Vash the Stampede (Japanese: ヴァッシュ・ザ・スタンピード, Hepburn: Vasshu za Sutanpīdo) is the protagonist of Trigun, a manga series created by Yasuhiro Nightow in 1995.

Set on the planet No Man's Land, Vash is the most feared outlaw who has earned a bounty of $$60 billion ("double dollar") on his head and the nickname "The Humanoid Typhoon" (人間台風) after accidentally destroying a city with his supernatural powers.

Nightow created Vash as a strong gunner who would stand out because of his pacifist ways, traits that are different from those of the stereotypical protagonist of action films.

The manga was adapted for television as an anime series in which Vash was voiced by Masaya Onosaka as an adult and Kōki Miyata as a child.

Trigun manga author Yasuhiro Nightow has stated that Vash's name was his own creation rather than references to bands he gave to other members from the cast.

[2] To contrast Vash from the typical heroes in action films, Nightow portrayed him as a pacifist since he did not want his lead character to be a murderer.

[6] To create suspense, writer Yōsuke Kuroda suggested that Vash would not shoot a bullet until the fifth episode, which causes Meryl to realize he is the famous gunman.

[7] Vash's characterization in Stampede was created to give him a less experienced portrayal that rejects violence and through his character arc, learns to deal with it.

Despite his efforts in his design, Nightow regrets giving Vash and antagonist Legato Bluesummers detailed eyes because he drew them inconsistently in the manga.

Onosaka said he was unaware when the 2010 film, Trigun: Badlands Rumble, would be made and that most of the cast and crew felt left in the dark for a long time before production began.

New voice actor Maaya Sakamoto said she liked being involved in the film because she interpreted Vash through her character, a bounty hunter named Amelia Ann McFly, who starred in the movie as a lead.

He claims that Vash's charm comes from his straightforward personality and his hidden shades which makes his work challenging as he has to portray both of the protagonist's seriousness and cheerfulness.

[20] The origins of Vash and his twin brother Millions Knives are explored in flashbacks from the Trigun manga when the children live in a spaceship containing the last few surviving humans who have fled Earth due to its lack of resources.

Knives also attempts to activate Vash's dormant supernatural powers, the Angel Arm, but the plan backfires and a blast obliterates the city of July, leaving 200,000 people without food or shelter.

[24] He befriends Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, two agents of the Bernardelli Insurance Society, sent to evaluate claims regarding the dangers he has caused and whether or not his bounty should be canceled.

[27] In the Trigun Maximum manga, which occurs two years after the moon's destruction, Wolfwood discovers Vash relating Knives' exploits in regards to mankind's extinction.

Throughout his past battles that required him to use the Angel's Arm, Vash has transformed into a regular human signified by his blond hair now turned black.

[41] Besides the anime, Vash appears in the 2010 Trigun film, Badlands Rumble, in which he travels to Macca City where he meets a bounty hunter named Amelia Ann McFly.

[46][47] In Trigun Stampede an alternate Vash explains to Meryl and Roberto De Nero that he has been mistakenly accused of stealing plants when it is really Knives who is responsible.

Vash was ranked second in the 1998 Annual Anime Grand Prix in the Male Character Category behind Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop.

[51] In 2009, Vash the Stampede was ranked 17th in IGN's Top Anime Characters of All Time, and Nightow was praised for how well Trigun's lead is designed.

[61] Vash also made a cameo appearance in Boichi's gangster manga Sun-Ken Rock, when the cast goes to watch the Trigun film.

[64] When more of the character's past is revealed because of his conflict with his enemies, Manga Life said Vash's true self makes him more engaging, something which is expanded by the artwork.

Escapist Magazine regarded Vash's characterization as one of the most intriguing aspects of Trigun because while being a pacifist, he fights to protect others and despite his victories, he is never seen as overpowered.

[75] AnimeNation compared Vash with Abel Nightroad from the Trinity Blood anime based on their similar traits, saying they might be interpreted as identical characters.

While finding this portrayal faithful to the original one, ANN said Vash's act as a lazy character takes too much time until his true self is revealed.

[69] Elena M. Aponte from Bowling Green State University said that while Vash is constantly escaping from violence, he is responsible for creating major chaos with his Angel Arm which was compared with the nuclear bomb used to end World War II.

[84] Vash's redesign in Stampede was praised by Polygon for its sex appeal as well as how Orange animates him,[85] with FictionHorizon agreeing and adding that his movements were fluid.

[86] On the other hand, Anime News Network provided different comments in regards to Vash's design as whether or not he is as appealing as the original created by Nightow.

[89] UK Anime Network enjoyed Vash's role in Nightow's first one-shot from Multiple Bullets, but criticized Boichi's portrayal of him as childish and almost like a Mary Sue.