Trigun Stampede took the anime community by storm when it was released on January 7, 2023. A revitalization of the beloved classic manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, many fans were worried that the show would fail. In contrast, Trigun Stampede left a resurgence of fan content and fandom events in its wake. One example is Trigun Book Club, which was hosted on Tumblr last year. Trigun Stampede’s impact is apparent now that a year has passed since its release. This article seeks to discuss elements from the anime that differ from the manga, plus content warnings for the show. Additionally, this article discusses Trigun Stampede’s impact on fandom spaces.
Changes Trigun Stampede Made (Part 1)
Character design and role changes are commonplace in this adaptation. One example of these changes was the design of the main character, Vash the Stampede. Studio Orange changed Vash’s design to appeal to a new generation of fans. Gone is the instantly recognizable spiky hair and complicated jacket of Nightow’s iconic design. Instead, Vash’s new design features a blond undercut hairstyle and a simple red jacket. However, Vash retains the yellow glasses of his original design. Looking at these new design elements, it is easy to understand Studio Orange’s vision in redesigning the character. That being said, many fans took issue with the redesign. Some even consider it a dated version of a classic character. However, others praised the design as an updated look for this beloved protagonist.
Another change is Meryl’s profession. An insurance employee in the manga Trigun Stampede is portrayed as a journalist. An additional alteration is the absence of Meryl’s companion, Milly Thompson, which fans were unhappy with. There is also a lack of body diversity among characters. Nicholas D. Wolfwood and Livio, the Double Fang, are two examples of characters whose body types were unpopularly changed.
Changes Trigun Stampede Made (Part 2)
The primary antagonist, Millions Knives, also experiences changes in both his design and parts of his personality. In the manga, his outfit is futuristic, and his wrath and equal parts love for Vash are loud and pronounced. In Trigun Stampede, however, Knives is mysterious in appearance and quiet in his expression of affection towards his little brother. While historically a disturbing character, the anime’s version of Knives takes him to another level. It portrays a scene where Knives forces Vash to become more like him by sticking his blade tentacles into Vash.
Another significant change the anime makes is its decision to start its timeline before the destruction of the city in July. This, in turn, gives audiences a younger and more inexperienced Vash, unlike the one shown in the manga. The show itself is spectacularly written, and the visuals are stunning. While slightly different from the manga, the story serves as a love letter to Nightow’s original work.
Content Warnings
With all that, it is best to go into the anime with caution. The show itself borrows a significant amount of disturbing content from the manga. Trigun itself has always been a darker series, given the nature of the topics and themes it deals with. As such, the anime serves as no exception to this rule. The content warnings for this show include gore, medical gore, experimentation, child abuse, forced pregnancy, and implied sexual assault, to name a few major potential triggers. Other minor content warnings include smoking, drinking, experimental drug use, cult activity, gun violence, and human sacrifice.
Impact
While Trigun Stampede deals with dark topics that may turn people away, the show deserves its popularity. This has led to a revitalization of Trigun fan content on sites such as Tumblr, and many Trigun fans engage in fandom-wide activities. One example is Trigun Book Club, which ran from June through September last year. Another example is fandom Big Bang events. This resurgence in fan interest also led to the skyrocketing popularity of the book This Is How You Lose the Time War, with many comparing the book to the popular ship Vash the Stampede x Nicholas D. Wolfwood.
With season two being confirmed at SakuraCon last year, fans excitedly await a return of this adaptation. As such, many remain interested in seeing where the story will go from this point on. You can watch the anime on Hulu or Amazon Prime. You can also find the official Vash the Stampede plushie here.
