Trigun Stargaze Anime Premieres January 2026 Worldwide
(Image credit: ©Studio Orange | Crunchyroll)
The long-awaited return of Trigun is finally here - and it's arriving in full force. Trigun Stargaze (Toraigan Sutāgeizu in Japanese) is locked in for a January 2026 premiere, and fans got a taste of what’s to come during a huge reveal at New York Comic Con 2025. With a new trailer, striking visuals, and big character surprises, the countdown to this climactic finale has officially begun.
Big Reveals at New York Comic Con 2025
If there was one panel that stole the spotlight at NYCC 2025, it was Trigun Stargaze. The team at Studio Orange didn’t just come to talk - they came to deliver. The crowd was treated to a brand-new trailer featuring intense battles, quiet character moments, and one reveal that had longtime fans cheering: the return of Milly Thompson.
You can check out the official trailer of Trigun Stargaze below:
She wasn’t in Trigun Stampede, and her absence was felt by those who loved the original anime’s dynamic duo of Meryl and Milly. Now, she’s back - voiced by Chika Ayamori - and paired once again with Meryl Stryfe, who’s evolved into a senior journalist since we last saw her. Their chemistry is expected to be a key emotional thread, grounding the high-stakes narrative.
The panel also unveiled stunning new character art for Vash, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, Meryl, and Milly. Their updated looks keep the soul of the original designs but with modern detail and sharper styling. Fans at the event even got to preview the first two episodes - and reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
Behind the Scenes with a Stellar Team
The creative talent behind Trigun Stargaze makes it clear the anime is in good hands. Masako Sato, known for her work on Haikyu!! To The Top, is directing, bringing strong emotional depth and kinetic storytelling. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu - who worked on That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime - returns for series composition and scriptwriting.
Kouji Tajima, the artist behind the visual concepts and character designs in Stampede, is back for Stargaze, joined by Kiyotaka Oshiyama (of Look Back fame) who’s handling the animation character design. Studio Orange, known for pushing the limits of 3D animation in anime, continues to lead production, and their signature style is looking better than ever.
The series will air on TV Tokyo and stream on Crunchyroll, where all 12 episodes of Trigun Stampede are already available to watch.
The Plot: A Planet in Crisis and a Hero in Hiding
Set two and a half years after the devastating Lost JuLai incident, Trigun Stargaze picks up with a world in chaos. Cities are in ruins, tension is rising, and familiar faces are trying to hold things together.
Meryl Stryfe, now a more seasoned and confident journalist, is tracking down Vash the Stampede, who’s vanished from the spotlight. Her new assistant? None other than Milly Thompson, back in action and ready to make a difference.
Meanwhile, Vash has taken on a new identity - Eriks - and is living in a small backwater town, keeping a low profile. But when a mysterious girl named Jessica shows up with an SOS from their old ship, Vash is forced to confront his past and return to the fight.
Just as the characters begin to reconnect, a startling broadcast hits the planet: a colony fleet from Earth is arriving, offering a chance to leave the broken world behind. But the celebration doesn’t last. A dark force resurfaces - one that fans of the franchise will recognize immediately - and it threatens to drag the entire planet into ruin once again.
What the Anime Will Cover from the Manga
While Stargaze is not a page-for-page adaptation of the manga, it draws heavily from the Trigun Maximum storyline, continuing Stampede’s reinterpretation. Here's what viewers can expect:
- Storylines inspired by the later chapters of Trigun Maximum
- The return of key characters like Legato Bluesummers, Elendira, and Millions Knives
- An emotional resolution to Vash’s inner conflict and rivalry with Knives
- Plant-related mysteries and deeper lore about humanity’s survival
- The Earth fleet storyline reworked with new twists
- Tighter focus on Meryl and Milly’s evolving roles
- Big character moments for Wolfwood and Vash’s personal growth
Updated Cast and New Voice Talent
The voice cast for Trigun Stargaze brings back fan-favorites while introducing new names to the lineup:
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka returns as Vash
- Sakura Andō voices Meryl
- Yoshimasa Hosoya as Wolfwood
- Kōki Uchiyama as Legato
- Ayumu Murase as Elendira
- Ryūsei Nakao as William Conrad
- TARAKO as Zazie
- Chika Ayamori as Milly Thompson
- Ryūji Satō takes over as Millions Knives, replacing Junya Ikeda
One of the most talked-about changes has been the new voice for Knives, with early impressions saying Satō brings a colder, more unnerving tone to the villain. It’s a change that fits well with the darker mood of this final arc.
The Internet’s buzzing for a Reason
Reactions to the trailer have been glowing. Fans praised the lighting and cinematography, saying it looks like “anime movie quality” instead of a TV series. Others appreciated the emotional weight hinted in the preview, noting that the tone feels more mature and reflective - a fitting shift for a story heading toward its conclusion. As Trigun’s Vash once said,
“The longer one holds on to a memory, the longer one lives in the past” - Vash
Milly’s return was another major highlight. Many felt her presence was the missing heart of Stampede, and her reappearance restores that emotional balance. Some viewers even compared Stargaze to the “Brotherhood” moment of Trigun, hinting that this could be the definitive version fans have been waiting for.
A Stacked Season Ahead
Trigun Stargaze is launching in a busy anime season, sharing the spotlight with other heavy-hitters like Dark Moon The Blood Altar and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, also scheduled for a January 2026 premiere. But Stargaze has something those newer shows don’t - decades of history, beloved characters, and a world fans already care deeply about. As Wolfwood once reflected,
“No matter how heavy a cross you carry, you still deserve to eat, you still deserve to laugh” - Nicholas D. Wolfwood
For newcomers, now’s a great time to stream Trigun Stampede on Crunchyroll and catch up before Stargaze drops. And for longtime fans? It’s almost time to load up that six-shooter and ride off into the final sunset with Vash the Stampede.
The end is near - and it’s looking absolutely epic.
