A stampede of phews! Trigun Stampede review

With lots of trepidation, I clicked player on the screener link for Trigun Stampede.

It wasn’t just I still get nervous over any early access being a blogger gets me, but because I’d seen the trailers for the Trigun remake and was far from convinced. The original Trigun oozed space-western charm, and the remake was all CGI.

Here’s the too-long-didn’t-read; my trepidation has been eased, and I’m looking forward to watching more.

In slightly more detail, my trepidation was immediately replaced with confusion. Had I been sent the wrong anime? Was I about to watch something super secret that an administration blunder had given me access too?

Where was the dusty planet?

We start in space, and for a second, I thought we’d get a Star Wars opening as a giant ship passes through the screen. A few seconds later I was thinking about Battlestar Galactica.

But no, this is Trigun Stampede, and we’re introducing Vash and his mad brother Millions Knives from the backstory quickly and then speeding into action.

I’ve seen plenty of Trigun, the original. I think I had the box set. In 2010, I had the honour of watching Trigun Badlands Rumble, the feature-length, at Scotland Loves Anime. I liked it so much that I went to the original series afterwards.

Because Trigun Stampede is more of a retelling than a continuation, seeing the original series isn’t essential to follow or appreciating it. Unlike the original series’ slow-burn warm-up of Vash and the dusty frontier of the desert planet Noman’s Land, Trigun Stampede’s first episode spares little time in establishing Vash’s story and the direction for the rest of the series.

Other Changes

You might well consider Millions Knives is a strange name, then what about Roberto De Niro? Stampede’s change of one character will take some getting used to, but after one episode, I can see how it could work. In the original, Milly Thompson and Meryl Strife are insurance agents chasing Vash for financial reasons.

If there’s a Milly in this series, we’ve not met them yet. Instead, there’s the grizzled reporter Roberto De Niro who’s seen plenty of shit in his career. Meryl Strife is an intelligent but naive rookie journalist, and Vash, complete with the stampede of chaos in his wake, is a story worth following.

I’m happy to reflect on how society has evolved, and now pesky reporters are taking up the less-than-ideal social role where insurance agents once sufficed.

Yeah, but what about the CGI and Orange’s visual style?

Well, Orange did Beastars, so I think they deserved at least this first watch of the new Trigun. And, yes, I think it works.

Vash is the most changed. Fans will debate the change of his hair for ages, but, for me, he seems younger. Notably, he’s still a sharp-shooter who tries not to kill.

He’s like a movie character that gets through many tight situations with charm and luck, only needing to use the more expensive demonstration of skill wherever necessary.

The “how’s he going to get out of it this time?” is a critical mystery Orange needs to keep alive for fans as we watch the episode and they manage.

However, the CGI does feel cleaner and more modern than the (now very old) original. I’d call the original Trigun retro, but I wouldn’t call Trigun Stampede that.

I mentioned the change of hair, but Vash’s look is the same at the core while updated in fashion. Some of his distinguishing characteristics, like his red cloak, glasses, and prosthetic limb, remain as defining mementoes for the willful character. His red cloak, for example, isn’t just for show; it alludes to the importance of his relationship with his late carer, Rem, whose favourite flower was a red geranium. His arm is mostly unaltered and reminds him of how he is different from those around him and somewhat strange in his society. These characteristics are present in the new Vash, yet this latest iteration of the character is the furthest from the OG sharp-shooter.

Overall

I’m pleased and relieved, and while I’ve only watched one episode, I’m pretty confident about the reboot.

Trigun Stampede is out on Crunchyroll now.