Nicholas D. Wolfwood
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Nicholas D. Wolfwood | |
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Shō Hayami (Trigun Stampede)Yoshimasa Hosoya (Trigun Stampede) English Jeff Nimoy Brad Hawkins (Trigun: Badlands Rumble) David Matranga |
Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Japanese: ニコラス・D・ウルフウッド, Hepburn: Nikorasu Dī Urufūddo), also known as Nicholas the Punisher, is a major character in the Trigun manga series created by Yasuhiro Nightow, as well as its anime adaptation. He is a priest who wields a large cross-shaped gun named the Punisher, which he and his former colleagues use either in saving people or for complete destruction. After showing potential in the orphanage in which he was raised, Chapel trained and modified him, giving him enhanced abilities and the ability to regenerate from heavy injuries using special vials. He was given a special large cross-shaped gun called the Punisher, which contains two machine guns and a rocket launcher. Wolfwood is found nearly dead in the desert by protagonist Vash the Stampede. They become recurring allies despite acting on different morals when fighting.
Wolfwood was created by Nightow using as a major model the singer Tortoise Matsumoto from the band Ulfuls. The character has been voiced by several actors in both Japanese and English.
Wolfwood's characterization was praised for his portrayal that acts as a foil to the protagonist's morals and backstory related with the villains. While being a priest, he was noted to be similar to famous Christians. Nightow himself is a Christian Convert.
Concept and creation
![A black haired Japanese man wearing glasses.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Yasuhiro_Nightow_20110630_Japan_Expo_1.jpg/220px-Yasuhiro_Nightow_20110630_Japan_Expo_1.jpg)
Though Vash the Stampede, the protagonist of Trigun, was Yasuhiro Nightow's original creation, Wolfwood on the other hand came from an outside inspiration. There's a band named "Wolfwood," and he took the lead singer as his image for the priest. He is also modeled on Tortoise Matsumoto from the band Ulfuls. Nightow really liked the shape of his sharp, curved down nose. Nightow jokes that as some of us might have noticed, he spent a lot of time sculpting Wolfwood's nose.[1][2]
Nightow noted that the project he is really proud of is Wolfwood's life and death, and the storyline around it.
Casting
In the first Trigun animated adaptation, Wolfwood was voiced by
Jeff Nimoy voiced Wolfwood in the original Trigun anime though he was first cast for Vash. After failing to dub one of Vash's lines, a Japanese man asked him if he smoked cigarettes but still fit for the Wolfwood as his character smokes. This led to Nimoy being instead cast for Wolfwood. After recording for Digimon, Nimoy met director Joe Romersa for the cast of Trigun. In eleven hours, Nimoy did the recording of all of Wolfwood's lines including his death which left him tired. Nimoy was surprised by how famous he became in the next years as people were shocked to hear his voice in and feel Wolfwood's voice. As time went on, Nimoy took a liking to his work as Wolfwood and befriended Vash's actor.[5]
For the film, Wolfwood was voiced by Brad Hawkins.[6] He was replaced by David Matranga for the Stampede anime.[7]
Appearances
Manga
He is a priest; however, he spent the greater part of his life training to be an
After Wolfwood showed potential in the orphanage in which he was raised, Chapel (also known as Master C) took him into the Eye of Michael, an organization of assassins founded by a plant worshipper, and trained and modified Wolfwood to be a killer. The modifications gave him enhanced abilities and the ability to regenerate from heavy injuries using special vials, but as a result caused his body to age at an accelerated rate, giving him the appearance of being middle-aged though he is a young adult by the start of the series.
His potential was recognized as exceptional, and so he was given the tenth incarnation of the organization's most powerful weapon, a special large cross-shaped gun called the Punisher, which becomes his official title within the Eye of Michael. Wolfwood later betrayed and shot Chapel, impersonating Chapel to gain entry into the Gung-Ho-Guns in an attempt to kill Millions Knives. He failed, and was instead sent by Knives to guide and protect Vash on the latter's travels to Knives's base, thus killing fellow Guns Rai-Dei the Blade and Gray the Ninelives. After Vash is taken prisoner in the Ark, Wolfwood rescues him and later departs to December to protect the orphanage from the retaliation. He battles his childhood friend, Livio the Double Fang, and his crippled master in a confrontation that spans two volumes. He manages to mortally wound Chapel and defeat both Livio and Razlo the Tri-Punisher of Death, Livio's alternate personality, but must take a fatal overdose of his regenerative vials in order to do so. Soon after the battle is over, he dies while having a last drink with Vash.
