Anime Review - Trigun

Trigun

An Anime Review By
Le Chupacabra

Shonen Gaho-sha/Victor Company
26 episodes
15+

Spiky blonde hair, a red coat and a trail of destruction... It can only mean one man - Vash the Stampede (how aptly named...)! Yet how could this clumsy, donut-loving fool be the legendary outlaw dubbed "The Humanoid Typhoon"? Regardless, it's upto insurance agents Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson to make sure he doesn't destroy what's left of the sandy, barren planet they live on…


It's not the best, but Trigun is definitely solid stuff. It wonderfully segues together action, drama and of course, comedy. By the end, you'll have gone on an enjoyable experience that'll leave you extremely satisfied and appreciative of the medium known as 'anime'.

Trigun is a deep foray into the mindset of one Vash the Stampede. He's the star of the show, and each of the 26 episodes is there to reinforce him as a character to remember. Vash is quite a wierd one, too. For someone possessing such brilliant shooting skills and having been known as a legendary outlaw, most of the time he hardly seems the part. Vash is a complete pacifist who always looks to resolve a situation without anyone dying. He has one of those "saving-people-things" you read about in books (by books, I mean Harry Potter). Sometimes an emotional wreck bursting into tears, Vash will have you scratching your head for quite some time as you try figure out why he does what he does.

That leads us to the story itself. Trigun is set in what is probably a perfectly alternate 'Spaghetti Western universe'. Before you scream "Cowboy Bebop", you should know that Trigun shares very little with Shinichiro Watanabe's opus. Saloon brawls, quick draw duels and Mexican standoffs are all juxtaposed with advanced "lost" technology and a world born of creativity and freshness. The series is chockful of classic action scenarios and plenty of hilarious moments. These only complement the deeply philosophical tones that are omnipresent. Yet despite the constant issues of moral ethics and questions about the concept of 'life', none of it becomes overbearing or preachy. This makes the Trigun experience extremely easy to get into and enjoy, regardless of your way of thinking.

Trigun has an interesting art style that goes with the whole "western in outer space" theme very well indeed. While I think Naruto has the best character designs, Trigun maintains a stylish look that you won't forget easily. The music usually takes a backseat to the drama and everything, but somehow its faint presence makes all the difference and really helps create a great atmosphere.

If there's anything wrong with Trigun, it's just that they concentrate too much on the main character. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but given such an interesting world, it feels like a missed opportunity. Most characters are just simple and somewhat two-dimensional. They're likeable, but there's nothing, you know, extraordinary about them. It's true that Nicholas D. Wolfwood gets some good screentime as does Vash's brother, Knives, but it's still nothing compared to the Humanoid Typhoon. There are quite a few filler episodes that often deviate from the main story and train of thought.

In the end, Trigun is a a great introduction to the world of anime. A great mixture of action, drama, comedy and philosophy, Trigun is definitely quality entertainment.