Vash With More Flash
A New Spin On An Old Tale
In 1998, one of the coolest and most intriguing characters in manga got an anime adaptation. Trigun created by the respected Yasuhiro Nightow told the tale of Vash the Stampede, the Human Typhoon, a "ruthless, cold-blooded gunman" who ravaged through the desert any and all who got in his way. Or so we thought, quickly in the first episode we learn that he is more goofy than ruthless, a pacifist with a gun who never shoots people. His one rule is that no matter how deadly the opponent is, he will never take their life. Vash quickly became one of the most beloved characters in the canon of anime and manga because of his personality, and sense of style and one can not forget his supporting cast. From the tall and powerful Milly Thompson, the quick and inquisitive Meryl Stryfe, and the deadly preacher Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Together, this group of unlikely allies took on the wasteland and had one of the most emotionally charged journeys one could ask for in a 26-episode series.
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| Creator of Trigun, Yasuhiro Nightow |
Later in 2011, fans got one more tale in the saga of Vash titled Badlands Rumble. Whether or not it is canon has been up for debate since its release, however, fans were delighted to watch Vash and his friends for one more adventure. The film's premise was simple: "Head to Mecca City and compete with other notable bounty hunters to catch a legendary thief". But of course, in true Trigun fashion, the story was more complex than initially thought. The film received positive reviews and was praised for its animation and fluidity regarding the choreography of the combat scenes, this has remained true since the original anime aired in 1998.
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| Badlands Rumble Key Visual (2011) |
Now, imagine my surprise when out of the blue, a brand new trailer drops, and it's for a new take on the Trigun formula. Trigun Stampede premiered worldwide on both, Crunchyroll and Hulu, on January 7, 2023. A new take not just visually, creating a new origin story as it were for some of the key players in the story. Studio Orange was in charge of the animation this time around, and they really blew it out of the park. Known for their spectacular work with Beastars in the past, their use of 3D animation blended with a cel-shaded aesthetic gave this series a breath of fresh air. Making the environments feel lived in, with a sense of history and weight with each step Vash and company took on their adventure.
Why You Should Be Hyped
- The voice acting is so genuine, that you can feel every high and low that these characters go through emotionally, even when they take the necessary pause to draw out the dramatic tension as it crescendoes to a point where they take your breath away.
- Character acting is done in such a manner that you can tell the personality of a character by how they carry themselves in conversations.
- The combat choreography is one of the best in recent memory. There is one specific scene in the early episodes that has Vash running away from townsfolk as they try to catch and gun him down.
- The camerawork is nothing to laugh at, as the way the scenes can transition smoothly gives the episode a sense of "Whoah, am I in the show with them?". Which, to be honest, is greatly appreciated as with some animes, they seem to be shot in a way that simply "happens" to the viewer. No immersion is felt, yet with one single episode of Trigun Stampede, the viewer is going to feel prompted to stand up and shake off any loose sand once the episode is over.
Overview
Having ended last year with an emotionally charged fight scene that leads to a cliffhanger, the show carefully lays down the building blocks in a post-credits scene for a sequel that will launch soon in 2025. Trigun Stampede has once again reminded viewers and critics alike, why he is one of the more endearing, goofy, badasses in recent media. If you can take one thing from this post, I hope that you get curious enough to watch the new series. If you never heard of this till today...well then give the original series a shot. I guarantee that at least one character will stand out to you, and more than one fight scene will have you thinking to yourself: "How did they think to do that?!".
In Closing
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| Vash the Stampede |
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