Trigun Stargaze First Impressions

A new Trigon Stargase season drops on Crunchyroll and I have one big question: is the hype coming from the show itself, or from everything we remember about Vash Stampede? I walk through my first impressions of the premiere, starting with the July incident fallout and the desert-planet stakes that push Vash toward a final collision with Millions Knives. If you like action adventure sci-fi anime with a dusty western edge, this one is absolutely worth sizing up.

We also get real about the reboot conversation. Orange Studio’s updated animation style feels smooth, modern, and built for big set pieces, and the character designs aim for “reimagined” rather than “copied.” I talk about why Johnny Yong Bosch returning as Vash matters so much for English dub fans, how name recognition can be great marketing, and why it can accidentally scare off newcomers who think they need homework. You don’t, and I explain why the manga adaptation angle changes what you should expect.

Then I dig into what didn’t work for me: discoverability. When a series depends on word of mouth and a few cryptic posts, it risks getting buried no matter how good the story looks. I read early MyAnimeList feedback, talk about how nostalgia can turn into gatekeeping, and why review bombing culture hurts everyone who actually wants better anime discourse. If you’re watching Trigon Stargase, I want to hear your take. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, then tell me your score and your biggest hope for the season.

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Transcript

 Welcome and Premise 

📍 Hi, hello, welcome to Second Emulation! Okay, you are just so lucky right now, because you are literally about to spend, like, the best time with my amazing friend, Shawn. He is, like, the expert on all things movies, anime, and gaming, and he just has, like, the best opinions. Seriously, talking to him is, like, a whole thing, in the best way. So, get comfy, maybe with a little drink—I don't know, a kombucha, a latte, whatever is your thing—because Shawn is going to take you on, like, a total journey. Okay, luv that. Here he is Hey everyone. Welcome back to Second Emulation, the show where we dive deep into the latest anime, see what's worth your time. I'm Sean, your host, and today we're gonna be talking about the first episode of Trigon Stargaze, the new Action Adventure sci-fi anime that just premiered on CR role. If you're a fan of this genre, then this might be on your radar. Stick around as I break it down, share my thoughts, and see what other anime fans are saying about it. All right, so let's get into it. Setting and Stakes For those who haven't seen it yet, trigon. Stargaze takes place. Two and a half years have passed since the loss of July incident. A catastrophe that reduced the entire city to ruin and sent shocks across the world on the desert planet of no man's land. Ampia Gunslinger, who swore never take a life, faces his final confrontation with his brother, millions of. Millions knives who seeks to complete the destruction of humanity as a fate collide the battle that will determine the future of both mankind and the planet begins. It is produced by Orange Studios and directed by Satou. Mako, let's dive into it. First Impressions I didn't know that they were going to continue the trigon with the new updated, uh, animation after watching the first series. That did pretty well and I was like, I wanna know where the direction is going. And my boy, Johnny Bosch, who does the voice of vbi, needs. To like be on board for this. I know he's been back for, as he should go for the thousand year blood war, but having, companies kind of play those nostalgia hits and kind of find new ways to create a or. Reimagine an existing IP is awesome. And the new design, on VASH from the first season to now is nice. You know, he, he still has the, at the core, that character that I very much enjoyed back in the nineties. Now I think what, for all intents of person, what really worked is that they didn't go. It feels like it's, there's a blend of maybe 3D digital and hand drawn animation at the same time. I do like this fresh, you know, new coat of paint that anime from the nineties is slowly kind of, you know, getting. They did something similar with ROI kein, with, updated graphics and animation and kind of like brought it back for a new generation. And I kind of like that, kind of, you know, still playing. You know, kind of staying true to the character, maybe reimagining it, having an opportunity to either expand on us, this particular story arc that they couldn't do in the original. So I do like this approach with Trigon. This new, actually this new, uh, series, uh, that's on crunch Roll. Why the Reboot Works I am excited for a couple of reasons. One, I feel like when shows or a studio would do this, bring something back. You always have to have at least a core, voice actors who were on the original IP, and I kind of like that, this could have been a real, shitter if they, when they reimagined it with the first season and Johnny y Bosch wasn't this, you know, vases, stampede for some reason. It's like, it's part of your childhood. Like you, that voice and that image is very iconic. And the anime community. And you know, at the time when I went to conventions, he was cosplayed a lot, I am very excited that they attempted to bring, a good majority, if not some of the core, voice actors. If they