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Over the past few years, anime remakes have surged in popularity. From the nostalgic revival of classics such as Ranma ½ and Urusei Yatsura to fresh takes on beloved series like Devilman Crybaby, the phenomenon of rebooting continues to spark debate among fans. For many, the question remains: why revisit shows that still hold their own as cult classics?
Yet, there is one standout example where a remake transcends expectations, crafting something far beyond a mere retelling: Studio Orange’s Trigun. This reimagined version of Yasuhiro Nightow’s famous manga, titled Trigun Stampede and Stargaze, breathes new life into the original content. It achieves a delicate balance by offering innovative twists while staying faithful to the essence of the Trigun saga.
Originally penned by Yasuhiro Nightow in 1995, the Trigun manga introduced readers to a space Western shonen world. It chronicled the adventures of Vash the Stampede, a gunslinger with a pacifist heart, as he navigated the treacherous terrain of No Man’s Land. For many anime enthusiasts, the journey began with the 1998 anime adaptation, which quickly cemented itself as a classic, especially among Western audiences.
Trigun Stampede & Stargaze Is a Completely New Trigun for Old Fans & Newcomers Alike
Trigun by Yasuhiro Nightow dates back to 1995, initially serialized as a space Western shonen manga that followed Vash the Stampede, a pacifist gunslinger, on his chaotic adventures through the harsh desert planet of No Man’s Land. Most anime fans’ journey with Trigun began with the series’ 1998 anime adaptation, which became iconic in its own right, particularly in Western anime circles.
However, Trigun ‘98, despite being beloved as an icon of its time, isn’t a particularly faithful adaptation. After the conclusion of the original Trigun manga, the series resumed its run in a seinen magazine under the title Trigun Maximum, which was serialized until 2007. As a result, Trigun ‘98 had an anime original conclusion, with its latter half deviating greatly from the then-incomplete source material. Tonally, Trigun ‘98 also stuck to the lighthearted attitude of the series’initial volumes, whereas Trigun Maximum evolved into a much more mature, thematically complex narrative.
Nearly 30 years after Trigun’s debut, Studio Orange took on the challenge to create a completely new Trigun – a reimagining that acknowledges the legacy of the series’ previous iterations, yet strives to tell its own, standalone version of Vash’s story. Trigun Stampede’s unconventional approach becomes evident from the very beginning. Most notably, the series almost entirely uses 3DCG animation, giving it a modern, distinctive look that contrasts with the original’s gritty visuals.
Narratively, Trigun Stampede also subverts fans’ expectations. While the core of the story remains the same, it deviates significantly from every other iteration of Trigun, using narrative beats from the manga yet largely crafting a new plot. This allowed Trigun Stampede to appeal to an entirely new fanbase, who didn’t need the context of previous Trigun versions to get into the anime. At the same time, existing Trigun fans were excited to see this unconventional interpretation of the story that creatively reconceptualizes its world and characters.
While not devoid of flaws, Trigun Stampede largely succeeded at creating a reimagining of Trigun with multifaceted appeal. The story was unpredictable, the visuals were spectacular, and the series still managed to convey the thematic depth of the original work while never excessively relying on simply retelling its contents. The greater focus on Vash’sbackstory, as well as his relationship with his brother, Millions Knives, also added a layer of intrigue to this adaptation.
Studio Orange’s Trigun premiered its second – and final – season this Winter. However, whereas the criticisms of Trigun Stampede were mostly leveled against the series’ novelty, which didn’t appeal to some fans, Trigun Stargaze’s evaluation has been far more equivocal. As the series now gets into covering the general contents of Trigun Maximum, some fans are dissatisfied with its treatment of iconic characters, like Hoppered the Gauntlet and Midvalley the Hornfreak, the jarring Stampede retcons, and the season’s overall narrative direction.
So far, fans have felt that Trigun Stargaze both rushes through important character development and stalls in terms of actual plot progression. Whereas both Maximum and Stampede were a journey, one riddled with important confrontations, difficult choices, and harsh responsibilities, Stargaze lacks the same feeling of an advancing odyssey, which makes fans apprehensive about the series’ future. Stargaze uses a lot of the original’s iconography, but many of the moments that are meant to be impactful fall flat due to the series’ fast-tracking of crucial character arcs.
Nonetheless, with Trigun Stargaze still not even halfway done, there is plenty of hope for the series to win over skeptics. The show still looks fantastic and has an abundance of merits even outside its spectacle. Its overall legacy will largely depend on how Stargaze interprets the manga’s iconic ending, as well as the soul-crushing character moments that still, likely, await fans in future episodes.
Trigun Stampede & Stargaze Takes a Novel Approach to Reimagining the Beloved Classic
Love them or hate them, Trigun Stampede and Stargaze deserve praise and recognition for not simply adapting the existing story beat-by-beat but, instead, attempting to create something new. The strong points of this adaptation are unique, and the series inspires compelling discussions within the community. Stargaze urges fans to consider how it stacks up against previous Trigun iterations and what novelties it brings to the table.
While many fans still hold onto hope of one day seeing Trigun Maximum faithfully adapted, this new era of Trigun is no less exciting for not being the exact recreation of the previous story. In daring to change key aspects of the source material, Studio Orange’s Trigun brings a new perspective to the iconic series that was always praised for its complexity and multifacetedness. And, for the most part, both Stampede and Stargaze manage to stand on their own without feeling like they missed the point of the original Trigun, even if every version of Vash’s journey feels vastly different.
When it comes to anime reboots, Trigun Stampede and Stargaze are one-of-a-kind. Few stories possess enough depth and intricacy to allow for such experimental reimaginings to exist while still staying faithful to the original series’ nucleus, which makes the new Trigun so thrilling to experience and discuss. And, on top of reviving the Trigun fandom and giving fans a new version of their beloved story to enjoy, Trigun Stampede and Stargaze introduced countless new fans to a work that is rightfully revered as one of manga’s all-time masterpieces.