Twenty years after a bank heist coordinated by fearsome career criminal Gasback went horribly wrong, wanted outlaw Vash the Stampede (also known as the ‘Humanoid Typhoon’ on account of his propensity for destruction) finds himself in the parched desert metropolis of Mecca City.  Rumour has it that the mountainous Gasback has gotten wind of Vash’s presence, as well as those of the remnant members of his duplicitous gang, and will shortly be paying Mecca City a little visit in search of revenge.  In the meantime the thoroughly misunderstood Vash entertains himself in the only manner he knows how: getting into mischief, inadvertently starting deadly bar brawls and trying (unsuccessfully) to fall in love with surly female bounty hunter Amelia. 

Based on the highly regarded anime series and the Yasuhiro Nightow manga which spawned it, Trigun: Badlands Rumble is a full-length animated film that combines the best of both media into one sprawling, madcap and thoroughly entertaining 90 minute feature.  Animated by Madhouse, the top notch Japanese outfit responsible for the series proper, the resultant film is as accomplished a Space Western as has ever been spewed onto the screen.  Something like Star Wars crossed with the old Frank Teran Punisher comics, Badlands Rumble somehow manages to simultaneously violent and tender-hearted, gritty and visually resplendent, dramatic and funny, creating a world in which gun-toting preachers rub shoulders with ass kickin’ babes, death lurks in every crevice and almost no one can be entirely trusted.  Animated madness at its finest. 

Audio & Video

Trigun’s visuals are simply sublime – truly a study in animated perfection.  In this it recalls the best of previous Madhouse offerings such as Casshern Sins, Shigurui, Ninja Scroll and Chobits, though in its clever melding of media and styles, incredibly detailed rogues gallery of down-and-out characters,  sumptuous backgrounds and impeccable attention to detail Trigun manages to surpass nearly all of its predecessors.  The audio is likewise impressive, with a strong English dub, detailed and immersive TrueHD soundscape (in both Japanese and English) and a rollicking soundtrack courtesy of Tsuneo Imahori, who honed his musical chops on such worthy fare as Cowboy Bebop and Arjuna: In a word (well eighteen actually) Trigun is quite simply one of the best looking and sounding anime releases ever to hit Australian shores. 

Extras

Over two hours of bonus content is on offer including staff and cast interviews, a Japanese Movie Premiere featurette, Special Talk Show, Promotional Videos and more.