weren't, then they were able to find at least, replacements enough to make it seem like, the core crew was there and give opportunities to new people to voice these characters which is also pretty nice. And the second is just new animation. I think, you know, it's almost like a, um, an homage or a way to appreciate and level up, that you're appreciating the works. Before that they're trying something new. Now we could expected it to go back to the old, animation, but we already have that. So having something new is also pretty nice and I kind of like the approach they're going and just having the ability to see more action in the anime is by far, the best. Now, what worked with the anime? I think. What worked is name recognition, knowing that one, you have an original English voice actor who's already attached to the show, to the anime, who's already voiced that characters. I think what they did there was very good marketing. By introducing, not even having like any steals, but just Johnny Bosch. Just letting everyone know, like very cryptically that he was coming for a new series on an old character that built a hype train. And anything you could do to give Johnny Bosch Young Bosch more work, you know, to reprise old rules would be awesome. He's already doing it with hhi. Go on bleach. VASH Stampede is, uh, another great anime. Maybe even have 'em go for the triple threat and have them, have them redo code gi, you know, the loose. But I think that's one thing I feel like really worked in the anime for, particularly for this anime. It's just that name recognition. 'cause there's not gonna be anyone who doesn't know the voice of Johnny Bosch and the list of characters that he voiced over in the world. He was very popular in the nineties and so I think that helped. And then just trigon, again, this anime, it is, it's very world renowned. Has that name recognition, name recognition, but also it's very nostalgia. So with that, you have a lot of the kids who are now grown up like myself, who watched the anime. During the nine 80 and nineties and who've grown up who are part of the fandom. So it's, you have that and possibly if we have our kids of our own, we're introducing them to these, these anime that we grew up with. So I feel like that in itself is very well that I think that works. And this is not the only anime I feel like it works with when animes or studios who want to read. Resurrect or we imagine a old anime ip. I like the idea that they invest and they know the fandom in the audience. I think that's, something new. I feel like that works in their favor. Nostalgia and Style Not only do they have a new animation, um, a new style, it gives me that I want to say. A little blend of, demons slayer with some solo leveling. I feel like the way the animation, it looks like it's, um, I won't say not even watercolor but it has like, you know, it just looks very smooth and crisp and, maybe. I think what also was pretty nice is that the new design for Vash Stampede I know it's not the original icon leather jacket, a red. Red jacket that he was, that he wears, that we're used to. But I do like that they're taking opportunities to actually grow and branch out. I mean, he is still wearing like some color of red and everything about him still the same, just the aesthetic looks a little bit different and I think that's, you know, also, good. And for me it's more so I think just nostalgia, watching a character that I grew up with and then seeing him reimagined for like a new audience is very entertaining because there are some nods. You know, some throwbacks back to like the original, which I think is very nice. Even though we're, we may be on a new story, a new kind of like. Story arc. I like that. I like, them taking this new direction, which I feel like some animes who want to take on an original IP should probably do it. It is a risk for some, 'cause if you do it wrong, then you just alienated this whole fan base and they're doing something right. Because this is season two of this new Trigon anime. So I'm very excited for, you know, us to come. Hopefully there's like a, we get a season three, season four, like I am on the bandwagon for this anime. 'cause I very much love the characters. I love the voice actors. I love everything about it. What Didnt Work Now, here are some things that didn't work. I feel like because this anime is so, revered based on the character, the voice after, and all the things I mentioned just earlier. I think that that can also be a hindrance because it then lets the audience know that you may have to have some knowledge or watch the original anime. And I feel like a lot of newcomers too who wanna be introduced to, uh. Trigon Stargaze and Trigon, their trigon are going to have, are gonna look at this and be like, oh shit. I'm gonna have to watch the original in order to understand everything that's happening in the new, this new series. And that is not the case, but I can understand how it may look like that because you know, you're gonna feel like you're, missing out. And so I feel like that in itself may also hinder or prevent people from enjoying the anime. It's one of those things that it's like a double-edged sword when you have companies or anime studios who try to resurrect a new, um, an old ip, but give it fresh, new breath. A new breath and a new direction. You sometimes, new people who are interested in the, this new reinvention or reimagining of an anime might be deterred because