'Anime Current: TriGun' CHARACTER GUIDE
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Vash the Stampede Vash is the main character of Trigun, also known as The Humanoid Typhoon and Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gombigobilla Blue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser the Third, a unique alias he presents to Wolfwood when they first meet. He is the first person to be declared "an act of God" or "a human disaster." He is initially discovered by Meryl and Milly while being chased by some bandits who want to collect the $$60 billion bounty on his head. He escapes and Milly and Meryl eventually learn that this is the person they are assigned to track. Vash the Stampede also has a sad past that involves his brother destroying a whole SEEDs ship with the crew, along with Rem Saverem. He has a silver .45 colt revolver that has an inverted barrel (on the bottom instead of the top). |
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Meryl Stryfe Meryl and her junior coworker Milly were sent by the Bernardelli Insurance Society to evaluate claims regarding Vash the Stampede. Despite her serious attitude and short temper, she is a good person. Although she doesn't often fight alongside Vash, she hides many derringer-style "throwaway" pistols under her coat. She once referred to herself as "Derringer Meryl". Initially, she finds Vash to be a nuisance and dismisses the idea that he is the legendary Humanoid Typhoon. As time passes, she realizes that Vash isn't the villain that he is made out to be nor the buffoon that he presents himself to be. Gradually, she comes to respect Vash and love him deeply. Meryl's actions near the end of the series begin to remind Vash of Rem, and the scene indicates that she may even be Rem reincarnated (though this is disputed). This, however, is not present in the manga, and may have been an independent decision by the producers of the anime. It is hinted that Meryl has problems involving her family. Early in Trigun Maximum, she celebrates her 23rd birthday, which means she was 21 at the beginning of Trigun. Meryl is very short, more so in the manga than in the anime. |
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Milly Thompson Milly is a fellow Bernardelli agent and friend and assistant to Meryl. Despite physically towering over Meryl, Milly looks up to her and always refers to her as "senpai," (or "Ma'am" in the English version of the amime, if you look at the subtitles,) as a term of respect for a senior. Although physically very strong, she appears rather simple and ditzy, but has an extremely kind heart and also reveals a strength of character and genuine optimism. However, Milly can be just as hotheaded as Meryl if someone is disrespectful towards their family (or wasting food, especially pudding). She can seem somewhat dim, but she has some amazing skills (chess playing, for one) which hint at a deeply buried intelligence. She does have a tendency to go a bit overboard when drinking. She seemed to pick up on the fact that Vash is the notorious Stampede before Meryl, but she didn't completely realize that she was right. Milly comes from a very large family, and writes letters to them constantly (known as "The Milly Monthly"). Somehow Milly manages to hide a very heavy concussion gun (referred to as a "stun-gun") under her coat. The shots, which pop out into the shape of an X-shaped claw, are so powerful they can even knock over trucks. At one point Milly refers to herself as "Stun-gun Milly". In the anime, Milly begins to form a relationship with Nicholas Wolfwood as the story progresses. In episode 23 it is apparent that she in fact did have sexual intercourse with Wolfwood. She is seen laying in his bed while he looks out the window shirtless. Wolfwood later remembers her saying that "It (smoking) isn't good for the baby". This, however, has nothing to do with the romance, as it happened earlier in the series when she was posing as a pregnant woman to hide a runaway girl. |
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Nicholas D. Wolfwood In the anime, he is a preacher and an excellent gunman, who in the original Japanese version speaks Kansai dialect. Nicholas and Vash meet in the desert when Vash's bus runs across Nicholas' motorcycle. He proves to be a valuable ally, but sometimes Vash and Wolfwood's philosophies conflict. In the end, he comes over to Vash's way of thinking, even though he was associated with Knives the whole time. Nicholas' purpose is to raise money for children at an orphanage he runs. Wolfwood loves children, a good reason he and Milly hit it off so well. He is a Gun-Ho Gun with the title Chapel in the manga.Wolfwood carries his "Burden", a cross that is kept covered for the most part, but it does pack a mighty punch. One arm of the cross hides six handguns, the other stores the ammunition for the built in machine gun revealed in the long stem side, and the short stem is houses a fairly powerful rocket launcher. It is not light, three average men cannot lift it, but he carries it as if it was nothing. |
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Millions Knives Millions is Vash's sinister twin brother and is the real hidden threat on the desert planet. It was Knives, not Vash, who had been responsible for "The Great Fall." He believes that humanity is a plague that must be exterminated because they survive by consuming the plants and all the planet's natural resources. He is doing all this because he is trying to get his brother on his side, as Vash is the only person who can stop him. |
