Review of Trigun
If you can bear the dubious episode-to-episode quality and lack of a recognizable identity, _Trigun_ can offer plenty of entertainment and levity, as well as perspective and thought. This all-encompassing nature might make you think the anime is juvenile, as I initially did, but it’s far from it. It’s fresh, captivating, and goes the extra mile to ensure its characters face their conflicts and dilemmas in an uncontrived way. If you want to enjoy a well-made piece of older media, you don’t have to look further than this anime. I’m going to spend some time discussing more of the show, starting with its story. Theplot is amusing and fresh. Early on, the story slowly unravels, interjecting itself throughout Vash’s comedic mishaps and heartfelt encounters. Midway, a tonal shift occurs as we delve into Vash’s troubling past, trading cheerfulness for narrative development. It culminates in a profound commentary on morality, self-sacrifice, and altruism. By examining the ideological differences between Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood, we gain a nuanced discussion about the ways we ought to conduct ourselves in the world.
It’s also a story about the transitory nature of life, the calm acceptance of suffering, and remaining unrelenting in the pursuit of one’s virtues. Through the conflicts our main character faces, we apprehend these themes and reflect upon them.
Vash the Stampede is a subversive symbolic figure of a lifestyle antithetical to a world desperate to assimilate you into the masses. He’s positive, but not delusional; easygoing, but not senseless; free, but not unburdened. His happy-go-lucky attitude contrasts with the bleak, dilapidated world he inhabits and the often disturbed, self-indulgent people around him. This immutable and unbreakable part of his spirit, his childlike demeanor, is idyllic and inspires admiration. Vash is an adult who, despite all odds, has never lost touch with his inner child. Watching _Trigun_, those of us who grew up too fast, became entrenched in worldly struggles, or lost our authentic sense of self, can all hope to be a little more like him. That’s what makes him a compelling character.
As great a protagonist as Vash is, it takes time for him to grow on you. Because of that, I didn’t find the first few episodes very exciting. It took some faith that it would eventually get better to press on. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the show to pick up the pace. I was reminded of _Cowboy Bebop_, which, despite some middling episodes, had a very strong first episode that immediately instilled faith in its competency. By contrast, _Trigun_’s first episode is easily the weakest. In today’s attention economy, media needs to immerse viewers from the very beginning, which could be a turn-off for newer audiences.
What isn’t a turn-off for new viewers are the aesthetics. The character designs are magnificent. Vash is highly skilled with a gun, fashionable and frequently framed in stylistic shots, all of which contribute to his unabashed coolness. Nicholas’ business attire, complete with an unbuttoned shirt and a massive, cross-shaped gun, speaks volumes about his character through design alone.
Unfortunately, accompanying the great visual design is an above average musical score, which, while being sufficient, feels limited in track numbers.
Luckily, the anime is greater than the sum of its parts. Many creative synergies, amazing writing, and solid direction congeal to create a memorable experience.