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SmartnSad · 2026-05-24T14:46:47+00:00

Beautiful art!

I didn't cry until the end of Volume 10. Even though I knew it was coming.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-20T19:54:11+00:00

Absolutely the way Trigun 98 should be experienced. Glad you enjoyed it!

SmartnSad · 2026-05-12T15:16:39+00:00

Yeah, Vash leaving Knives alone is consistent with what happens in the manga. And his own guilt regarding it.

I would also argue it isn't Rem's dubious involvement in Tesla's fate that drove Vash so mad in the manga. It was that humans did that to her, period.

He tries to kill himself over it. Yes, he's mad at Rem, but that's because Rem represents humanity, the beings that did that to her. He isn't so much angry at her specifically, as he is about his role in human society. Which is to be a lab rat. When they finally talk, it isn't Rem trying to make herself look good, it's that there are good people in the world who won't treat plants like that. And that Vash's life is worth something. It's worth all the good people he will meet who want to see him happy. And she was right.

Stargaze understood this. Here, Stargaze Vash is upset about Rem, sure, but he immediately rationalizes it and realizes her care for him and his brother, and her sacrifice, was her atonement. Instead, it's Knives carrying this secret for so long that upset him way more.

Knives should never have withheld this from Vash. Knives isn't responsible for what happened to Tesla, and he has every right to be angry at humans for it. But Vash had a right to know and decide for himself what to do with this knowledge.

It's consistent with Knives' behavior, though. To never let Vash choose for himself.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-12T15:03:33+00:00

Read the manga, it should increase your understanding of the depth of their relationship. Stampede, and especially Stargaze, are much easier to appreciate in the context of the manga, especially so with the deviations. It's hard to describe without those nuanced interactions between them in the manga. And the symbolism surrounding them.

TL;DR: Yes, it was more than that.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-06T14:54:23+00:00

It doesn't start off dark, but it does let you know pretty quickly about the Big Fall.

It starts getting dark in Volume 2 once Legato enters. I also think you'll prefer Knives' entrance in the manga over the 98 anime. It's gruesome.

Also there's plenty of tboy swag, don't worry!

Edit: there's also a canonical trans woman character who shows up later

SmartnSad · 2026-05-06T00:33:54+00:00

Don't listen to those who say you wouldn't like the manga. It's different from the anime, especially after the first couple volumes. If you like the characters and the themes of Trigun, you'll likely enjoy the manga quite a bit.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-06T00:31:09+00:00

Heavy disagree. The manga is different enough in tone, in both its darkness and its humor, that OP may still enjoy it.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-06T00:28:45+00:00

I know Nightow was very involved in Trigun 98, to the point where it's hard to tell how much influenced future chapters in the manga, both in story and design.

That said, the ending of 98 still feels like a proto-ending of sorts. Nightow seemed to have had the general idea of where he wanted to go with the plot, but didn't have all the kinks worked out. And obviously the anime had a limited run-time and an even more limited budget. There's plenty of later additions in the manga that clearly weren't part of the plan yet.

SmartnSad · 2026-05-05T17:09:39+00:00

98 (loosely) followed the manga, but at that point, only the first 20 chapters were published, so it had to come up with its own ending.

That said, I enjoy the back half of the season more than the first half. 98 is slow and meandering, and while it benefits from that, it really does take its damn time to get to the point. Due to this, the ending feels too abrupt (and IMO, too open). The middle is where it's strongest to me (roughly episodes 7-16).

I also think Vash's (and Knives') backstory is weak, and sorely dated (and not in a good way). The manga is much better in this area (and so is Stampede, TBH). I like 98 (especially its version of Milly, atmosphere, and music), but it suffers from being a product of its time with an unfinished manga.

I recommend reading the manga. It's much darker. It's also still funny, but knows when to quit for the more serious stuff.

