Customer Reviews

Trigun - The 60 Billion Dollar Man (Vol. 1) (Geneon Signature Series)

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this anime on a whim, knowing next to nothing about the plot and the characters. My reasons? It looked interesting and what I read about it made it sound like a good choice. I wasn't disappointed. Trigun is a very comical anime (don't let the cover fool you) which centers around Vash the Stampeded (aka the Humanoid Typhoon) with a $$60 billion dollar price on his head. Without getting into too many details, Vash has this bounty because every town he walks into inevitably gets destroyed. He is by no means a mean-spirited man, quite the opposite in fact, always outwitting his enemies either through skill or sheer luck (more-so the latter). His comedic actions and slap-stick answers to every situation hides a mysterious past however. The animation, while simple at times, is done very well, with good use of colors to offset the important characters from the everyday townsfolk (i.e. Vash wears a red overcoat). The music also has a decidedly western "twang" to it, with guitars setting the mood for many of the episodes. Overall one of the better anime series that I've seen recently. If you're in the mood to sit back and laugh and then be amazed, I highly recommend Trigun (I also recommend it if you're like me, who is a glutton for those "simple plot"-turned-serious-myterious-past animes ^_^). Whatever you favor, get this anime, it's well worth it.

Vash the Stampede (aka The Human Typhoon) has got to be one of my favorite anime characters of all time. I picked this up from my local rental store expecting some typical anime ultra-violence.

I was pleasantly surprised that it was exactly the opposite. Trigun is hilarious. Vash is the typical lovable, bumbling hero that turns out to be a villain. (That made absolutely no sense here, but you have to see the DVD to understand!) There are plenty of shoot-em-up scenes to appease all you anime violence buffs, but this is easily one of the few animes you wouldn't mind showing your younger siblings. This anime is very well drawn and one of the few imports I actually think sounds better in English than in its original Japanese.

I love everything about this title, and the additional artwork you get in the DVD's extra's section is pretty cool, but more pics would have been nice.

I can't wait for the next installment of Vash! I highly recommend this one.

Trigun is an incredible anime piece. I've watched the entire series, and I can basically give you the jest of what this series is about. Don't worry, I don't plan on giving anyone any spoilers. =)

Trigun revolves around the guy you see on the DVD box. Duh! =P But anyway, unlike what you see on the box, Vash (him), is a very complex character who will surprise you as the anime unfolds in later episodes. In this first DVD, you'll be introduced to Vash as the baffoon! You wonder how such an incompetant person could be worth such a high bounty. Of course, it doesn't mean he's not likeable. You may question his worth, but you'll still definitely like him. Basically, he's clumsy in a "likeable" sort of way.

This anime is done with some serious style! While the animation is not fluid like Ghost in the Shell, it definitely wouldn't disappoint. The music score follows right along with the overall western theme, the story is deep and entertaining, and it'll definitely make you want more. The other main characters will grow on you like a fungus too.

My overall review? Go for it! This is an anime series worth investing in. And don't worry about Vash who acts like a baffoon. As the episodes progress, you'll see that he has a deeper intelligence, wisdom, and a sense of honor which will earn your respect, make you want to be just like him. =)

You're probably wondering just how much of an action this is, or just how funny it really is. Well, let me just start off by saying, don't let the McFarlane Toys action figure fool you. When I saw that toy, I thought Trigun would be a really brutal guns & bullets anime with a hip sci fi theme.

In actuallity, after investigating the anime and then buying & watching it myself, it turned out Trigun is a western. Now, in this western we have a fair amount of action, with some very cool weapons. It's not terribly bloody, just violent at times. Also, there is a good deal of comedy thrown in, in the same way "Lethal Weapon" does. The difference between Vash the Stampede and Mel Gibson is that Vash is a lot goofier.

I enjoyed this anime very much and look forward to seeing the other volumes. The animation is very nice, the characters are personable, and it is a lot of fun. It wasn't as humorous as I expected, but I wasn't disappointed, either. It's not "Dragon Half" or "Wicked City"....there is comedy and there is violence, but it doesn't lean one way or the other. Keep that in mind, as people seem to be fooled by the cover.

Anyway, it is an enjoyable anime and I recommend it. The DVD edition is great, too. It has perfect dubbed and subtitled versions (the subtitled version is the best, of course), as well as some nice bonus features, including character sketches. Be sure to check Trigun out!

