I just finished watching the final episode of Trigun and felt compelled to write a review for it this very instance. I’m very new to the review writing scene, and I’m not exactly a writer myself, but I’m eager to try and get better. This is probably my first anime review so hopefully I do alright. By the end please give me any criticism you feel is necessary. Now, I’m usually one of those people who tries to avoid giving out spoilers of ANY kind when talking about something, but I’ve realized that holding too much back would be a bad thing. Just know I won’t give out any big spoilers that could ruin any part of the show. This is just my own reactions.

For him, it's not always about luck.

Trigun is the story of a guy named Vash the Stampede, aka The Humanoid Typhoon as some like to call him. He has a reputation of destruction, murder, and being a total womanizer. On an unknown planet, we follow Vash from town to town on his journey(I say journey, but he really just likes to wander), but his luck seems to make this difficult for him, as it seems like everywhere he goes, things just get destroyed. Did I mention there is a $60,000,000,000 reward on his head? Yeah, not going to help you out on your travels. The people of this planet hold him responsible for destroying an entire city. He is soon joined by two young ladies who work for an insurance group that are ordered to watch him and analyze the damages that are usually considered to be Vash’s fault. Along the way you meet some interesting characters and towns and you really start to get an idea of who these characters are and what this planet is like. There is some mystery behind these civilizations and people, and you will start to wonder what their history really is.

The cast of recurring characters isn’t quite as long as some anime, but this allows the audience to get to know them much better. You’ll have a closer connection to them, learn to sympathize and empathize with them, and you’ll be sure to remember them for years to come because of this.

Here's the main group.

There is plenty of action in this show, as Vash the Stampede is a total badass. Having a $60 billion bounty on your head will surely bring out some crazy folks, and while Vash spends most of his time dodging bullets, you really begin to understand how talented he is and why he has earned his name. Now don’t worry, this show isn’t purely action all the time. There are plenty of laughs to go along with it, too. Early on you discover that Vash isn’t always as serious as you would think a murdering Humanoid Typhoon would be, and start to feel for this light-hearted guy (and the strange black cat that shows up everywhere can catch you off guard :-P).

About 1/3 of the way through the series(a total of 26 episodes), there is a noticeable change in the overall tone of the show. Things gradually get more serious as you continue and you begin to learn more about our main character, his past, and the struggle and pain he has endured over the years. This change in tone is for the better, and really adds depth to the story, characters and setting. Don’t let the first few episodes deter you from continuing on. This isn’t another formulaic, episodic show about some dude who shows up somewhere, fights, wins, and continues looking for something (although this does happen often..hmmm). I know this because that’s what I thought it was like before watching it straight through. I used to catch random episodes on Adult Swim years back and didn’t know there was a rich, deep, emotional story behind the cool fights.

This is an older show, and the animation style proves it. This doesn’t mean lower quality in any way, just in the style of the drawings. It isn’t full of lush rainbow-y colors, or perfectly shaped beautiful characters, but for Trigun, this is a good thing. In fact, I believe that the animation, style, and art are perfect. Dead on for creating the feeling of a “advanced” or sci-fi western setting, and it really pulls you in. It is extremely well done and even though the scenery is mostly desert, it is a good looking show with plenty of detail and color where it’s needed.

You wouldn't think this guy's nickname would be "The Humanoid Typhoon"...

Don’t miss this one. It is full of memorable characters, and an interesting story that draws you in to this world and it’s history.

TRIGUN – 8.8 (Overall, excellent show. Highly recommended and worth the watch)

Breakdown: Story – 9.2, Animation – 8.8, Art – 8.7, Sound/Music – 8.5

I proudly mark this as one of my favorite anime of all time, and look forward to cosplaying some of these characters. Watching has also made me interested in checking out the manga.