Review of Trigun
Long before I had ever heard of Trigun, I had often seen that famous figure shrouded in mystery: gun in hand, shades on, wearing a long red trench coat. I always wondered who this impressive guy was and what anime he comes from; little did I know he is also the biggest dork ever created... Vash the Stampede the man with a $$60,000,000,000 bounty on his head? Or the goofy blonde guy that plays tag with kids and loves donuts? I feel as though I know Vash like a brother, yet also not at all. Throughout the series you delvedeep into his past, but still he never fails to surprise you. Vash's beliefs and actions are often questioned by anime fans worldwide (myself included), however it is impossible to not be inspired by his righteousness. He is without a doubt the best part of Trigun. The show's side-characters and antagonist on the other hand, all hold their own alongside Vash, though primarily they are there to highlight his many facets. Accompanying him on his journey in the anime are Meryl and Milly, who work for an insurance company sent to evaluate the destruction caused by Vash the Stampede. Whilst providing the majority of Trigun's more comedic scenes they are somewhat forgettable in the grand scheme of things. The one side-character in particular that made a lasting impression on me though was Nicholas D. Wolfwood: a priest wielding an enormous cross filled with an assortment of machine guns, pistols and even a rocket launcher. Despite his unique equipment it is his persona that really appeals to me. Wolfwood's first appearance in the anime made little impression, but by the end of Trigun I was hooked on his hard exterior and contrasting interior. Alongside each other Vash and Wolfwood provide some of the best action, intrigue and even comedy; they are an unlikely duo that should be given more spotlight in the annals of anime.
If the opening few episodes don't do it for you (personally I was already hooked), then I cannot stress enough that you must persevere. The story may start somewhat lighthearted, filled with gags and humour, but I see it purely as a channel to set the scene and begin its development. It is around the halfway point that Trigun really begins to show its true colours, introducing a much darker side that is only touched upon in the previous few episodes. The story unravels to give us much more of an insight into the dystopian Wild West setting and more importantly so, into Vash's mysterious past. In my opinion, the second half of Trigun is much better as far as the story is concerned. Not that the first half is not enjoyable, however I thought the latter stages really gave me something to sink my teeth into. The action scenes pick up, along with a rise in intrigue which keeps the excitement building till the very end. Now, despite Trigun's ending being bombarded with criticism, I deeply loved it. Yes, ok, it does leave questions unanswered, but I see that as a good thing - a way to keep us viewers thinking.
Trigun was originally aired in 1998, therefore the animation and artwork are somewhat poor compared to standards today. This does not necessarily detract from the shows excellence though. If anything Trigun's often over exaggerated and comical scenes are made somewhat more appealing at times due its animation and art. Some of the designs for the minor characters aren't all that great, but the focus put on its protagonists and antagonists really make up for it - Vash in particular, being visually one of anime's coolest characters ever.
Primarily, Trigun is all about its characters. No, Trigun is all about Vash. An underrated character in an even more underrated anime. The large fan base it does have is not nearly enough. Whether or not the original writer, Yasuhiro Nightow, meant for his series to be so character focused, I am not so sure. What I am sure of though, is Trigun is an anime classic, with a protagonist so awe-inspiring that he does actually warrant his $$6,000,000,000 bounty just for being so damn cool.