Ah... what can I say about this anime? The animation quality is good, the dubbing... (yadda yadda yadda). THAT'S NOT THE POINT! Trigun has loveable characters, good plot, plenty o' action, and hilarious antics. Meet Vash the Stampede, or the Humanoid Typhoon. He's a wanted criminal with a $$60 billion price on his head (yes $$, not $). He's famous for leveling any town he enters (but not a single death has resulted from his destructive tendencies). As you might imagine, this bad habit of his is an insurance company's worst nightmare, so one company sends out two of their employees, Meryl Strife (or Streep in the Japanese version)and Millie Thompson, to find Vash. Their mission: keep Vash under 24 hour surveilence so he doesn't blow anything else up. Their plan: give him donuts and be real nice about it. The problem is no one knows what he looks like and no one has seen him in action. The real Vash is right under their noses, but can that hapless dork who "scarfs donuts like a hog in heat", peeks in on pretty girls in the shower, and can drink a town drunk under the table really be the merciless gunman? He's the only one that fits the description...

How did Vash the Stampede, notorious gunman with a 60,000,000,000 double dollar bounty on his head become the most wanted man on the planet when it's proven he hates violence and never fires a shot in all four of these episodes? That's what he'd like to know.

In a genre of anime that is normally depicted as very violent (the sci-fi genre), Trigun stands out since the main character is a pacifist of the highest order. He refuses to even kill in self defense, prefering to simply put the bad guy out of commission. Vash is really a bit of a dork and likes nothing more than food and trying to sweet talk pretty girls, but by the very nature of who he is he gets caught in a life very different from the peace loving existance he wants.

The 60,000,000,000 Man- The first episode and first look at Vash. You get the impression from his first scene that he's a gunslinging tough guy, but that is a false impression as the episode later proves. Enter Milly and Meryl the insurance girls sent to prevent Vash the Stampede from causing any more damage if they can find him, which is harder than it sounds considering no one knows what he looks like. Vash crosses pathes with the girls, but Meryl just can't believe such a sweet natured goof ball would be the notorious Vash. We also get to see the first time Vash proves how good he really is as he is forced to save himself and the whole group without a gun.

Truth of Mistake- The girls again run across Vash as he is working as the bodyguard of a man in charge of the town's water supply. Once again Vash saves the day and makes it all look like an accident. There is also more confusion for Meryl as another woman they run across implies that there is something special about Vash and that men like him are "real men" rather than the goof ball persona Vash puts on.

Peace Maker- Vash befriends a former gun maker whose family was killed by one of his own guns. With a knife that flips out of his boot and a deep psychological understanding of pain, Vash sets about making things right. And getting drunk. Very very drunk.

Love and Peace- Waltzing into the middle of a hostage situation, Vash is forced to figure out how to save both the hostages and the criminals. Vash again proves that he can save a situation wihtout looking like he's doing anything but bumbling around.

For a sci-fi series that is portrayed as being very series, Trigun is actually quite comical with a main character who is totally endearing. It's also a good statement against violence in it's own way.

There's always at least one in every genre: the fan-favorite. The series that an enormous following of fans will point out as an excellent example of whatever genre it belongs to while others wonder why exactly it's so appealing. Examples in anime include the controversial "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and the style-over-substance "Noir", but for many anime fans their preferred fan-favorite is the sci-fi western comedy-drama "Trigun".

Vash the Stampede. The Humanoid Typhoon. The Sixty Billion Double-Dollar Man. He is known by many names, and his reputation is feared across the land. He is a legendary gunman who is said to gun down anyone who dares stand up to him. The enormous bounty on his head is living proof that he is a dangerous outlaw with the devil's luck and death's touch...or is he? Is Vash really a soft-hearted pacifist who actually prefers not to use his gun? Is the Humanoid Typhoon really nothing more than a bumbling idiot who chases after women and munches on doughnuts? That's what everyone who comes into contact with him find hard to believe, and yet he somehow always comes out on top. Who is this guy? Is he the real Vash the Stampede...?

The first four episodes do a good job of setting up the back story of who Vash the Stampede is and what to expect. Contrary to what the front cover may indicate, "Trigun" isn't the most serious anime serious out there. While other shows such as "Cowboy Bebop" and "Outlaw Star" may incorporate humor within their story's frameworks, they never reach the level of near-slapstick like "Trigun" does. The main characters' pleasantry-like personalities is a very key component to the series, and it's this element that either keeps viewers tuned in or turns people off when the series gets darker and more serious further on. As for the episodes themselves, the first two are excellent in execution and design, introducing the main characters and setting the stage for what's about to follow. The last two are above average, merely filler episodes that simply emphasize what we've already learned in the first two episodes. Even so, all four episodes do a good job of establishing everyone's expectations and getting ready for what lies ahead.

Visually, "Trigun" is a beautiful anime series...at least when it was first released. While it may not hold up against contemporary series such as "Ghost in the Shell TV" and "Inu-Yasha", "Trigun" is still a marvelous series to look at. With character designs that are polished versions of their manga counterparts (the series is based off the manga of the same name), well-done surroundings, and relatively smooth animation, the art direction (done by studio Madhouse of "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" fame) still looks good enough to satisfy the modern anime fan demanding quality visuals.

