Trigun Stampede

I have seen a lot of reviews of the show blaming the og fans for not being happy with the reboot. I've first watched Trigun about 10 years ago or so, so I guess you can call me an og fan. But, I really tried to enjoy the show. Honestly, there's nothing better for an og fan than to return to their favorite characters and story. However, I believe that most of the og fans are frustrated with the show because of the quality and not because they wanted a carbon copy of the '98 show.

To be fair to the show, as said countless times before, it's a beautiful show. The new animation style gives a lot of life to the world. It makes action look dynamic. A lot of the scenes look and feel cinematic. They did an amazing job with it.

Another compliment I have is - I actually liked the ideas they added to expand the world and the story. I liked the new characters, I think they contribute a lot to the world building. (I can't say much about it without spoiling the show)

However, I struggled to finish the show. Every couple of episodes I would have to convince myself to continue. And it made me very sad. I do think the creators tried to make an enjoyable show.

However, the show struggles with its storytelling. And here's where comparison comes in. The og show was a great character driven story with memorable characters (sorry for the repetition). Hell, I watched it 10 years ago and the main thing I remember are characters. The reboot looses the sight of characters completely. They forgot that to make us believe in the bonds the characters develop with each other, we need to see them bond. We are not just here for the action or the story progression, we need to see character arcs. Especially, for Vash. He carries the story, his struggle with his morality in a harsh world, with humanity and humility and overcoming constant challenges associated with that is basically what the story is, I think at least. Every single character is so surface level it hurts.

But my main issue with the show, what made me want to rage quit every other episode, is the exposition dumps. Every single episode we have someone explain in a lengthy monologue what the viewer needs to know. And I hate that. Especially because in certain episodes, mainly flashbacks, we get to see things happen and not hear about it. Probably, my favorite episode is the one with the silent movie styled flashback. It does show that the creators were capable of telling a story in a visual medium in a compelling and effective way. And btw, I think it was brilliant. So much of the exposition could have been done through interacting with the world, rather than describing it. And the last few episodes suffer the most with it.

Pacing is another huge issue and is intertwined with my previous point. You can cut so much fat off (much of which are the exposition dumps) and show so much more. I understand that the 12 episode season doesn't present the luxury of the original in terms of time. But, just the fact that we spend the first three episodes in one town is insane. It's slow, it doesn't develop characters much, we don't see much of the world at all. And then all of a sudden we're at a breakneck pace to episode 8 where we come to a sluggish pace again full of exposition dumps. Why?

Also, short one - it lacks humour. I like the darker tones they take with certain elements, but we also need to breathe. Just a touch of lightheartedness would do wonders, I think.

Just for the sake of it, after finishing the reboot I went back and rewatched just the first episode of the original '98 show. And I was bewildered with how effectively the og used the 20 minutes. We get the main premise, a great very distinctive introduction to the main characters, glimpse at the world and the conflict. The first episode of the reboot just left me confused.

I can ramble on and on about my frustrations with the reboot, but I would still watch season 2. It probably doesn't seem like it, from how much I complained about the reboot, but I think it introduced enough of intriguing new ideas I would like to see explored. Plus, there's always a chance for the second season to right a lot of wrongs of the first, so I'm hopeful.

And I would recommend this show if the exposition dumps don't bother you much. I think anything is worth exploring and seeing for yourself whether you like it or not :)

The 25th anniversary of the beloved original just passed as did the finale of this new prequel / remake (pre-make?), taking its spin on the old established universe of the 1998 original series with the facelift of modern 3D animation technology. We follow the early days of Vash the Stampede, a wanted outlaw known for roaming town to town in a futuristic western wasteland, complete with apocalyptic vehicles, robo-cyber tech, and large guns. I personally don't love the newer 3D CG animation style the series uses, but I must say this series used it well enough. I didn't love the character redesigns (or replacements), however the original was definitely extreme and cheesy in its 1990s way and this new one has all the cheesy tropes and lean towards ridiculousness I commonly see in these modern anime. They do cut one of my favourite characters from this season, which hurt me deeply, but the voice acting is generally fine and the character dynamics are believable enough. Unfortunately the lore and world building is where we get to the unbelievability, the series makes a much larger emphasis on Vash, the world, and their intertwining backstories than does the original series. I quite liked the slower paced, subdued beginning of the original, with the world lore being a backdrop through most of its run, however this new series dives right into it, revealing much of what took the original 20+ episodes is divulged by episode 2. They certainly do a better job at this story telling than did the original, given the original got very silly very quickly, but at only 12 episodes much is left unanswered and even more teased for a new season 2 to come. I'm unsure if I'd give it a go when it comes around, but I can see why others liked it. I'd still recommend the original over this remake, and warn that this new series will spoil many parts of the original, but its not bad, just a little too all over the place for me.

