Trigun, an anime based on the manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, is the story of Vash the Stampede, a legendary outlaw with $$60,000,000 on his head, infamous for leaving a wider trail of destruction behind him then Sherman marching through Georgia. The thing is, our hero is actually a staunch pacifist who'd prefer to be left alone to eat donuts and ogle pretty women. Most of the damage is caused by people out to catch him and obtain the massive reward. And as if a bad reputation and a price on his head weren't enough, there's also the two insurance agents designated to follow him around and warn people away, the mysterious priest who turns up in the desert one day and befriends him, the gang of gunmen out to kill him, the partial amnesia, and his evil twin, who wants to destroy the world.
Yeah, sounds interesting, you say, but what makes it different from any other post-apocalyptic, sci-fi/western, shoot-em-up anime? Well, the good characterization and tight narrative arc don't hurt, but what really sets Trigun apart are the sophisticated moral themes and dilemmas it addresses. Is killing ever justified, even when done to save others? Is it possible to remain peaceful in a violent world, and if so, is refusing to take up arms against those who prey on others an avoidance of responsibility? Is redemption possible? Does one have to "kill the spider to save the butterfly," or can one rescue both of them? And why does that black cat show up in every episode?
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