Anime
In the anime, Wolfwood is raised by an abusive guardian, whom he later shoots and kills at the age of seven. He is taken in by Chapel the Evergreen, who trains him to become his eventual successor in the Gung-Ho Guns. He meets Vash while he is stranded in the
Reception
Anime Source ranked Wolfwood #75th in their Top 100 Anime Characters Survey based on 19 votes. Saying that "Wolfwood is the father of all badass, gun-toting priests. He is completely unorthodox in his methods, but still dedicated to his ministry in his own absurd way. Totally respecting this guy because not everyone can mesh coolness and priesthood with such finesse."[8] Wolfwood ranked number 10 in the 1998 Annual Anime Grand Prix for Male Character.[9]
Mania.com listed him in 9th place in their 10 Biggest Bad Ass Anime Gunslingers, commenting that "Wearing the clothes of a priest and carrying a cross on his back Wolfwood roams the desert planet of Gunsmoke. His cross truly represents death not only in its symbolic meaning but also in the fact that it is one giant arsenal itself. It contains a machine gun function and rocket launcher as well as containing a rack of handguns in the anime. Before Wolfwood met Vash, he was a do whatever it takes individual who had no problem with dispensing lead as for his sacraments and introducing those in his way to God in a very up close manner."
In regards to his role in Stampede, Dual Shockers lamented how the removal of Milly's character negatively affects the characterization of Wolfwood as the two were into a romantic relationship in Madhouse's original series. The fact that Roberto and Meryl instead are quickly introduced as audience surrogates, the handling of both Wolfwood and Vash as active main character is faster executed in Orange's version allowing the duo be faster developed in the process.[17] Anime News Network enjoyed the handling of Wolfwood in Stampede due to how more expanded are his relationships and backstory.[18] Anime Corner acclaimed Wolfwood's backstory episode as one of the best ones in the entire season for the execution and visuals.[19] The sci-fi novel This Is How You Lose the Time went viral as commented by Trigun Stampede Producer Yoshihiro Watanabe with the writers noting its rise of sales following comments by a user that kept parodying Wolfwood. Toussaint Egan from Polygon expressed joy in this acknowledgment as he was both a fan of El-Mohtar and Gladstone's novel and the Trigun.[20]
Analysis
Wolfwood continually insinuates confession is part of his purpose, Wolfwood's primary occupation is being a Christian priest, and his clothes and main weapon is of Christian themes. Nightow is generally known as one of the few successful
These elements of Western Christianity and Catholicism are found throughout the manga and anime. Wolfwood takes his faith greatly in mind, despite being a gunman, but unlike Vash who is much of
References
- ^ a b "Anime Expo 2009". Anime Expo. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ a b c Puff Magazine Interview from Make a little lightbulb in your soul Character Profiles
- ^ "12年ぶりにメンバーが揃い感動!劇場版『TRIGUN -Badlands Rumble-』舞台挨拶". The Animate Times. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "声優・細谷佳正さん、『組長娘と世話係』『TRIGUN STAMPEDE』『僕のヒーローアカデミア』『テニスの王子様』『ちはやふる』など代表作に選ばれたのは? − アニメキャラクター代表作まとめ(2023 年版)". The Animate Times. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "Jeff Nimoy on Wolfwood". TheStoop. 29 July 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Funimation Confirms English Trigun Movie Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "David Matranga Voices Nicholas D. Wolfwood in Trigun Stampede Anime's English Dub". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "Favorite Anime Characters Survey". Anime Source. 2012-03-29. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ "Male category". Anime Grand Prix. 2012-04-12. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ "10 Biggest Bad Ass Anime Gunslingers". Mania.com. 2012-03-29. Archived from the original on 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ "10 Best Supporting Characters In Anime". Mania.com. January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
- Complex. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Trigun DVD - The Complete Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Trigun: The Complete Series Box Set". DVD Talk. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Trigun: Badlands Rumble". DVD Talk. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Either 'Shining White or Blackest Black': Grey Morality of the Colonized Subject in Postwar Japanese Cinema and Contemporary Manga". Bowling Green State University. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ "The Case Of The Missing Milly: Trigun Stampede's Most Glaring Omission". Dual Shockers. January 23, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Trigun Stampede Episode 7". Anime News Network. January 23, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Trigun Stampede Just Delivered the Best Episode of Winter 2023". Anime Corner. 15 February 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "A Trigun fan account just turned a queer 2019 sci-fi novel into an Amazon bestseller". Polygon. 10 May 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "Trigun connection". LizJen.com. 2012-03-29. Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ "Yasuhiro Nightow's religion". Wordpress.com. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-03-29.