Trigun Stampede follows a genial guy with freakishly quick reflexes as he travels through a wasteland dealing with various weird antagonists. It's an engagingly told story with good but unexceptional CGI animation and weak character development.

That would be my basic review of the series if I had not seen the original Trigun. But if you've seen the first adaptation of the manga, then you can't help but spend your time considering the ways in which it was more effective than this version.

In the original Trigun anime, Vash is basically an inept, bumbling idiot in sci-fi Western setting. He's a silly, comical character. But then, when danger arises, he is suddenly supernaturally skilled. One of the first things that drew me into the series was, how does this make sense? Who is this guy? What's his story?

Trigun Stampede tosses the mystery. We start with who Vash is, so there's little mystery involved. Vash is also no longer a buffoon. In his introduction, he does make a comical mistake, but that's the only time it happens. Basically he's just a pleasant pacifist with incredible gun skills. And while this still takes place in a desert wasteland, the Western tropes have been mainly stripped out.

So, Trigun Stampede's Vash is less funny, less mysterious, and more tortured. But that is not inherently bad, even if it's not as fun. But by the time one reaches the end of the season, the problem becomes clear - the changes have created a Vash who is hard to care about. He's so innocuous that in spite of his tragic backstory and ongoing struggles, I found myself in the final battle not really caring much about how it would turn out.

The original animation's characters were broad but compelling. As the mystery of Vash was slowly revealed, one got a sense of how much pain there was behind the goofball mask. This made the show, at times, heartbreaking.

None of this makes Trigun Stampede a bad series. I would absolutely recommend it. But not as much as I would recommend watching the original, which is one of my all-time favorite anime series.

The original Trigun is one of my favorite anime, so these crafty businessmen have figured out I'll watch anything new with the word Trigun in it, to see if it captures the same magic.

As is usually the case with reboots, this reboot rarely succeeds in recapturing that magic. Sometimes there are moments where it does, but for the most part, it's not nearly as well done as the original, in my opinion.

It has everything you'd expect in a reboot and takes no chances. The CGI isn't great compared to the premium animation of the original. The characters are kind of annoying. Moreso than in the original (Vash the Stampede was always a bit annoying). The dialogue seems stilted at times.

It's not all bad, though. There are a few bright moments. They did a good job on making the villains menacing. The story could use some clarity on the objectives and stakes, but the action elements are good.

This reboot just seems a little bit off on everything even though it did some things right. I still enjoy it enough to watch, though, so I give it a 6.

As a devoted fan of the original Trigun anime since 2001, I have eagerly awaited the arrival of the remake. I've watched the original series three times in full, completely enamored by its story and character development. The new version of Trigun, however, left me with a sense of disappointment, despite its stunning visuals and artistic excellence. The changes made to the original story and the characters' development failed to captivate me as the first series did, leaving a hollow feeling behind its beautiful facade.

Visually, the Trigun remake is nothing short of fantastic. The art style is both faithful to the original and enhanced with modern animation techniques. The color palette is vibrant, the character designs are detailed, and the action sequences are fluid and dynamic. This aspect of the remake truly deserves praise and recognition.

However, the beauty of the Trigun remake lies only skin deep. The most significant issue with the new series is the script and the changes made to the original story. The pacing in this version is remarkably different from the first series. In the original, the gradual discovery and growth arc for each character was a significant part of the show's allure. The pacing allowed the audience to become invested in the characters' stories and to develop genuine connections with them. This slow burn of character growth and story progression was replaced by a rushed narrative that reveals everything at once in the remake.

The original series had the characters gradually form bonds with each other, eventually becoming loyal companions. In contrast, the remake forces these connections from the outset, stripping away the authentic and organic development of relationships that the original series portrayed so well. The coincidences that happen to advance the story in the new version are also highly implausible, which detracts from the overall viewing experience.

I didn't expect or want the Trigun remake to be a carbon copy of the original. In fact, I would have been thrilled with a fresh take on the story and characters. However, it's disheartening to see that the writers of this new version were unable to weave a compelling narrative that would justify the remake. It feels like a missed opportunity to create a new and engaging Trigun experience for both old and new fans alike.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the Trigun remake is the fact that the characters have become more forgettable than in the original. With the rushed storytelling and lack of proper character development, the emotional investment in the characters is severely diminished. The original series was so successful because it made viewers care deeply about the characters and their journeys. The remake, unfortunately, fails to evoke the same emotional response.

In conclusion, the Trigun remake is a visually stunning piece of animation with a disappointing core. It suffers from a poorly executed script, rushed pacing, and underdeveloped characters that fail to capture the essence of the original series. I truly wanted to love this remake, but I cannot help but feel let down by the lack of substance and emotional depth. As a fan of the original Trigun, it's disheartening to see such a beloved story fall short of its potential. While I commend the artists for their exceptional work, I wish the same level of care and attention had been given to the story and characters.