now they're thinking I gotta put in hours into the original to understand, everything. And that is not the case. But I do understand that, the, um, the mindset. So I feel like that has a lot to work against it. Plus, I think I, we didn't see much marketing again. A lot of companies are doing like this gorilla tactic slash type of marketing. I didn't see anything on YouTube. I think my only form of knowing that there was, type of new tri gun coming out was essentially Johnny Ash, Johnny Young, Bosch, the voice actor, the original English voice actor of VAs Stampede had a cry message and that was it. And then I don't think after that, there was nothing else until like they, the show was like about to premiere. Now I didn't see crunch oil market. It. At all. And I think that also would deter people, is that not having any good marketing for it. Letting people know, Hey, this, it exists. And I feel like that's also one of the big crutches for country roll, is that if the anime itself isn't, as big solo leveling my hero, academia. Or, you know, they're not on that level, then, they don't have to market it very well or they, they'll market it across the board because, they want eyes on that anime. But I feel like something like this was like a re-imagining. You don't see much of marketing. Same with, uh, Veroni. Kenon. I didn't see any marketing, uh, you know, or promoting this anime. So I feel like that in itself also kind of hinders, I feel like, doesn't work because if you want the anime to succeed, you wanna promote it and market it as much as possible. So I felt like that, not seeing, I didn't see any posts about it. Other than the voice actor themselves. And to be honest, at the, um, I think at anime conventions, uh, or comic conventions, I saw no material. So it was almost like a word by mouth, which, back in the day we had to do. But now I wanna see. More of just a post. I wanna see people work it, market it, bring it to the light, because, to get more people involved and more onto, like on the anime who wanna watch it because the one thing that can cause an anime to fail or not get good reviews or just like another season is just not having the discoverability. So I feel like, crunchy roll or, you know, other streaming services like that have a, they do a disservice for an IP when they don't market it and they don't believe in it. So that's my, I feel like that didn't work. I. And the animation's fine, like the story great. You don't really have to know much about, uh, when you watch this new retelling or reimagining, you don't have to know about the original. Like you can jump in just fine and it'll be perfect for you. I just think like what didn't work is just. The approach of how to advertise it because I didn't even know there was a second season. Did not know. I, I, I only found out that there was a second season based on the winter anime lineup for 2026. That's how I found out. And so that was pretty discouraging that I didn't even know. The season was coming out. So I feel like I, that's what I feel like didn't work, was just overall marketing and then name recognition. I feel like because it has a, a name recognition and a cur, uh, a very established fan base, this in itself might deter people from actually watching the anime itself. Episode Score Overall, I think given the show, the Animate, the first episode actually is gonna be like a seven. Actually, correction, I'm looking at my notes here. I gave it a six i six outta 10. It's not perfect. With anime, and the reason why I gave it that score is that, you know, there's a lot of room to improve. It's only the first episode. I feel like we're still, we're, you know, leapfrogging off the prior season. And so I wanna see where the direction of the anime goes. Probably I might end up changing my score after I watched the entire series, but for right now, I think six out 10 is, uh, a perfect, so perfect score for this anime. Just with everything you know, that I mentioned earlier, like my first impressions of what worked and what didn't work and then, there might be others who feel very differently. Community Reactions Now let's see what other anime fans are saying about Trigon. Stargaze. I pulled. Only one review from my anime list. To get a sense from the community how the community is like reacting to this. And to be honest, there wasn't much reviews. There was actually only one. So I don't think everyone has had an opportunity to like review this new season. So I'm kind of, provide that username name and then read what they wrote. So the first and only review from my anime list is gonna be from Stingray Andre. They say Trigon stargaze is good. If the viewer doesn't really care about their original Trigon or Triax characters. Characters, what's whatsoever. And just want more trigon content in general. It's not bad, it's not good. It's just more trigon material to work with. It's what it is to be expected from a new adaptation. Wolf Wood is unfortunately still eye blindingly white and his outfit is still ugly. That being said, the animation is good as it wasn't. Trigon stampede, which is a plus. At least there's not much to say except don't go into it hoping it to be like the manga. They give it a six outta 10, and I have to agree with them. The only review they brought up a lot of good points is that. Don't see it as like expecting it to be like the Mongo or expecting it to be like the original. Expect it to just be like more content that you're getting on this character with a new story. And that's something that we don't. Get a lot of 'cause over the course, like every season we get new anime, you know, there's a chance that one of 'em will make it to get like a, a continuation. But most of 'em, you're going off the impression that they're one shots. So it's nice to get more. Trigon content because there hasn't been anything for quite some time. And my boy, Johnny Young Bosch needs to work. He's putting in work now and I would love to see it. So I kind of do agree, with them on the review is that. Don't put their feet to the fire expecting them, to be exactly like the originals. 