Trigun has stood as one of manga and anime’s most enduring franchises for over two decades, balancing gun-slinging action with deep questions about morality, identity, and compassion. With TRIGUN STARGAZE, the legacy of this iconic universe takes on a bold new dimension. Building on the enduring spirit of Trigun, this latest project reimagines classic themes of redemption, humanity, and survival through a fresh creative lens.
The Beat sat down with the TRIGUN STARGAZE creative team, including Yasuhiro Nightow (original author), Masako Sato (anime director), and Yota Shirasu (producer, Studio Orange), to discuss their vision, the creative process, and what fans should look forward to with Vash the Stampede’s ever-expanding world.
OLLIE KAPLAN: Masako Sato, can you describe your directorial style and your approach to STARGAZE?
MASAKO SATO: It is a bit difficult to say because I haven’t analyzed my style yet. What I value most in my work is maintaining the balance between action and emotional expression in STARGAZE. In maintaining the balance, I enjoy letting and encouraging our 3D animators to work expressively on the action scenes.
When it comes to emotional scenes, it is important to not rely solely on the character’s facial expressions. When it comes to showcasing expressions, our animation team dedicated to working on facial expressions placed a lot of effort into this process ensuring expressions are conveyed and felt through the screen.
What I learned from legendary animator Mr. Isao Takahata is that even if the camera doesn’t zoom in on a specific character, as long as the situation is clearly conveyed, the audience can still empathize with them.
KAPLAN: Sato-san, what was the most difficult or rewarding directorial decision you had to make for STARGAZE—and why?
SATO: One of the challenges I’m learning to work through is working with my team and delegating tasks. As a director, there’s only so much one person can do, so it’s important to recognize that. Since the project is still in production the battle still continues.
KAPLAN: Yota Shirasu, what do you hope fans—old and new—take away from STARGAZE that maybe they didn’t from previous versions?
YOTA SHIRASU: I hope it becomes an anime that feels like it has a scent to it – something that you can almost smell through the screen. I hope the charm of Trigun comes through those sensory details – for example, the smell of food and lively atmosphere when everyone is enjoying a fun meal together, or even a metallic, bloody scent during brutal scenes where lives are lost. Through these kinds of sensations, I want everyone to feel drawn to the story and its world and be inspired to explore the entire franchise of Trigun, including the original manga and anime series.
KAPLAN: Yasuhiro Nightow, do you think audiences today interpret Trigun‘s core messages differently than when the manga first came out?
YASUHIRO NIGHTOW: As for myself, how the audience interpreted is not really my place to say. I can only assume how people felt, but it’s their experience. I feel that manga experience is something that is created collectively, and how people perceive it is part of the experience. In that sense, how people felt is not part of my realm, so all I can do is imagine how people felt.
KAPLAN: Nightow-san, what is your involvement with STARGAZE—and how has your involvement with Trigun anime adaptations evolved over the years?
NIGHTOW: My involvement hasn’t really changed from STAMPEDE to STARGAZE; however, there was more of a situational adjustment. People who have initially launched this project, like the producers, have leveled up or have been promoted. They are not as intensely involved with the daily production. So when I first realized that, I had thought that I’d become more involved to pass on the original vision to the new team, but I felt that the new production team successfully inherited the original vision, so I feel at peace. Of course, if they need my help, I will come to the rescue, but it feels like it’s running smoothly.
My job now is to approve the designs that studios submit and send care packages to the hardworking creative staff.
KAPLAN: Why do you think gunslinger stories have universal appeal?
SHIRASU: How cruel it is (laughs). I think the universal appeal lies in coolness. In Japan, for example, samurai are very popular. So, the combination of kimono and sword and Western-style guns is universally attractive nowadays.
SATO: In general, I think it’s the exchange of life and death that makes something really cool.
KAPLAN: Sato-san, without spoiling anything, is there any scene or moment in STARGAZE that you’re particularly excited to see how fans react to it?
SATO: The first appearance of Nicholas. Please look forward to it.
Watch the official trailer below:
TRIGUN STARGAZE will premiere on Crunchyroll in January 2026.
Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from NYCC ’25.
