If Cowboy Bebop went back in time and had a baby with Golden Boy, well, first of all, the world would work very differently from how we think it does. But secondly, that baby would be Trigun. Vash the Stampede is a wandering outlaw who embodies the best of Kintaro and the worst of Spike, and he's honestly a delight. The first episode introduces him, a bevy of other outlaws trying to collect the billions on his head, and a couple endearingly inept insurance investigators who are trying to find ways to mitigate the property damage that seems to follow Vash everywhere. Every single moment is played for humor, and it's done well. From the physical comedy to the script, I was entertained throughout.
The production's not going to win any awards, but the show clearly tries its best to animate everything that should be animated—the mirror opposite of Inferno Cop. Couple this with some jamming music and you have a satisfying package. The most impressive thing about the first episode of Trigun, though, more than any one element of its presentation, humor, or content, is that it promises more fun, while at the same time standing alone perfectly—I didn't feel the need to watch more, which is very different from wanting to not watch more. (I did, and did.) First episodes that introduce a world and characters, entertain from start to finish, and wrap up nicely while still leaving the door open to more content? That's special.
Recommend: Yes.