'cause there are some individuals who are like that, who will watch this, watch the first season and then go into the second season and just expect it to be kind of the same, like a copy and paste. And I feel like. You don't need that. If you want, you can watch the original and still get that. What I do like is, having this character or any character from an original ip. Go in a new direction, but have it be sensible in a way. Bring it, try something new that they couldn't do in the original, a new story org a new path, introduce new characters that they just couldn't, get to when they were producing their original. This would be the opportunity to like go down those different story paths or different story arcs or paths to meet new characters that. They couldn't do in that in the previous. That's what I wanna see. I wanna see that. So as any, as long as it just gives me more content, that's all I care about. Retelling vs Manga Now, just so we're all clear, this new, stargaze and, Trigon's, uh, stampede is a retelling not of the anime, but of the manga. So their source material that they're following is the manga. So things that they weren't able to do in their original, based on the source material, they're doing it here. So it's, that is what, um, led to believe. Now I did find some reviews from us. From their original show, which I am going to read those maybe one more, which is gonna be from Username Maru Saru Maya. They write Try on Stampede is retelling slash a reboot of their original story slash manga. It has nothing to do with the old anime. It's something completely new, a new beginning. As, there's only three episodes out so far. I don't have much to say about the adaptation yet, but I'm going to enjoy it. I like the first episode. The second could be better. The Battle against Nebraska is much cooler in the a, in the manga and in in the first anime, but the third one was awesome. Knives really needed to be treated as a menace from the beginning and not show up only during the flashbacks of the last episode. When the first trailer was announced, I didn't like v's. Redesign, but then I got used to it and now it's the only thing that still bothers me is the left arm. What the hell is this? Robert De Niro was in. Was also a surprise. He's also a good character, but I don't see him as a replacement for Millie Thompson. For now, Meryl is still can't be treated like a veteran in her profession, so it makes sense for her to start this journey with someone like him. Perhaps they're preparing for something interesting for us as the story unfolds. By the way, many nostalgic people will criticize this new anime for the dumbest possible reasons, and please don't be like that. The old anime is still there. I also don't blame people from prop. For promo for identify the problematic CGI animation like that. But this is already starting to get out of hand since Orange is doing a fantastic job. The animation is gorgeous, smooth, and colorful. The OST is also great. I love the music in the old anime, which suits perfectly with the series, but Caso is doing Tatsuya. Catto or Catya is doing an amazing job here for now. I'll give it a eight out of 10. Love trying on, can't wait for more for the next episodes, and they give it an eight. And I have to agree. Fandom and Review Bombing The reason why I pick this review from the first season is because what I've just stated. Before is a lot of people are going to come at it like who are in the fandom community for Trigon are gonna come and try to hate on this because it's something new and the originals very precious and they're gonna just try to find. Every reason to hate on something. And that's normally what happens with, certain fandoms, especially with Star Wars, like they treat it like a boys club and it's not like a cigarette club that no one else can enter unless you're like an Uber fan. No, I do. And. From this reviewer, what they said I believe is correct and I agree with them. They, you can't get stuck up on the particulars of a new reimagining of an old anime. And for those who are really like diehards and don't want to move on and try this new re-imagining, you still have the old original. There's nothing wrong with that. You can still watch the original anime. I think, uh, it's also on crunchy roll, so like you can watch those and so no, no one's stopping you. It's just you can't put both of 'em in the same category without allowing one to like stand on it on feet. Yeah, there's gonna be lots of nostalgia and that's gonna help but. We seem to be like in this age of just review bombing, things we don't like because the minority seems to have the loudest voice and will get products or shows canceled or determined 'cause they don't like it. And to be honest, that's not the type of like atmosphere that anime should