsrUoO6T6...ity-790024.jpg

Oh, and Dollhouse is giving me some really big Ghost in the Shell vibes...

[Replicator Todd]

Its possible. Cowboy Bebop does kinda remind me of Firefly. Alot of sci-fi anime seem to have some kind of western theme or old technology or something like that.