Vash the Stampede is the lead character of Trigun, the manga series created by Yasuhiro Nightow in 1995 and adapted into a popular anime in 1998. Despite his goofy, peace-loving personality, Vash is revealed to be far more than a normal human gunslinger, a twist that sits at the heart of the story. Clips referencing that reveal circulate among anime fans online, reused in edits and discussions whenever a hidden identity, secret past or unexpected plot twist becomes the focus of a scene or conversation between friends.