Trigun Stampede Exhibition & Trigun 30th Anniversary Eventfeatured
The History of Trigun
Monthly Shōnen Captain cover, March 1995. Photo from Mandrake.com
In January of 1995, Tokuma Shoten’s magazine Monthly Shōnen Captain featured a comic trailer of a gunslinger with a long coat and spikey hair. Two months later Trigun became a regularly serialized comic. The comic ran from March 1995 until December 1996 when the magazine was discontinued. The saga was then picked up by publisher Shōnen Gahosha. Not ready for the story to be over, mangaka Yasuhiro Nightow asked to continue it as Trigun Maximum.
Vash the Stampede art in Monthly Shōnen Captain trailer. Scan by AJ MacArthurs.
As the manga continued, an anime adaption was offered by Madhouse in 1998; which helped Nightow and Trigun gain popularity, especially when it was released to western audiences. Trigun garnered immense attention in the early 2000s airing on Cartoon Network’s anime block Adult Swim in intervals from 2003-2006.
The manga came to a conclusion in 2007, but stand-alone movie Trigun: Badlands Rumble (set between anime episodes 11-12) was released in 2010 premiering at Sakuracon in Seattle for a U.S. fanbase!
Nicholas D. Wolfwood art by Nightow. Photo by AJ MacArthurs.
Trigun Stampede and the Trigun Renaissance
After a long hiatus, in July 2022, Studio Orange announced they were working on what they deemed a Trigun “re-imagining.” Reception was mixed; but Trigun Stampede, a sort of prequel to Trigun, aired January 2023. It reawakened old fans and earned new ones. Trigun was back!
Trigun Stampede brought new life to Trigun; conjuring fans old and new, reviving the fandom, and earning a second season. Trigun Stargaze was then announced in July 2024. This also led to many celebratory events; in December 2024 a Trigun Stampede Exhibition and Trigun 30th Anniversary Event were announced.
Trigun Stampede Exhibition and Trigun 30th Anniversary
Post and Art by Zeitara Arts on X.com
The event would be held at Animate Space Galleria in Ikebukuro, Japan from March 21st- April 14th, 2025. Fans all over the world were ecstatic, but there was an issue for overseas fans; the first three days of the exhibit were only available to those with Japanese residency credentials. Some foreign fans took to X (Twitter) and requested the help of locals for tickets. It paid off! A group of fans were able to get tickets and attend opening weekend, even meeting up with local love and peace bringers to unite in a Trigun celebration.
Trigun Stampede banners line the streets in Ikebukuro, Japan. Photo by AJ MacArthurs.
Leading up to the exhibition, opening banners lined the street to the galleria and posters were displayed at the local stations. The Trigun Stampede Exhibition socials posted consistent updates about the event and merchandise that would be featured at the event; and many of Studio Orange crew, as well as author Yasuhiro Nightow, posted or shared news about the event.
The exhibition was a well-run event featuring behind the scenes work from Studio Orange, showing their five year process of producing Trigun Stampede including art work, prop designs, and the animation process. The last portion of the exhibit displayed Nightow’s original manga works, including detailed sketches and finished art.
Post by Producer Watanabe on X.com. Director Muto and Producer Waki visiting the exhibition.
Opening day of the exhibition had a number of visitors, and some special guests. Producers Waki and Watanabe, and director Muto arrived later to offer their support. Nightow-san even visited prior to opening, leaving a comment card for his fans!
Nightow’s thank you note to fans. Photo by AJ MacArthurs.
The Tokyo exhibition has wrapped-up, but the Osaka one starts May 23rd!
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