Trigun

Genre: Action/Comedy

Format: TV Series

Allegiance: Madhouse

Director: Nishimura Satoshi

Vintage: 1998

Intelligence Agency Report by: Djudge

In the far future, on the desert world known as Gunsmoke, a single outlaw has committed acts so atrocious that a $$60,000,000,000 bounty has been placed on his head. People scatter and whole towns evacuate at his name: Vash the Stampede. It would seem that destruction incarnate would be a nothing but a vile and malevolent being. However, when two insurance representatives are sent to track down and contain the damages Vash causes in his rampages, they find the opposite of what they are looking for. Can the eccentric and overly charismatic gunman they find really be the vicious criminal they have been commissioned to restrain?

Field Agent Report by: Djudge

Plot
Characters
Impact
Visual
Audio

9.00
9.00
9.00
8.25
7.50

Overall

8.75

(not an average)

Trigun will always be a memorable part of my collection not just because it represents tried and true comedic action, but also due to the fact that it changed the way I reviewed anime. This particular series is something that you probably wouldnt want to take at face value. A first run through the series will probably leave you wondering why so many people see it as a fan favorite. However, further viewing of the series (especially its plot-heavy second half) will more than likely show you why Vash is both such a popular character and one of animes greatest heroes.

In my opinion, Trigun will not be winning many accolades in the visuals department. Although the character and mechanical design in the series remains imaginative, the forces that put them in motion could have used just a little more fine-tuning. Some of the more glaring examples of this deficiency would be the several instances in which prominent details on a characters person or in the background would be placed in or removed from a shot spontaneously. Despite these annoying nuances, the animation remains satisfactory and, for the most part, solid in all other regards. In my opinion, the series trigger-happy gun sequences could have used a little brush-up in terms of both detail and length and doing so would have gone a long way in extending the appeal of this series to fans of similar gunfight titles such as Gunsmith Cats and Cowboy Bebop.

Although the "western" motif is exercised heavily throughout the series, the basic plot can be derived from a science fiction backstory that manages to somehow work. Fast forward some time later and the beginning of Triguns first episode settles into place. For the first third or so of the series, the viewer is thrown along with Vash in some comedic episodes rife with slapstick humor and plain old lechery. Those expecting tight-lipped action early on will be sorely disappointed until around the start of the second third of the series. From that point on, Vashs true agenda and past are made known to the viewer as we follow the pacifist gunman on a journey leading to a final confrontation with the darkness thats haunted him nearly his entire life. To this day, the final scene in the series remains as one of the most ambiguous (yet, subconsciously satisfying) in terms of total closure.

After its all said and done, Trigun is a welcome addition to anyones list of anime to watch. It represents one of the more popular titles of the past decade and its main characters are well established as part of popular anime lore. In any case, the twenty-six episodes of this series will more than likely amuse, if not totally hook, prospective anime enthusiasts and otaku alike.

Field Agent Report by: Kuzu Ryu Sen

Plot
Characters
Impact
Visual
Audio

8.25
9.25
9.50
7.50
7.75

Overall

8.75

(not an average)

Trigun is probably best known for being one of the cornerstones of North American anime fandom in the late 90s. Along with titles such as Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion, Trigun helped create a niche market for fans that were originally enticed by the mainstream dubs of Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z on TV, but wanted something more mature. Ironically, Trigun's "Wild West" style was a ratings flop in Japan, but its interesting setting, skillful interweaving of comedy and drama, and above all, one Vash the Stampede, has ensured its place in the hearts of North American fans.

Initially, Trigun appears to be a run-of-the-mill comedy based heavily on slapstick comedy and Mr. The Stampede's lechery to get by. The first quarter of the series is heavily episodic – to the extent where it potentially becomes tedious to the more experienced anime viewer. However, the reasoning for this slow start soon becomes apparent, as the second quarter introduces not only dramatic plot elements, but also the perfect counterpart character for Vash. Having thus wrapped up the key cast introductions, the remainder of the plot becomes simply engrossing on an entertainment level, a philosophical level, and even an emotional level. All this leading up to an ending that – while it does border on the cliché – simply just fits.

That is not to say Trigun does not have weaknesses. For example, for all the fantastic merits of the second half of the series, it still maintains – to some degree – the same episodic feel as the first half, and many of the one-episode antagonist characters could have been utilized a little better. The other main problem is that since there are quite a few of the aforementioned minor one-shot antagonists, the last three or so episodes do feel quite compressed. Finally, the Insurance Girls are underutilized until the last quarter of the series.

Yet, all of these problems are easily overshadowed by the sheer charisma of one man: Mr. Vash the Stampede. Depicted originally as a bumbling superman, the series gradually reveals so many different facets of Vash's personality and character that in the end, he simply ends up feeling human – the highest compliment to a literary creation. This is critical, since in Trigun, Vash is not merely the leading protagonist; he essentially makes or breaks the whole show – in the same vein as Mifune Toshiro's character in Yojimbo and Sanjuro.

Visually and aurally, Trigun is merely average – but this is not a show that relies on the senses to hook its prey. Instead, Trigun's hook is a strong chemistry between cast members, a storyline that appeals on many different levels, and a lead character that is arguably the most memorable in the medium. Simply put, Trigun was practically required viewing for anime fans ten years ago, and the passage of time – while it has removed the series from the fore – has not diminished its attributes one bit.

Field Agent Report by: Drake

Plot
Characters
Impact
Visual
Audio

9.00
9.25
9.00
8.00
8.00

Overall

8.50

(not an average)

When I was first introduced to anime in 1998, there were three series eagerly anticipated by the anime fans I was friends with - the trio of Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, and Trigun. Of the three, I must say I enjoyed Trigun the most.

The first thing I liked about Trigun was just how hysterical it was. As I flew through the series, however, my reactions changed and I began to see why my friends all crazed over Vash the Stampede. He really was portrayed as one of animes greatest heroes. Sorry, Goku.

Despite its dark atmosphere, Trigun is still able to give you a few laughs throughout its run. This mix of humor and darkness helps to make the series much stronger as it unloads vast amounts of information on Vash, greatly deepening his character. The viewer first sees Vash the Stampede as a total wimp, but by the halfway point of the series, we understand why hes worth the $60,000,000,000 bounty on his head.

However, the same cant be said for many of the other characters. Very little is revealed about them outside of what we're shown at the very beginning of the series. The only other characters that were really developed at all were Wolfwood, Knives, and Milly, but the gap of development between these three and Vash is still very substantial. I suppose this is to be expected considering the series is centered solely on Vashs past.

The plot itself is set in a seemingly typical western world, which is enhanced greatly by the way the animators made the series actually appear straight out of the Wild West. However, as the viewer gets a better idea of the environment and story, they quickly discard the simple Western setting and add in an element of science-fiction to explain the origins of the Trigun world. This blend of Wild West and science-fiction creates a very unique realm. The story is very complex, full of mystery and suspense at every corner as it slowly reveals pieces of information, urging the viewer to keep watching to get the whole story as soon as possible. Not only is the story well-written, it also asks dozens of philosophical questions to boggle the minds of the viewers even further. The biggest upside to the plot is the full closure given at the end of the series. A viewer is able to leave feeling content and not feeling like they want to chase down Madhouse for a sequel to explain any loose ends in the story. The studio also competently handled the animation, which is pretty decent for the late 90s.

All in all, the series is a must see for the new generation of emerging otaku, and is also a very nostalgic series for the old ones. Dont let the light humor in the beginning turn you off to this series. Youre guaranteed to love it.