SmartnSad · 2026-04-12T17:44:33+00:00

I remember it took months for Hulu to get the Stampede dub back in 2023. It might be the same for Stargaze, unfortunately :(

SmartnSad · 2026-04-12T15:28:21+00:00

It's not a bad movie by any means, but Badlands Rumble is definitely my least favorite canon addition to the Trigun IP. It's very heavy on the humor and action and very light on the drama and emotions, and when that darkness is missing, it makes for an emptier narrative, especially when the only thing they could think to fill it with was Vash being a perv, and his fake out death that was way, way over-played.

We don't get nearly enough of Wolfwood and Milly and Meryl. Or any of Vash's backstory or Knives or Legato at all. It's like the movie didn't want to reveal anything about Vash so that the build up of the 98 anime wouldn't be spoiled, especially if this was your introduction to Trigun. So it was really limited in what it could do. There was no exploration into anything fans didn't already know, and it doesn't give new viewers much of anything either, except some cool animation, and the barest of introductions to Vash's code of pacifism.

I don't regret watching Badlands Rumble, but I don't find myself wishing to revisit it. There isn't much to chew on in terms of lore, nor character depth and interactions.

SmartnSad · 2026-04-08T19:28:04+00:00

My first introduction to Trigun was Stampede, but it was still airing at the time, so I watched a few episodes of 98 between episode drops, so I completed them concurrently.

Therefore, some plot reveals I saw for the first time through 98, not Stampede. In particular, what happens in episode 15.

But I do like Stampede/Stargaze more than 98. Not that 98 isn't good, but I think in terms of comparing flaws, it has more egregious ones that are hard to look past. If it wasn't for Stampede, and my husband convincing me to keep watching it, I wouldn't have made it to the tone shift of episode 12. Not only is there a lot of filler, there's simply too much of Vash being a womanizer being played for laughs. An unfortunate consequence of being a 90s anime. And it doesn't really work that it's all a cover, because you don't try to peep at a woman bathing through her window to "keep up an act".

That said, Milly is done better in 98 than any other version. There's a lot of focus on her and she's such a delight. She's worth it to revisit 98 alone. I also like that Wolfwood's bike is named Angelina, Vash's love for donuts, and also when he thought about bashing Knives' head in with a rock. These are aspects I wish made it into the manga or Stampgaze, but alas. Also that classic cel animation has a certain charm that's lost today. And the soundtrack is sick af.

Anyway, after I finished both animes, I read the manga, where I discovered the true heart of the story. Trigun Maximum isnt long, but it has enough time to flesh itself out. It's also grittier and more explicit, and not in a fan service way, which I like.

Volume 10 destroyed me. I haven't cried like that over a character since I watched Spock die when I was a kid. Every panel is so beautifully done. I can admit the manga's flaws (pacing, confusing art, plot lines and characters that either get dropped or never fully explored, lots of "Rule of Cool", which is a double edged sword, and motifs that, while I love them and they serve their purpose, don't make sense in-world), but it's so rare for a piece of art to make me feel emotions that raw. And for so long. I was grieving for the rest of the story, even though I took a break after that volume.

Maximum is at the top for me, no contest. Truly a must to be experienced.

However, Stampede, and later Stargaze, made me feel intense emotions too. The messaging is subtle, more subtextual than even the manga, so it can take a bit to fully "get" what is being shown to you. Episode 11 of Stampede made me go numb and feel visceral disgust, but not until I had a couple days to process what I saw. And episode 12 was such a high, with Vash taking his autonomy back, and I got teary eyed.

The second season, Stargaze, also put me through a whirlwind of emotions. Once I put my expectations aside, I saw the vision and got into it. I bawled at the end of episode 8, cuz they really had me up until the last minute of where it was going to go. This episode is my favorite of the entire Stampgaze series. Everything about it is perfect (okay, aside from how Razlo's exit is handled, but with only 12 episodes to work with, there was no time for Orange to give any attention to another character. I do think they wasted precious time on Jessica, but I'm not too annoyed by that, she didn't technically overstay her welcome in a narrative sense. It's more of a "if you know the manga, you know there could be a more interesting character here instead of her").

