Vash the Stampede isn't done yet. The autumn issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. RISE announced Trigun Manuscript, a new novel set in the world of the Trigun Stampede and Trigun Stargaze anime, coming this winter. Creator Yasuhiro Nightow writes it with Takehiko Oxi, who wrote Stampede. With two separate anime continuities, a movie, and now a novel, this is a good time to sort out the watch order.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, there are two Trigun anime continuities. The 1998 Madhouse TV series (26 episodes) and the **2010 film Trigun: Badlands Rumble form the classic one. Studio Orange's CG reboot is the other: *Trigun Stampede* (January 2023) and its final phase *Trigun Stargaze*** (premiered January 10, 2026 on TV Tokyo), which is set 2.5 years after Stampede. All three TV series stream on Crunchyroll, and both Orange seasons have an English dub. SenpaiRanks scores the 1998 series highest at 8.20, ahead of Badlands Rumble (7.77), Stampede (7.43) and Stargaze (6.64). The new Trigun Manuscript novel continues the Stampede/Stargaze world.
The two timelines, in order
Classic continuity (Madhouse):
- Trigun (1998), 26 episodes, adapting Nightow's original manga. Adult Swim aired it in the US in 2003.
- Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010), a standalone film. Watch it after the series; it's a side story, not a finale.
Reboot continuity (Orange):
- Trigun Stampede (2023), a full CG rebuild with a different take on Vash's origins.
- Trigun Stargaze (2026), the conclusion, picking up 2.5 years later.
You don't need the 1998 show to follow Stampede. The reboot tells its own story. The classic, though, is the one SenpaiRanks voters rate highest.
Here's the trailer for Stampede, the reboot's starting point:
Where to watch Trigun
- Trigun (1998): Crunchyroll. Funimation's Blu-ray and DVD release is the physical option.
- Trigun: Badlands Rumble: varies by region. Check digital storefronts.
- Trigun Stampede: Crunchyroll, sub and English dub.
- Trigun Stargaze: Crunchyroll, sub and English dub.
If you'd rather read, the original manga ran in Monthly Shonen Captain from 1995 to 1997 and continued as Trigun Maximum in Young King Ours until 2007. Dark Horse publishes it in English.
What the novel means
Trigun Manuscript hasn't been described in detail yet. What we know is who's writing it and where it's set. With Nightow co-writing alongside the reboot's head writer, it should read as part of the Orange continuity rather than a spin-off. That matters because Stargaze was billed as the final phase of the anime. The novel suggests the franchise plans to keep that world going on the page. Our Stargaze guide covers the reboot's production background.
The ranking read
The 8.20 for the 1998 series against 7.43 for Stampede is the gap fans argue about. A single MAL score hides it. SenpaiRanks shows it, and the 1998 show sits right next to other Madhouse classics in our best Madhouse anime ranking. If you like long-running sci-fi franchises with confusing timelines, the Gundam watch order and the Armored Trooper VOTOMS watch order are next, along with our best sci-fi anime and best 1990s anime films rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the Trigun watch order?
A: There are two continuities. Classic: Trigun (1998), then Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2010). Reboot: Trigun Stampede (2023), then Trigun Stargaze (2026).
Q: Do I need to watch the 1998 Trigun before Trigun Stampede?
A: No. Stampede is a standalone reboot by Studio Orange with its own continuity.
Q: Where can I watch Trigun?
A: Crunchyroll streams the 1998 series, Trigun Stampede and Trigun Stargaze. Both Orange seasons have an English dub.
Q: What is Trigun Manuscript?
A: A new novel by Yasuhiro Nightow and Takehiko Oxi, set in the Stampede/Stargaze world, coming this winter.
Q: Which Trigun anime is the best?
A: On SenpaiRanks the 1998 Madhouse series leads at 8.20, followed by Badlands Rumble (7.77), Stampede (7.43) and Stargaze (6.64).