Trigun

Director
Satoshi Nishimura
Production
Madhouse, TV Tokyo, Victor Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
1998

Trigun Volume 7: Puppet Master

By otaku_kei
1st Jun 06

Billed as "anime's answer to the spaghetti western", Trigun is back once more in the penultimate volume of this classic show. It has taken some time to get around to the crux of this show, but with each volume so far pieces of the puzzle have been falling into place about just what makes the 'Humanoid Typhoon' tick. This information, and the revelations about Vash's past have brought this show to the point where it is now building towards a final showdown for our reluctant hero and his immortal nemesis. But is there more to this man of mystery to be revealed, or will these episodes spend their time building towards the eventual showdown between Vash and Knives?

In the last volume it was made clear that Vash had resolved to go after Knives and finally finish their long running feud. To that end Vash starts off this volume by paying a visit on some old friends of his who may just to be able to help him in this fight. But as with everything that Vash does, it seems tragedy follows him on this journey as well as some of the 'Gung-ho Guns' follow Vash to this sanctuary and wreak havoc among the people there. These deaths just feed Vash's sense of guilt, and add yet a greater urgency to Vash's personal crusade to stop the terror that Knives and his people bring.

Vash's pacifistic agenda that dictates his life is one again called into question in this volume. Whilst it is central to his character, there is of course the question raised about when Vash should take the step and just admit that some people can only be stopped the hard way. But at the same time this show does benefit from having such a strong ethical core at the centre of this show. Wolfwood works well alongside Vash as the gun toting preacher is willing to cross those lines, and force Vash to deal with some of the stark realities of this world. I have to say though that a pacifistic gunslinger really does not make any sense, but then in anime what does?

With this penultimate volume Trigun continues to improve on what has already been an enjoyable series. There is a lot of action to keep you glued to the screen, and time is still set aside for Vash to eulogise on the evils of violence. But I have to say that with only three episodes left for this show their does not seem to be any sense of urgency to get a resolution to the Vash/Knives conflict. Lacking this sense of urgency this late in the show may leave too much for the final three episodes to accomplish. I hope I am wrong on this, but the show has a lot to live up to having been frequently touted as one of the defining shows of anime in the 90's. But Trigun remains a very entertaining show that certainly delivers entertainment from the moment you get the disc in the DVD player.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English Language 2.0; Japanese Language 2.0; English Language Subtitles; Trigun Trailer; Japanese VHS Covers Gallery; Villains Art Gallery; MVM Trailer

Release information: COMING SOON - 19th June 2006

Notes: Pretty standard release here from MVM. The A/V quality is as good as this show can get, but the extras are sadly lacking. For a series this old you would hope to see some substantial extras on each release, or at the very least a high episode count per disc. Sadly this has neither. But for those of you who have waited so long for Trigun to even get a UK release I am sure these minor issues will not dissuade you.

-- otaku_kei 1st Jun 06

Trigun Images