have. Anime should be inviting of. Both opinions good and bad, and she, you should also have a open discussion on that. Have a good round table and discourse. Like I would love to talk with people about, this new series and pick their brain a bit and see what they like and don't like and just have that, kind of recourse in regards to the show. And I'm all for it. So I do like that what this user said hit the nail on the head of what I feel like that, so a. This whole episode review of Trigone Stargaze is gonna be about, and the reason, and it's also the reason why I picked this review 'cause I was looking for something because Stargaze didn't have only had one review. And it's probably because a lot of people want to hate on it and they don't want to give it the recognition it deserves for a, a new. Animation studio, trying their hand and reinventing something and kind of bring it for a new audience. So I feel like everything they said, I totally agree with it. And you know, I would say that their grading of it is perfectly valid. Valid. It deserves an eight, you know, a little bit higher than me because I still haven't seen the entire season yet. But I think migrating, once it the series is done, we'll probably be up there with an eight. I seem like there's not, like a general consensus, I think with, you know, the summary of users. Um, there are gonna be some who dislike it, which I can see very well on, V Stampede that series, um, that first season. There was a lot of discourse of hate for it on my anime list. So I think what it is, is that we're gonna see a mix of both positive and negative reviews over the series. Right now, just for stargazer, there's only one, so I can't really say that there's gonna be a mix review. For it. Um, unfortunately the show is still ongoing. I'm not sure how many episodes there will be, but I think the lack thereof no reviews is because people just hate it. And so, which is unfortunate, but, I would love to, to hear what you think of the anime, and what are some critical parts that you like? Let me know in our, in the comments of our social media Instagram and Twitter. Or X overall. Final Verdict and Recs The first episode of Try on Stargaze again, I'm thinking I'm gonna change it. I'm gonna give it a seven out of 10. And if you're a fan of the Adventure Action Sci-fi series, then you'll probably enjoy this one. You know, it's, it is a. Again, a reimagining, um, a new reimagined storytelling of an old IP taken in a new direction focused on the manga, not the anime. So that's one thing that's going for it. It does have an uphill climb to kind of like navigate in a sea of like a current fandom that, probably, praise the original. So I feel like you should probably give this a shot. Now if you like Stargate Trigon Stargaze, I would love for you to, you know, I would love to recommend you checking out some other animes. So one would be Veroni Kenen. The second would be Hawk Show. The other one would be in Yasha. Then we're looking at ko and I believe of course, bleach. What else? Oh, again, cowboy bebop. Now I'm just throwing out classics of mine, but I feel like these are in the realm that fall in that same category of anime, um, that I feel like you should, uh, also be interested in watching. If you wanna have that similar vibe, maybe scratch the same itch that you're looking for like an action event or sci-fi type enemy. Thank. Wrap Up and Subscribe I wanna thank everyone for tuning into this episode of Second Emulation. If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to subscribe. Leave us a review. It does help the podcast and does help me and, figure out, with marketing views and the algorithm of make sure that people who love, this type of podcast get that, we can navigate that and help, you know, bring our listening reviews. I've been mentioning in the past that we're slowly, reaching the, that 2000 mark of downloads every episode, you know, gets, small numbers, but we're working at working at it. So again, it would really help us a lot if you would share it with your friends, leave us reviews on the podcast on, uh, apple, Spotify, or anywhere. You might listen to the, where you might listen to podcasts. And, you know, you can also find us on our social media apps. The, there's gonna be a website. Our main website that's gonna list our social media. The link will be in the podcast description and let us know what your thoughts are on Trigon. Stargaze. If you have any new anime you wish for us to listen to or not new anime to listen to, but to watch or you know, not just anime, but also movies, TV show. If you have any recommendations please let us know. We'd love to hear your thoughts. All right, and I will catch you in the next one. All right. Bye. 📍 Okay, wow, that was, like, so much fun! A total vibe. If you want to see any of the games we chatted about—like, the full visual experience—you can find all that on our YouTube. But honestly, the easiest way to find, like, everything we do—all of our links, this podcast, and a super simple way to just send us a message—is at our hub: ArcadeVeritas.com It's, like, our little home base for everything. So handy. Do us a favor? Just tap subscribe so you don't miss our next chat. And if you're feeling extra amazing, leaving a little review is, like, the sweetest thing ever. It just makes our whole community better. Thanks for hanging out with us! Remember: just take things one day at a time and find your joy. Okay, bye!