TRIGUN
The easiest way to explain Trigun, in a nutshell, is to say that it is very much like Rurouni Kenshin but has a much light-hearted theme to it. This brings about a distinct personality to the show’s design. A good portion of this series consists of different episodic stories, almost like an anthology at times, but the characters remain the same.
This series does see a comparison to Cowboy Bebop a lot because of this. While it may not do everything right, the series does just enough to be worthy of that comparison.
When talking about Trigun’s story and its characters, two factors make it so unique. The setting and the protagonist. Taking place on the Desert planet known as “Gunsmoke,” Trigun’s location features heavily decayed towns, steampunk technology, and a unique twist on the wild west that makes you gawk at the screen. It’s effortless to overlook the world design here, but the amount of attention that Madhouse has given this setting is what makes it so untouchably good.
They have created a world that isn’t ideal, yet it has people living in it nonetheless and fighting for their daily battles. Vash the Stampede, the main character, travels extensively throughout the 24 episodes and visits a ton of different locations. Each town that you see him visit comes with a different struggle that the residents face: the subtle chaos of Trigun.
Now to talk about the characters, and by characters, I mean the protagonist. Vash the Stampede has got to be one of most favorite anime protagonists of all time. Trigun heavily relies on Vash as a character for its narrative consistency, allowing the themes of pacifism and anti-violence to spread throughout the series with his ideology. He is introduced as this untouchable force who can dodge barrages of bullets that fly at him from different sources all at him. And the imagery in the opening features him walking in the desolate desert, showcasing a dark, reclusive, and seemingly violent figure.
This mystery keeps on for a while, as you only get to hear about Vash from secondary accounts. The stories come from people he either encountered or from those who speak of his stories. People say of him as a dangerous, ruthless killer. However, it all changes when he comes on screen. Honestly, that 60 Billion Double Dollar bounty on his head seems silly when you first see him.
Vash gets a ton of development as the series progresses, mainly regarding his pacifist nature. His ideology in the series is not to kill anyone while living in a world full of shooters. Vash’s doctrine isn’t just there for no reason; he’s a character with an insane amount of depth. Vash’s actions are always defined by his pacifist ideology which always comes with challenges when you have a hefty bounty on your head.
There is never a moment Vash is not challenged. Vash is not bad at shooting either; he’s achieved pitch-perfect accuracy. But his nature makes him a unique protagonist, and Trigun stuck to it as a standalone, using him as a character with a robust moral code. Because of this, each of his engagements with bounty hunters or outlaws with guns becomes unique as he continually tries to knock them out without having to kill them or even fatally harm them.
The animation is flawless, with almost no lag and character designs perfectly designed to suit the series. The art itself isn’t mind-blowing, but it gets the job done while being set in a dusty world that eliminates the possibility of any scenery. However, character designs are classic, and the production values have retained that quality throughout the 24 episodes.
Vash’s signature spiked blonde hair, sunglasses, and red trench coat, give him a distinct contrast to how everyone else in the series looks with mostly washed-out colors. Nicholas D. Wolfwood is the perfect contrast for Vash in the series in terms of art and themes, not to mention his cross-shaped gun-holder looks badass.
The impressive over-the-top action displayed here is equally reminiscent of bullet hell with beautifully choreographed movement and attacks. The final standoff in the series (in my honest opinion) ranks as one of the best finales ever aired on anime.
Trigun’s soundtrack serves mainly as an addition to the series. It is noteworthy from aggressive guitar riffs to some very mellow western melodies, accompanied by a beautiful song that factors into the story. The music works pretty well with the anime, supporting scenes instead of telling audiences how they should feel like Legato's chaotic industrial theme blaring, which perfectly showcases how Legato mentally torments Vash.
The music might be the only problem I could say I’d have with the series; it works well for the series, but as standalone music, it is often entirely forgettable. The voice acting is particularly significant here, with some of the best work in English Dub that I have seen. The original Japanese voice acting is also some of the best in the industry.
Trigun has sharp writing, unprecedented comedic timing, and a resounding theme regarding altogether abandoning entertainment value, which keeps the series afloat for the most part.
The series constantly explores its themes without shying away while continually maintaining the humor it establishes in the first half. The main protagonist, Vash, further elevates it. Whose ideologies bring about the show’s nuances and complexities, as they are explored from both his point of view and from conflicting perspectives all around him. Trigun is a prime example of how to do a gritty story right. It delivers a meaningful albeit cliché message without violence.
