Trigun (1998) is a genre-blending anime classic known for its unique mix of spaghetti western aesthetics, pacifist philosophy, and chaotic energy. Following Vash the Stampede—a notorious outlaw with a heart of gold—Trigun weaves together humor, action, and emotional storytelling with a heavy dose of existentialism and redemption.
At its core, Trigun excels in underdog character arcs, unconventional power dynamics, and storytelling that constantly subverts viewer expectations. If you’re craving more anime that echo these themes with similar narrative complexity and visual style, here are 15 underrated gems you need to watch.
1. Gungrave (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.88
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Yasuhiro Nightow (original creator of Trigun)
- Awards: None officially, but cult acclaim
Plot: A story of two friends turned enemies in a futuristic mafia world, Gungrave is a grim tale of betrayal, loyalty, and resurrection.
Why It’s Similar: Created by Trigun’s original manga artist, this series carries over the same tonal shifts between quiet character moments and explosive action. Like Vash, protagonist Brandon Heat grapples with violence and morality in a corrupt world.
2. Desert Punk (2004)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.26
- Studio: Gonzo
- Notable Staff: Takayuki Inagaki (Director)
- Awards: None
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic desert, a greedy mercenary known as Desert Punk navigates chaos while building a name as the most feared bounty hunter.
Why It’s Similar: Set in a wasteland reminiscent of Trigun’s world, it shares a similar tone—a mix of slapstick and dark undercurrents—with a morally gray lead who often subverts heroic expectations.
3. Casshern Sins (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Tubi
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.52
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Shigeyasu Yamauchi (Director – Saint Seiya, Digimon)
Plot: In a world devastated by decay, a mysterious man named Casshern seeks redemption after causing humanity’s downfall.
Why It’s Similar: A meditative, post-apocalyptic journey focused on guilt and redemption. Like Trigun, it balances philosophical themes with stylized action and episodic storytelling.
4. Now and Then, Here and There (1999)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.67
- Studio: AIC
- Notable Staff: Akitaro Daichi (Director – Fruits Basket)
- Awards: Jury Award at Japan Media Arts Festival (2000)
Plot: A boy is transported to a bleak, war-torn future where water is scarce and power corrupts absolutely.
Why It’s Similar: Both shows explore themes of hope amid despair. The protagonist’s pacifist ideals mirror Vash’s internal struggle with nonviolence in a brutal world.
5. Ergo Proxy (2006)
- Streaming: Hulu, Funimation
- Episodes: 23
- MAL Rating: 7.88
- Studio: Manglobe
- Notable Staff: Shukou Murase (Director – Witch Hunter Robin)
- Awards: None
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic dome city, an inspector uncovers dark truths about sentient androids and her own identity.
Why It’s Similar: A genre-blending sci-fi noir with existential themes. Its episodic format and philosophical tone resonate with Trigun’s mid-to-late arcs.
6. Texhnolyze (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.75
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Yasuyuki Ueda (Producer – Serial Experiments Lain)
Plot: In a decaying underground city, a prizefighter is given cybernetic limbs and pulled into a war he never wanted.
Why It’s Similar: Both series explore personal identity, the cost of violence, and feature protagonists trying to escape their destructive pasts.
7. No Guns Life (2019)
- Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.17
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Naoyuki Itou (Overlord)
Plot: A man with a literal gun for a head becomes a problem-solver in a cyberpunk dystopia.
Why It’s Similar: Stylized gunplay, a jaded hero with a heart, and themes of technological abuse echo Trigun’s aesthetics and storytelling.
8. Gun x Sword (2005)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.23
- Studio: AIC A.S.T.A
- Notable Staff: Goro Taniguchi (Code Geass)
Plot: A man in a black coat travels across a desert planet, seeking revenge with a transforming mecha sword.
Why It’s Similar: A wandering antihero in a western/sci-fi world, emotionally distant but secretly moral—very much in the vein of Vash.
9. Kino’s Journey (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.17
- Studio: A.C.G.T
- Notable Staff: Ryutaro Nakamura (Serial Experiments Lain)
Plot: A traveler named Kino journeys through philosophical and morally complex lands, spending only three days in each place.
Why It’s Similar: Episodic format, philosophical undertones, and a detached yet reflective protagonist offer a tone and pacing akin to early Trigun.
10. Wolf’s Rain (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation, Hulu
- Episodes: 26 + 4 OVAs
- MAL Rating: 7.99
- Studio: Bones
- Notable Staff: Tensai Okamura (Darker than Black), Yoko Kanno (Composer)
- Awards: Tokyo Anime Award (2004)
Plot: In a dying world, wolves disguised as humans search for Paradise.
Why It’s Similar: Poetic, melancholic tone mixed with high-stakes existentialism. Thematically mirrors Trigun‘s quiet sorrow and spiritual resilience.
11. Planetarian (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 5
- MAL Rating: 7.59
- Studio: David Production
- Notable Staff: Based on a Key visual novel
Plot: A scavenger meets a robotic girl in a ruined city, where they bond over lost dreams.
Why It’s Similar: A short but emotionally potent story that mirrors Vash’s compassion and loneliness amid destruction.
12. Scrapped Princess (2003)
- Streaming: Funimation
–Episodes: 24 - MAL Rating: 7.39
- Studio: Bones
- Notable Staff: Soichi Masui (Rascal Does Not Dream)
Plot: A girl prophesied to destroy the world is hunted by church and state, but her siblings protect her on the run.
Why It’s Similar: Underdog narrative with sci-fi reveals masked in fantasy garb, paralleling Trigun‘s twists and themes of chosen fate.
13. Michiko & Hatchin (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Episodes: 22
- MAL Rating: 7.84
- Studio: Manglobe
- Notable Staff: Sayo Yamamoto (Yuri on Ice)
Plot: A wanted criminal and a runaway girl embark on a wild journey through a Latin-American-inspired world.
Why It’s Similar: Gritty environments, stylish animation, and themes of chosen family and survival echo Trigun’s human core.
14. Jormungand (2012)
- Streaming: HiDive, Hulu
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.81
- Studio: White Fox
- Notable Staff: Keitaro Motonaga (Date A Live)
Plot: A child soldier is recruited by a quirky arms dealer to travel the world amidst global conflict.
Why It’s Similar: High-octane action with ethical commentary on war and peace, paired with eccentric leads who operate in gray morality zones.
15. Blassreiter (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 6.92
- Studio: Gonzo
- Notable Staff: Ichiro Itano (famed for “Itano Circus”)
Plot: In a future Germany, humans infected with a virus turn into biomechanical beings—some becoming heroes, others monsters.
Why It’s Similar: Tackles transformation, loss of humanity, and reluctant heroes in a bleak yet thrilling world—akin to Vash’s internal and external conflicts.
Why These Anime Work for Trigun Fans
These 15 titles, while often overlooked, each capture a core essence of Trigun: morally conflicted protagonists, post-apocalyptic backdrops, episodic yet meaningful storytelling, and philosophical inquiries about violence, identity, and redemption. Whether you’re drawn to stylized gunfights, dry humor, or soul-searching journeys, these underrated anime deserve a spot on your watchlist.
