Trigun Stampede (2023) offers a story full of action, drama, and moral dilemmas. In this anime, the hero is super strong but a convinced pacifist. Because he is constantly embroiled in fights, his favorite tactic is to run away.
Which anime is it about? Trigun Stampede (2023) is a modern reinterpretation of the classic Trigun and follows Vash the Stampede, a notorious gunslinger with a bounty of 60 billion double dollars. But unlike what his reputation suggests, Vash is not a bloodthirsty killer, but a pacifist who wants to avoid violence at all costs.
On the desert planet Noman’s Land, he travels from town to town, while bounty hunters and enemies are constantly on his heels. Especially his twin brother Millions Knives, who wants to destroy everything, presents him with a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
By insisting on not hurting anyone under any circumstances, Vash makes his life much harder than it needs to be. But this very attitude makes him strong, as he proves that there is always a way – even without violence.
What makes Vash so strong? Vash is no ordinary human, but a so-called “plant,” an artificially created organism with incredible abilities. He is not only extremely fast and skilled with firearms, but also possesses self-healing powers that make him nearly invulnerable.
Despite these strengths, he refuses to hurt anyone under any circumstances, even when his life is threatened. Instead, he prefers to flee – and quickly makes himself unpopular with this attitude.
An attitude that brings difficulties
What makes the anime so special? Vash’s principles constantly put him in a dilemma: he wants to hurt no one, yet his mere existence often brings a lot of suffering:
- He is seen as cowardly because he always avoids conflicts.
- His pacifism seems very arrogant, as if he were mocking the daily struggle for survival of “normal” people.
- Moreover, his passive stance often endangers innocents, as bounty hunters, unlike him, are willing to use any means to achieve their goals.
The discrepancy between his power and his refusal to use it destructively makes Vash a unique figure in the anime world and provokes unexpectedly much thought in the viewer. The question of whether Vash’s pacifism is right or wrong remains open until the end.
“Why don’t you just take the guy out?”
This is what MeinMMO author Esmeralda says: Vash’s attitude frustrated me in many places, and often I thought, “My goodness, why don’t you just take the guy out?” After all, it would be easy for him to defend himself, not to let certain things happen, and generally to be a little more proactive. I could completely understand why other characters were annoyed with him and criticized his attitude.
Nonetheless, Vash manages to absolutely convince himself and justify his pacifism. While watching, I was truly torn. I would also like to note that Trigun Stampede is by no means a peaceful anime – quite the opposite. There are indeed far more victims and deaths than I would like.
I will definitely have to watch the series again, as there is probably no anime that has made me think more. And I am somehow quite surprised by that.
Trigun Stampede delivers action and a gripping story – but there are many more anime that offer just that. Here are 5 action anime with a really strong plot that you shouldn’t miss: 5 top action anime with a really strong story that everyone should see
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