Trigun has long solidified its status as a cult classic anime of the 90s, standing alongside giants like Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Studio Orange’s recent projects, Trigun Stampede and Trigun Stargaze, have breathed new life into the classic, successfully uniting both longtime fans and newcomers. Initially skeptical about the use of 3D CGI in anime, the author admits that in this instance, Studio Orange exceeded all expectations. Their advanced cel-shaded CGI technique emulates 2D animation, offering dynamic action scenes, intricately detailed character models, and immersive 3D environments, creating a unique cinematic style. This visual feast was perfectly complemented by the outstanding work of the English voice cast.
Leading English voice actors—Johnny Yong Bosch (Vash the Stampede/Eriks), Sarah Roach (Meryl Stryfe), David Matranga (Nicholas D. Wolfwood), and Alexis Tipton (Milly Thomson)—recently shared their experiences. They discussed their initial reactions to being cast in their roles, the unique aspects of working with Studio Orange, and what their characters mean to them as the series draws to a close.
First Reactions to Their Roles
Sarah Roach: Recalling watching the original series as a child, Sarah felt both thrilled and nervous upon receiving the role of Meryl. This blend of energy brought a special dynamic to her first recording session, making it an awesome experience to be part of the series.
Johnny Yong Bosch: He expressed surprise but gratitude for the opportunity to return to Vash—a character he has always cherished. The fresh perspective and new presentation of Vash offered him new creative avenues to explore.
David Matranga: For him, it was incredibly exciting. The animation style, which allowed for more nuanced voice acting, felt akin to shooting a live-action film. He described the reactions as very subtle, immersing him completely from the first episode and making him wish they could always work this way.
Alexis Tipton: Milly makes her debut in Stargaze, and Alexis was well aware of the anticipation surrounding the character. She found it particularly enjoyable to voice a character for whom people were eagerly awaiting an entrance. She echoed David’s sentiments about the “human-like” mouth movements of the characters and the superb script adaptation (localization), which made the process feel more like on-camera acting than traditional voice work.
David Matranga (adding): Acknowledged that such a cinematic style, while captivating, could be challenging in terms of breath synchronization, but ultimately found it unique and fun.
Character Evolution from Stampede to Stargaze
Johnny Yong Bosch (Vash/Eriks): The transition from the more carefree Vash in Stampede to the mature and heartbroken Eriks/Vash in Stargaze marked a significant character evolution. Johnny found himself able to draw upon personal traumatic experiences to delve deeper into these emotional moments, finding it easier to slide into those spaces when the story and animation were aligned.
Sarah Roach (Meryl): Following the traumatic events of Stampede, Meryl undergoes a transformation, becoming a mentor figure to Milly. Sarah believes Roberto was profoundly influential to Meryl, teaching her true integrity. Meryl now carries his memory in everything she does, informing her movement through the world, and she approaches teaching Milly with a mix of sternness and fun.
David Matranga (Wolfwood): Wolfwood also experienced considerable changes during the two-year time skip between seasons. David focused on portraying the “truth of what’s there,” allowing the character to evolve naturally without preconceived ideas. He applied the acting principle “change with the changes,” focusing on living truthfully in each moment, which he believes naturally strings together the character’s growth throughout Stargaze.
Alexis Tipton (Milly): Introduced mid-story, Milly seamlessly integrates into the team despite being new to the narrative. Alexis noted that Milly and Meryl already have an established rapport. Her excellently written character brings a fresh dynamic to the group, and Alexis felt that with such a well-crafted role, her job was simply to “go along for the ride.”
Farewell to the Series
Alexis Tipton: Wished the project could continue indefinitely, noting how quickly time had flown. She emphasized that Trigun Stargaze is a truly special production with an excellent story, compelling relationships, great music, and superb animation. From a selfish perspective, she admitted it’s hard to say goodbye because it’s been so much fun.
Sarah Roach: Will miss Meryl dearly, particularly her expressiveness and the dynamic nature that Studio Orange captured so well in all characters, making it a treat to see what kind of face Meryl would make next.
David Matranga: Expressed his love for working on the project for numerous reasons and his deep connection to Wolfwood. He conveyed a strong desire to continue embodying and voicing the character, feeling grateful for the impactful experience but deeply reluctant to part with it, often thinking, “Let’s keep going!”
Alexis Tipton (adding): Reiterated that the characters are so well-written they feel like real people, making the farewell akin to saying goodbye to close friends with whom they’ve spent many weeks.
Johnny Yong Bosch: Stated that Vash will always reside within him, making him sad to say goodbye once again. He cherishes Studio Orange’s vision and the music, planning to rewatch the series multiple times to relive the experience of being there and creating it.
The actors concluded by expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to share their thoughts on the series.