Trigun Stampede Panel, Momocon 2025featured

by admin on May 27, 2025

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Trigun Stampede Graphic Design Panel, Momocon 2025

Momocon 2025 Poster from Instagram

Graphic/Advertising Designer: Sachio Tomioka

Producer: Yoshihiro Watanabe

Intros, Designs, and Details

Producer Watanabe did introductions and wanted to emphasize that July is very important in the world of Trigun! That’s why Trigun Stampede was announced July of 2022. He also stated that Tomioka-san created designed the posters, teasers, and box sets, and was responsible for character intro visuals – Vash, Wolfwood, Meryl, Knives.

Trigun Stampede Sets

Tomioka-san stated he wanted to challenge Nightow’s designs, drawing from the previous works and figures created. His goals were to please the current fans, appeal to people that were not familiar with Trigun, and last but not least, surprise Nightow. For the box sets, Tomioka-san was not the character artist but the packaging designer. He wanted to convey Vash is being shot at and he’s receptive and accepting of what’s around him, Wolfwood is trying to break through or out of the barriers he feels, and Knives is always trying to destroy the current world around him.

Trigun Stampede Posters

The posters were Tomioka-san’s creations as well. First it’s an introduction to Vash for new and existing fans.

The second was an Intro to No Man’s Land and the world of Trigun Stampede. Note: A lot of fans have noticed that Wolfwood’s shoe bottoms are red, and that Knives has blood on the bottom of his feet in episode three (Bright Light, Shine Through the Darkness). In the Intro to No Man’s Land poster, Wolfwood is losing his shoe as he chases after Vash. Tomiok-san explained that societies build shoes – the type of shoe and material reflects that society. They wanted to convey Wolfwood does not wear socks which is an important factor, and that yes, he is in fact losing his shoe – a possible hint that he is leaving that former society behind.

The third poster July is Here! -links the audience with the July Incident.

Another thing Tomioka-san contributed to was the character details. A lot of thought went into the characters, what kind of boots and glasses Vash wears, the details of his arm and how it functions, as well as what Vash wears under his coat.

Rough drafts of SEEDS logos

Director Muto submitted concept ideas for the logo design for Project SEEDS. Muto-san and Tomioka-san wanted to make sure the spiral resembled DNA and also symbolizes the relationship between Vash and Knives.

Wolfwood’s contract sealed with blood.

Wolfwood’s EoM contract with Conrad needed a needed a fingerprint for the signature sealed with blood – he was hesitant but Tomioka-san used his own print for the seal! Literally putting his “fingerprint” on Trigun Stampede. Note: Wolfwood’s signature is done by animator Austin Hardwicke because he was one of the few people at the studio that could write in cursive English.

The Tree of Heritage in Knives’ chamber,

Tomioka-san designed the “Tree of Heritage” that is on the floor in Knives’ chamber. When viewed from above, the tree’s roots are located where his piano sits, demonstrating his position and all it branches out to.

The “locked” and “unlocked” symbolism for Our Home.

In the scenes in episode eight, (Our Home) where Vash is found by the Home people (Luida and Brad), Director Muto wanted viewers to “feel” instead of “see” the change in Vash. At first he is locked in a room and is emotionally and physically closed off; the colors and design of the panel are symbolic of his heart and mind being closed. Later when the Plants are in danger and dying he is trying to get out and begins to open up more and more to Luida and Brad. The signs are a “locked” and “not locked” symbol, but in a subtle way, resembling smart phone graphics.

No Man’s Land Map

World Building and Culture

Tomioka-san received a map with the key points and locations of cities, his job was to show how people moved, such as Sand Steamer routes and provide names of additional smaller cities. Some of them have very unique names! Note: For instance there’s Fool’s Piss and Deuce Dump. And what appear to be refences to American western heroes and outlaws like William T. Bonney (William H. Bonney or Billy the Kid) and Calamity J (probably referencing cowgirl Calamity Jane).

Tomioka-san also designed things like the Bernardelli Insurance logo which is supposed to resemble an antenna, the July Police logo (Note: fans have noticed it looks like piano keys!), and city logos like Geneora rock.

The city signage created by Tomioka-san

The cities were not designed by Tomioka-san, but he helped establish the culture. Studio Orange designed the entire city of Geneora Rock in a 3D model. Muto-san wanted it to feel like a living and breathing city and Tomioka-san was tasked with some of this; so he imagined how people lived and where things like barber shops and hotels were located. He wanted to make sure it resembled an actual city. His solution was signage and designing a functional layout. He went above and beyond, a typical graphic designer for anime would not do this.

The complexity of the layout done by Tomioka-san

Tomioka-san assisted with the design of many brands, namely Wolfwood and Roberto’s tobacco packages. The artist came up with the initial design, but Tomioka-san came up with the packaging.

Liquor label designs by Tomioka-san

He also came up with much of the whiskey label design and packaging. Director Muto wanted various bottles because there were bars, but also wanted to convey that liquor was not easy to obtain on a desert planet. They referenced labels for concept designs based on the Prohibition Era in America, when alcohol was banned. Another reference is “Wam’s Share” to real life “Angel’s Share” which is when brewed whiskey disappears from evaporation.

Muto-san wanted to not only create a story, but wanted to create the world in which it was set. He wanted to show people that found Plants and used them after the Big Fall, but also those less fortunate who had to find a way to survive without Plants. Some of them were featured in episode four (Wolfwood)- the wam fisherman represented that group. Another idea Tomioka-san created was a liquor derived from a wam who swallowed a [liquor] bottle and was then hunted and harvested.

The “Speak Easy” brand is made from wams that have two heads and two tails! Another interesting thing is he put Muto’s name on one of the labels (Pure Old Wams 5 Moonshine)- perhaps there’s a story there!

Very detailed currency for No Man’s Land

Also every world has some kind of currency. Tomioka-san’s design is incredibly detailed, and he has been proud that so far he has not seen any merchandise bootlegs of it produced (maybe after today though).