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Kuroneko-sama (cat) She appears in every episode at least once, usually as a running joke of popping her oval-shaped, green-eyed head on screen at some opportune moment and usually uttering a simple "nyaa." (Some of her appearances are much more comical in nature: one example of this is the first episode of the anime, "The $$60 Billion Man", where the audience can see her leering at Meryl and Milly as they enter the bar, or in the episode "Fifth Moon," when Vash is clearing out the city of Augusta, he fires into the air and is quite surprised when the cat lands on his head with a "nyaa," then jumps off.) Many viewers missed her appearance in episode 17, contributing to rumors that she is a reincarnation of Rem. In that episode, the cat is frozen in the arms of one of the cryogenically-preserved population. This does, however, lead to questions as to Kuroneko-sama's apparent longevity. In vol. 1 chapter 2 she appears and Millie holds her in a funny manner. Kuroneko-sama may have some connection with Vash, but that, like her appearances, is a mystery. Many speculate that she is a reincarnation of Rem, who watches over Vash on his journey. Also, after Vash kills Legato late in the series, Kuroneko scratches him (the only violent interaction Kuroneko takes against Vash in the series); perhaps this is Rem's way of rebuking his decision. However, it is more likely that, if anyone, Meryl is a reincarnation of Rem, as described in her entry above. In fact, Kuroneko-sama often appears as part of a gag and given that she appears in every episode in some way, she seems to be a sort-of "Where's Waldo?" type of character. |
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Anime Current: TriGun
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Vash the Stampede is a gunman on the run with a 60 billion double dollar bounty on his head which has made it difficult for him to go anywhere without being chased and shot at. Because of the bounty, every town he ever visit ends up being destroyed because of his pursuers, and miracliously, no one ever gets killed. Meryl and Milly are two insurance agents that have been sent to find Vash the Stampede and keep him under surveillance so no more damage is caused. Meryl, who leads the pair, can't believe that the man they have met can possibly be the legendary gunman. This spikey haired, gangly, and blonde young man is extremely friendly, a pacifist, hates blood and suicide, absolutely loves donuts, and is a dork and a crybaby...there is no way he could he be Vash the Stampede, a notorious outlaw. However, there's more to Vash than just smiles and dounuts.
Episodic Descriptions / Premiere Dates
Episode 1:
| The $$60,000,000,000 Man |
The infamous outlaw, Vash the Stampede, is worth $$60,000,000,000. Naturally, Vash meets up with plenty of Bounty Hunters. Today he meets another 2 crazy guys who are after his $$60,000,000,000 head. Vash doesn't want to hurt anyone when it's not neccesary. When he is backed into a corner, he still fills out his promise and manages to take out the 2 Bounty Hunters without using a single bullet.
Episode 2:
| Truth of Mistake |
Meryl and Milly have used up their entire water supply. Entering a ghost town completely devoid of water, Meryl notices how the town's buildings look all cracked and broken. From a passerby, they happen to hear that Vash the Stampede has been in town and is the new hired gun of Cliff Schezar...who just happens to be one of the town's only residents and lives in a large mansion.
Episode 3:
| Peace Maker |
Frank Marlin, once a famed Gunsmith, is just a lousy drunk. He fatefully meets up with Vash. Vash tries to turn his life around, and shows him not to be afraid to help others because "the situation is no longer equal." When a group of bandits arrive in town, they come claiming the leader in none other then the famed Vash The Stampede. The city has no Sheriff, so it's up to Vash, and the rest of the town to take them out. In an odd twist of fate, Frank Marlin winds up saving the day. Like Vash, even though he wasn't loaded, he still had to try.
Episode 4:
| Love and Peace |
A few rouge bandits take Hostages. Vash seemingly oblivious to the hold up dances up to the place, as all the bullets fired seem to miss! Soon we find out that the bandits took a particular hostage, for revenge on her father. Soon some hired guns try and take out the bandits, but Vash sees to their demise. It's time for the lead bandit to draw against "Grim Reaper Bostalk." After the bandit wins he's ready to give himself up, but the sheriff wants all the praise for this one, he and his men pulls out guns, surrounding Vash, Meryl, Milly, and the Bandit. What can they do now?!
Episode 5:
| Hard Puncher |
After out-smarting a small group of Bounty Hunters, the town discovers he's Vash The Stampede. The town goes after him in an epic rampage as he barely escapes. They need the money from his bounty to fix the broken plant. The Mayor calls in his Last Resort, The Nebraska Family. The only way Vash can take down these guys is with his gun, he has to use it this time.
Episode 6:
| Lost July |
After the town's folk gather enough money for a repair crew to be called for to repair their power plant, Vash is hired as a body guard for the head engineer - an attractive woman who seems to have a particular interest in the gun-slinger. An interest which might be accidently mistaken to be affection.