Audio-wise, the score does its job but isn't the most memorable soundtrack out there. The most outstanding piece is most certainly the series opening, "H.T", a hard-rocking guitar instrumental that's both catchy and attention-grabbing. The rest of the soundtrack, including the ending, sadly isn't as impressive, although it certainly fits the mood of the series quite well.

Pioneer has managed to give "Trigun" one of the best dubs on the market today. They even found the perfect voice actor to play Vash the Stampede: Johnny Yong Bosch, best remembered for his stint as a Power Ranger. With the same tone and pitch, Bosch manages to recreate the Japanese Vash into English perfectly; his faithful voicing of Vash deserves comparison to David Lucas' memorable performance as Spike Spiegel of "Cowboy Bebop". The rest of the voice cast give admirable jobs, managing to create a stellar dub that some sub fans might even want to give a try.

Overall, the first "Trigun" DVD, "The $$60,000,000,000 Man" is a great way to start a great series. Not everyone will appreciate its unique flavor and how it later evolves, but anime fans looking for an interesting twist in their sci-fi need not look further than "Trigun". And those wanting something representing almost everything anime is known for should also give "Trigun" a try; it's practically the living definition of "fan-favorite".

If youre considering watching Trigun, dont let the first video/DVD throw you off. The first video, for the most part, is just humour. Ive seen the entire series, and Trigun is NOT a pure comedy. If you watch the first video and hate it for being a stupid comedy, at least see the second video before you judge the entire series. By the second video Trigun begins to turn serious with comedic moments rather than the other way around.

The story doesnt seem very deep at the beginning; it centres on a mysterious man named Vash the Stampede, an outlaw with a $$60 Billion bounty on his head. A dangerous man, capable of destroying entire towns. But hes also a klutz, and his enemies refuse to believe hes the real Vash the Stampede when they see what a goof he is. While the first video shows very little of the series main plot, it works as an introduction to Vash and the insurance girls, Milly and Meryl. If you dont care for them, there are plenty of awesome characters that are not introduced until later (Wolfwood, Knives, and Legato to name a few).

Trigun is not nearly as goofy as the first video makes it seem. You quickly discover that Vash has a complicated past, and that his motto of Love and Peace isnt all its cracked up to be. Later episodes can be extremely dark and bloody at times, though they are hardly ever ultra-violent. The characters are memorable and very human; I developed a genuine attachment to them, even some that appeared only for an episode, and it was the first time in any show Ive never once wanted the villains to win. I laughed at the banter between Vash and other characters. I was on the edge of my seat during the intense gun fights and tense confrontations. I cried during the sad, emotional scenes (and there are PLENTY of them later in the series). A series that can make me genuinely laugh AND cry is a rare thing.

There are some nit-picky things I didnt like about Trigun, but very few. As Ive said, this series is not a pure comedy, so the first video really gives a wrong impression of the series as a whole. The music is quite good overall, everything from western blues to harsh electronics to pretty vocal pieces, and perfectly appropriate to a western-sci-fi setting; but they have a habit of playing songs at very inappropriate times in the show, and killing the dramatic effect of some scenes. But that can be overlooked, and the good far exceeds the bad.

This isnt so much a review of the first video/DVD as an encouragement to overlook it and get to the meat of the series. If you dont like it by the end of the second video, you might as well forget about it. But dont judge the whole series by the first video alone.

This series cannot simply be described in one word, but if I must do so I would gladly call it "unbelievable." This disc contains the first 4 episodes of the series in which we get to meet the wildly funny and extraordinary gunman and outlaw Vash the Stampede. Each episode is its own little adventure in which Vash is involved in a strange series of events, and through a streak of luck (or Vash is extremely clever and talented, we don't know which), he comes out victorious. While one of Vash's principle's includes the fact that he will kill no one may be a turn off to some viewers, don't think it takes away from the series, if anything it makes it that much better. He finds better, smarter, and sometimes more comedic ways to get through a sticky situation than simply killing the person. SO DON'T SLEEP ON THIS SERIES, GET OF YOUR LAZY @$$ RIGHT NOW, GRAB YOUR CREDIT CARD AND ORDER IT IMMEDIATLEY, YOU WON'T REGRET IT ONE BIT, I PROMISE!!!

This is the way every outlaw should be. Vash the Stampede goes right down in history with Robin Hood, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Billy the Kid -- gunslingers (more or less) who rock.

One of the best things about anime is the complexities to their characters. In the US we have, um, Mickey Mouse and Bugs, all wonderful animals, sure, but they haven't got a whole lot of character. Whereas we have Vash, the double-edged sword who can be serious one minute and totally goofy the next. He's a complete idiot and yet a compassionate pacifist. Trigun is a great movie, and for all you deprived humans -- I'd buy it, honest.