Trigun Stampede’s Vash is a top contender for anime’s best boy in 2023

Vash the Stampede is the sharp-witted gunner and the hero of classic manga and anime. TrigunHe can be dressed in many things. Although he has maintained his core look over the years — a red coat, blond hair, hoop earring, prosthetic arm, and mole under his eye — the hero has undergone several transformations. Tokuma Shoten published the manga’s first issue in 1995. The series was later adapted into anime in 1998 and 2010. Now, he’s back and cuter than ever in studio Orange’s reinvention of the classic sci-fi Western, Trigun Stampede. The new Vash brings fresh life to a decades-old character, as he returns to us vivacious as ever and ready to capture our hearts as one of 2023’s most memorable anime cuties.

Vash has a charming personality despite being depicted as a gritty character in the past. TrigunYasuhiro Nighow, creator wanted to depict a Western cowboy who was pacifist and resolved. He is a victim of pacifism in the series. There are countless killers trying to take him down for their reward. It lends credibility to the series. Trigun — both the old and new series — a slapstick quality as Vash constantly evades attacks and tends to resolve fights with the butts of guns rather than bullets.

The Vash of the franchise’s early days was conspicuously punk. In the first TrigunHe wears manga and a double-breasted red coatHis hair runs down to his ankles. His shoes are adorned with dozens of straps and buckles, and his spiky hair stands up like it’s charged with electricity. This manga is a later version. Trigun Maximum, would iterate on his designAdd more machine elements, such as pipes running up his legs and a corset.

Image: Orange/Crunchyroll

Through the years, he has retained some core characteristics such as his glasses and red cloak. These core features are what he values most and reflect his personality. His red cloak, for example, isn’t just about style; it references the centrality of his connection to his late caretaker Rem, whose favorite flower was a red geranium. His arm remains more or less unchanged and serves as a reminder of the ways he’s different to those around him and somewhat alien in his world. These features are all prominent in Vash’s new avatar, however this is his most egregious creation. Vash is the Vash of Trigun StampedeIt is noticeably younger and more supple than the original design, which seems to reduce the original’s angstiness.

StampedeHe is more like the TikTok’s e-boys. He prefers to have his hair cut and jostled rather than straight. The hoop earring he wears is prominent and highlights his darker eyebrows. He looks more streetwear-inspired with his overcoat and combat boots than in a desert dystopia. If you look at his face, you can see the distinct look of red blush — another example of a trendy look popularized on the internet.

The Vash seems to be competing for younger fans. Some of his moments are perfect for TikTok edits, such as the way he straightens his eyebrows and smiles anxiously. He looks adorable, like a lost puppy dog! And while his sparkling aquamarine eyes might not sway his enemies, they’ll sure look great slowed down, edited, and paired to music for a fan-made music video. Given its history of work, it doesn’t seem so surprising that Orange can deliver our next star anime cutie. The animation studio Orange managed to transform the humanoid creatures from BeastarsThe characters are emotionally compelling, and some people consider them to be hot.

But, it’s fair to say the Vash of today looks much more familiar. He’s wearing black turtleneck — pretty much a staple in anime and anime-adjacent franchises with characters like Kakashi Hatake and Cloud Strife. His overall size and build has been criticized by fans who feel that his appearance is no longer distinctive. We lost both his long and lanky body and his spiky hair. It’s more like he is a member of the boy band, and less like something out of Todd McFarlane comics. Nightow has openly been a fan of and whose work has appeared to influence Vash’s design in the past.

Image: Orange/Crunchyroll

It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike the design, Vash in this version is absolutely charming. His local bar considers him a hero. He takes pains to care for his captors and make sure they’re treated well. He even cares about environmental issues — the town he’s in no longer has clean water, and he appears to be invested in addressing the problem. His humor is his best friend when he’s in conflict. He can be both an outlaw or a dreamboat.

Studio Orange gave life to Vash like no other. He can express his feelings and moves in a 3D CG animated way that is unlike anything seen in the previous series. His body is in pain as he chases after one bullet. His facial expressions — like the intense arch of his eyebrows or desperate tears in his eyes — give us some of the best characterization yet, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who has had experience voicing maniacal villains like Majima from Lycoris RecoilHe plays a desperate, frantic Vash. He shines most in scenes where Vash is volunteered to face a soldier.

Vash, who is able to save the whole town from an impending disaster by using one bullet during the duel turns the near-disaster into a victory. He goes from screaming for help to avoiding bullets at his enemy in a matter seconds. These moments show just how talented and silly Vash can be. Many self-serious characters are a part of Anime, but they all focus only on the goal. Vash on the other side is a man you’d meet at any bar and has a talent. It makes Vash a lot easier to approach and more likable than his adorable looks.

It’s true that the more casual and modern look for Vash might not fit into the desolate world of his story. Vash looks more like an actor than a gunman on the loose. But even in the world of the story, he isn’t from that world either. Literally, he is an alien planet-seeking boy from spaceship. In the premiere episode, Vash sparkles exactly like a fallen star.