Episode 7:
| B.D.N |
Vash gets on the sand steamer, and now he's finally all alone! When he's in the wash room, he meets up with quite a suspicous kid. It turns out this kid works for the Bad Lads, but Vash is unconscious. The Bad Lads can't get to the real treasure without busting the sand steamer in half! The kid is trying to stop them from doing it, but the leader won't have that kid messing them up. The leader is about to kill the kid when Vash has to grab him and jump out the window! They are barely hanging on when Vash catches the kid and a bar handing off of the train and pulls them into an air vent.
Episode 8:
| And Between the Wasteland and Sky |
Back on the sand steamer Vash and Kaite try to work out a way to break through the guards and safely get to the bridge. They almost get there but at the last second are caught, leading to a draw between Vash and Brilliant Dynamites Neon, whose outcome determines the fate of the ship.
Episode 9:
| Murder Machine |
A simple bus trip across the dunes is going wrong when mechenic spiders threatens the passangers. Vash is accompanied by a travelling priest who has far more than fortune-cookie's wisdom.
Episode 10:
| Quick Draw |
In May City Vash meets up with Wolfwood again. Together they join a quick-draw competition in order to help a needy family. This leads to a face-off in the finals, with interesting results.
Episode 11:
| Escape From Pain |
In this episode Millie and Wolfwood meet a girl destined to be a slave. They help sneak her out of the caravan and meet her friend, who helps her get away. Millie goes with them and at the same time, Vash is getting paid to kill the two running away. This all leads to a question of character on Vash's part and an interesting confrontation.
Episode 12:
| Diablo |
Vash's past catches up to him as Legato Bluesummers, his new nemesis, frames him for murder and sends an assassin to destroy him - and as push comes to shove Vash exposes a new side in his personality.
Episode 13:
| Vash the Stampede |
Meryl writes back to the insurance company a summary of the events preceding this episode in an attempt to decipher the character of Vash The Stampede.
Episode 14:
| Little Arcadia |
An old farmer and his wife will defend their land no matter what. When Millie and Meryl become their bodyguards they must save them from certain defeat from a powerful foe or they old couple will lose their land and their lives.
Episode 15:
| Demon's Eye |
Legato starts some trouble at a local diner, and slaughters a small group of thugs, only to meet up with the entire group. The Gung-Ho Guns kill half of them, leaving the other half to burry their comrades. Vash meets up with Domonique, with a strange ability that makes her appear to teleport. Vash has to keep his wits if he's going to defeat Domonique.
Episode 16:
| Fifth Moon |
Vash is challenged to a duel inside an inhabited city with two of the gung-ho guns. The plot thickens as Legato butts in and unleashes Vash's horrible secret.
Episode 17:
| Rem Saverem |
We learn Vash has a brother, Knives, and we learn more about this woman, "Rem". This episode explains not only Vash's past, but how the entire planet was inhabited. We learn just how different Knives and Vash are, and what terrible goal motivates Vash.
Episode 18:
| Goodbye For Now |
Two years after Vash disappeared in the ruins of the city, two years after Milly and Meryl were forced to run away from the devestating arm, two years after Vash was declared the first human act of god by the insurance company because of how unstoppable he is - a quiet town is surrounded by bounty hunters, their leader claims to be Vash the Stampede, and Wolfwood is besieged inside! All seems to be lost until a young blonde man who has been living in that town for two years now, known only as Erics to it's residents, pops out to the rescue...
Episode 19:
| Hang Fire |
News of Vash's reappearance reach the Bernardelli insurance company. Meryl and Milly go on the road to search for the Humanoid Typhoon while he steps into a bloody dispute between two families.
Episode 20:
| Flying Ship |
Vash takes the nearest 'ride' to a city in the clouds, a relic from the times of old, to meet up with his old friends. Wolfwood follows him and joins him in the friendly visit, but there's also another who followed them both...
Episode 21:
| Out of Time |
Things worsen at the city in the clouds as two more Gung-Ho Guns appear, and what they're after might bring grim consequences.
Episode 22:
| Alternative |
Many people have been disappearing, whole towns even, and people are getting paranoid. Vash, Wolfwood and the two insurance girls are stuck outside and can't come in because the guards are too afraid to let them. They find shelter in a orphanage of sorts, and when trouble starts, a surprising adversery helps Wolfwood see the error in his ways.
Episode 23:
| Paradise |
Wolfwood's past catches up with him as the priest acknowledges he has a few sins to confess himself.
Episode 24:
| Sin |
As Vash ventures on he finally confronts Legato, who proves that the winner is not necessarily the last man standing.
Episode 25:
| Live Through |
Vash has suffered enough for an eternity. As decision-making time approches, the town's people decide to lynch him and he may not try to stop them.
Episode 26:
| Under the Sky So Blue |
Vash confronts his past in a big climax, and all of the remaining questions about Vash's past are answered.
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