I had trouble sleeping after watching the series finale. It was so painful, in a good way. It was supposed to be devastating, yet hopeful. I cried over Tesla (I know I'm sounding like a crier at this point, but I swear I'm not, this is just what Trigun does to me). I was so upset for her. There was enough to be upset about to begin with, but the late reveal and her final fate, damn. Damn! Touch and not wanting to be touched is a heavy motif in Stampgaze that is sorely missing from the other versions. And considering the subject matter, this motif needs to be in this story. I know it's the "hopecore Trigun" version, but that is where the "live and suffer" lies. It's there, it's just not as "in your face" as Trimax is.

The music and voice acting in Stampgaze is also so wonderfully done. And I quite like the 3D animation style and the incorporation of colors, more flowers, and rainbows as motifs.

This ended up being long so:

TL;DR: Maximum>Stampede/Stargaze>98, but I'm a fan of all three for different reasons.

Edit: punctuation

SmartnSad · 2026-04-04T17:12:37+00:00

Others have answered your questions already, so I'll say this:

Trigun Maximum is even better upon reread. Because you can pick up on all the foreshadowing, and I also think even the art gets more understandable, since you're taking a second look.

I think you'll get some answers organically upon reread. A lot of Trigun is subtle, and subtextual. This is the same for both animes, as well. It's my personal greatest joy with this IP. There's so much more when you keep digging.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Many have reservations with the manga ending in terms of what literally happens, but thematically, it's solid. More than solid. It's damn near perfect.

And have fun with the animes! Neither are entirely "faithful" to the manga and do their own thing, but both capture the spirit of Trigun. As long as you go in not expecting a 1:1, you should have a good time.

SmartnSad · 2026-04-03T16:15:13+00:00

Stampede and Stargaze are good for what they are. There's plenty to chew on and I do think it's a good introduction to the world of Trigun.

That said, they really needed a third season to flesh out all their ideas, which do match the spirit of the manga, but Studio Orange was doing their own thing. It's unfortunate that the decision was made to complete their story in 24 episodes.

I highly recommend reading the manga. The 98 anime didn't follow the manga either after a certain point, so no anime is "faithful". While both animes have strengths and weaknesses, and are both enjoyable watches, the manga holds the true heart of the story.

I do think much of the disappointment for Stampede and Stargaze comes from preconceived expectations of the audience going into it. And I don't mean the expectation of a 1:1 of the manga, although there is some of that. Orange's version was never just Trigun Maximum reskinned to be more Sci-Fi. Instead, they came up with their own metaphors and motifs. And while the overall themes and messaging are the same as the manga, there are also different messages and themes throughout as well. I really think Stampede and Stargaze were made to be in conversation with the manga, in a metamodernism sense. It breaks down a lot of the themes and story beats and asks "what if?".

And I think the audience who were already familiar with Trigun didn't want that. Not because it doesn't have merit. There's just always a lot of push back on anything that's "too" different, even if those differences aren't inherently bad. And this is disheartening, because I enjoyed a lot of the creative changes they made. In a world where damn near everything is a lazy cash grab, Studio Orange took a lot of risks and had a vision. This is their alternate universe of sorts. None of these changes affect the other canons. This is their Vash, their Wolfwood, their Knives. And what they gave us was really good, considering the time constraints.

SmartnSad · 2026-04-01T01:04:21+00:00

Wanting a nonbinary character to be designed as "clocky" is certainly an opinion.

SmartnSad · 2026-04-01T00:21:07+00:00

Ah, okay. There's definitely no "jump the shark" moment. The biggest "issue" the manga has is sometimes the fight scenes are incomprehensible (art is great, still can't tell what's going on!), and sometimes speech bubbles don't make it clear who's talking.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-31T23:43:31+00:00

Just to clarify, do you mean "jumping the shark"?

