The final chapter of the new anime series "TRIGUN STAMPEDE," based on Yasuhiro Nightow's manga "Trigun," titled "TRIGUN STARGAZE," will air on TV Tokyo from 11:00 PM on January 10th. The original is a gun action manga that was serialized from 1995 to 2007, and is a masterpiece that continues to be loved all over the world. We spoke to original author Nightow, who appeared at Tokyo Comic Con 2025, an event held at Makuhari Messe (Mihama Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture) in December 2025, to hear the inside story behind the creation of this masterpiece and his thoughts on the new anime.
◇Westerns + SF, also influenced by American comics
Set on a desert planet, "Trigun" depicts the struggles and struggles of Vash the Stampede, a gunslinger who has sworn not to kill, as he fights to uphold his ideals. An anime TV series was broadcast in 1998, and the animated film "Trigun the Movie: Badlands Rumble" was released in 2010. "TRIGUN STAMPEDE" will be broadcast from January to March 2023, and a new series, "TRIGUN STARGAZE," will begin airing in January, the first in about three years.
For Naito, who is also known for works such as "Blood Blockade Battlefront," "Trigun" is the first original work to be serialized in a commercial magazine.
"I was asked by a publisher to draw a one-shot manga before serializing it. Just as I was thinking about what to do, I came across a manga by an American comic artist called Simon Bisley, about a monster and a bearded gunman shooting away, and it made me think, 'Wow, Westerns are great...' but looking around, there aren't many of them... and if you mix that with sci-fi, I'm probably the only one who does that...' I thought it would be interesting to have a character who is a gunman who hates rough work and is quick to kneel down and apologize. That's when I started drawing, and I've continued to draw ever since."
Naito says he was originally a fan of American comics, and that this had a big influence on him.
"I've loved reading American comics since my early twenties. This was before movies based on American comics were all the rage like they are now. There was a manga by an artist called Jim Lee who created a lot of fresh and cool illustrations, and I used to look at his manga. Before that, I was influenced by the great comic artist Moebius through Katsuhiro Otomo, so I was already familiar with foreign manga. Aside from the influence of American comics, American movies of the 1980s were incredible, so that was my biggest influence. Tokyo Comic Con is also holding a Back to the Future event, and I want to create something as interesting as that, and if I could draw something on that level, I'm sure I would be satisfied and stop drawing."
As a child, the first cartoon he drew was of Snoopy, the popular character from "Peanuts."
"It was one of my earliest manga. I think I was in kindergarten when I did it. After that, I moved on to 'Tensai Bakabon'. I copied Snoopy from his work. I really love the design. I think Snoopy was the first character that really struck me as an iconic character. Even now as an adult, Schulz's lines are the best. I still respect him to this day. However, when I was a child, I didn't understand the quality of those lines."
◇Inspiration from the anime version
The visual of Vash the Stampede, the protagonist of "Trigun," is still fresh to this day. His flashy appearance, consisting of a crimson coat and spiky blonde hair, makes a big impact.
"I often unconsciously recite what I've seen up until that point, so I think Vash was born from that. However, someone pointed this out to me in the past, and I realized that Spawn figures were popular at the time, and I thought that was an influence. In the scene where Vash first appears, I was clearly conscious of the way his coat flutters."
The profound story is also appealing. The reason why the TV anime was produced again is because of the story, which remains relevant even today.
"The bloodstains. Looking at them now, I see them as sticky stains left on the ground as I writhed about while drawing. For all the years I was drawing, I was completely lost in thinking about the story. When they first made it into an anime, I was talking with the director, scriptwriter Kuroda (Yosuke), and the producer, and I asked them, 'How does this manga end?' (laughs). That's how clueless I was. When they created the series composition, I was so impressed, thinking, 'There's a way to do it like this...' The first anime inspired me a lot, so I had to make a manga that would live up to it. I felt like I fought alone in the second half with that feeling."
The artwork is also very appealing, with meticulously drawn characters and backgrounds, as well as dynamic action. The "bloodstains" left by Naito have captivated many people.
"Every time I drew, I was on the brink of death. The difficult things were... everything! I was drawing right up to the last minute, so I really caused trouble for the editors and the printing company. There was also a time when I submitted my work on the morning of the day I was going to Comic-Con in America, and got on an international flight right away. My memory is hazy in places, but I do remember eating the in-flight meal properly (laughs)."
The bold composition of the double-page spread is also impressive.
"While I was working, I gradually began to think that doing double page spreads with a bang might be what suited me. It felt good, so at some point I decided to make it a clear style of comedy. I think it was influenced by American comics. It's a sustained style, so I use it a lot, even in this age of single page reading. It's a technique called 'turning the page,' which involves 'building up' the previous page. In this way, I create a sense of rhythm before the double page spread, and then I enjoy the bang when it opens."
◇ "Trigun" guided me
"Trigun," which continues to be loved all over the world, is a special work for Naito.
"I'm really glad I drew this work. It's a work that has helped me so much. When I go overseas, I'm surprised that even people who aren't otaku know it. It was broadcast on Cartoon Network in the US at the right time, and it spread from there, leading me very far. I'm grateful for this work."
The protagonist, Vash, struggles with his belief that "no one should kill humans" and the difficulty of sticking to that belief. Perhaps it is precisely because of this universal theme that the story continues to be loved around the world, transcending borders.
"Rather than it being something I wanted to convey from the beginning, I felt like I kept asking myself these questions as I was drawing. It was like an experiment: How far can I take Vash's idealism? And then, would I be able to come up with a positive answer? I thought about it so much that it drove me crazy, and after thinking about it until I was completely out of it, I came up with the words Vash mustered out against Knives: 'Only those who have suffered violence can truly understand its true nature,' and 'I will not tolerate the arrogance of pulling the trigger without really knowing the other person.' I think now that I came up with words that were pretty much right on the mark. In most cases, we attack others without really knowing them. With all sorts of malice out there, we can't afford to talk nicely, but I think 'not knowing' is a very dangerous thing. Everyone has their own idea of 'justice,' and I try not to use those words, but I hate pain, and I want to stop. It's the same with 'Blood Blockade Battlefront,' but maybe my core is to not kill, not die, survive, and think about tomorrow."
"TRIGUN STAMPEDE" and "TRIGUN STARGAZE" are masterpieces that have been adapted and revived as anime in the Reiwa era.
"From the moment I first heard about the plan for STAMPEDE, I clearly wanted to make it a reboot. I understood that this project would see how far we could extend the reach of Trigun with new talent and power. Basically, I never said things like, 'Please do it this way, or it won't be Trigun unless it's done this way.' I left everything within the manga I drew. My job is to say, 'Isn't it the best!' But it's not at all forced, and I'm always amazed at the high level of resolution of the staff, how they were able to incorporate it to that extent."
"TRIGUN STAMPEDE" extends the "range" of "Trigun" with its stunning visual beauty and dynamic action that only 3DCG can offer.
"It was incredible. The production was bloody and spectacular. The final episode was particularly outstanding. Thank you, Director, for taking such good care of Trigun. I was impressed that you faced it all the way! You fought so hard! Okishi Takehiko's mountain of background setting that reconstructed everything, Tajima Koji's vast array of Hollywood-style concept art, and Orange's insane work were all extremely luxurious. I was shown the incredible quality of first-class work. I am grateful once again. I will fully support, accept, and enjoy the sequel to STARGAZE...!!"
The new anime will be the final chapter, but the legend of "Trigun" continues. "TRIGUN STARGAZE" is sure to amaze viewers with its "top-notch" work. (Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB)