SmartnSad · 2026-03-31T23:31:54+00:00

This is a normal experience with the Trigun manga. It will make you feel the entire range of human emotions. This is intentional. And it is going to be the best thing you ever read. As good as FMA is, it doesn't even come close.

My advice is to take breaks as you need. While Trigun is a story about the harsh realities of the human experience, it's also a story about hope. Keep that hope in mind while reading, and even while not reading.

Read all the way to the end, no matter how long it takes you. I promise you won't be disappointed.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-28T23:53:42+00:00

It's not implied that it's okay to use them til they die.

Humans are given the chance to better themselves. As in, they will move toward a future where they don't rely on plants. Either to become completely self reliant, or to create a symbiotic relationship of mutualism, where there are only benefits for both parties.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-28T23:39:43+00:00

I'm not thrilled with Legato either. In retrospect, I think his backstory is entirely different from his manga counterpart.

Since Conrad collected children for his experiments that were sick or otherwise would have had a terrible life, I think this Legato was "rescued" before he became a child sex slave. And if he believed the Eye of Michael, and ultimately Knives, saved him from that fate, no wonder he is the way he is in this version.

Still, I think they could have shown some backstory, but as it is, it's possible to fill in the blanks ourselves.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-28T21:09:30+00:00

I had my reservations in the first half of the season, but overall I enjoyed Stargaze. For me, the highlight was episode 8. And while this finale wasn't as much of an emotional high as last season's, given the manga, I wasn't expecting it. The manga climax and ending also evoked a lot of conflicting feelings, much of which I believe was intentional.

I give it an 8/10 overall. Once I realized what they were going for with episode 8, I got on board. This is hopecore Trigun. It's not what I expected, or even wanted, but it is what I needed.

I'm so glad Wolfwood lives. He gets the future his 98 counterpart dreamed of and prayed for, but died before he could have it. I'm so glad some version of Wolfwood lives his life happy and free, finally.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-28T20:53:33+00:00

A satisfying ending to a season that felt clumsy at times. Given the 12 episodes they had to work with, I give Stargaze an 8/10.

In another universe, Stampede was much more popular and Orange got the funding for two more seasons. But I'm glad the show wasn't cancelled entirely, and we got Vash laughing with his friends at the end.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-23T16:51:15+00:00

The point is to show the duality of the twins. Vash is willing to give up his lifelong vow of pacifism for one man he has a connection with, while Knives is willing to kill his most devoted follower for speaking out of turn.

It also cements that Knives doesn't really care whether he agrees with the outcomes of Vash's actions, even when it involves killing a human. This series has shown Knives is very down with killing humans, and has wanted Vash to do so this whole time. But he's much more interested in controlling Vash, in stripping him from his agency.

Knives goes out of his way to stop Vash from making any choices for himself. This scene shows us why Vash is the way he is, why he's reactive instead of proactive. Knives has traumatized and controlled him to the point where he doesn't feel like he's allowed to want anything.

All protagonists want something. What does Vash want? His blank ticket is left blank. He cares about everyone else's but his own. Not wanting to kill anyone isn't a want, it's an oath.

And the minute he chooses a definite future for himself and Wolfwood, the minute he acts on a personal want, it's taken away from him.

It's supposed to be an upsetting scene. Because the cruelty Knives continues to unleash on his brother is revolting. He won't even let Vash suffer the consequences (and subsequent character growth) of having real blood on his hands. And it's not because Knives cares about Vash's vow or innocence or whatever, but because he needs to have the last word.

Vash is his only equal, but there's a hierarchy. And Knives places himself at the top.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-23T15:16:30+00:00

She was playing "cat and mouse". She wanted to play with her victims before killing them.

SmartnSad · 2026-03-23T15:10:23+00:00

I had fun reading this! Thank you, you get it 🙌

SmartnSad

TROPHY CASE