By Andromeda
War is a terrible thing that ravages lands. Thankfully a ceasefire has ended the long war between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost. Unfortunately, three years later, the Empire is still plagued with starvation, disease, poverty, and soldiers turning into bandits. And the last thing any war ravaged land needs are those who have access to weapons that they use to bully the weak.
There is one ray of sunshine in this bleak world that war has left behind. It is the war relief effort, the Imperial Army State Section III, or better known as the Pumpkin Scissors Unit. This group travels around the land to see what kind of war relief is needed. Unfortunately it isn’t an easy task.
With the help of a soldier, Oland, from a unit that doesn’t exist, the Invisible 9, 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin and the rest of the Pumpkin Scissors Unit help defend a town from rogue soldiers one day then bring hope to a poverty stricken town the next. Most would see this a waste of time, like her noble father, but to Alice, this task, the war relief, is very important.
Oland is a soldier who has seen the harshest the war can throw at someone yet he still has a soft side that attracts people and stray cats. Alice tends to be conflicted between her duty as a military officer and her standing as a noble. She tends to go overboard when it comes to explaining the duty of her status, sometimes a little too much that the slackers of the unit have to hold her back.
Pumpkin Scissors is a story that could be pulled out of any newspaper. It’s about what’s left after a major war, those with money, those without money, and what they think of each other, and the few that try to bridge the gap. Even if the war is over, the battle really isn’t. This is a battle that has been waged for eons and my never be over.
This series tends to be a mix of the seriousness of war and the comedy of life. They’ve infused enough of each into this series to give it a perfect balance. I enjoyed watching the series. It fed both my taste in action and comedy. If you are a hardcore fan of action or comedy, then this mix of the two might not do it for you.
The coloring in this anime series adds to the tone changes of the stories. War is dark so the flashbacks are darkly drawn utilizing shades of grey. During the moments when people are trying to live their lives in hopes of a better future, the colors can become quite vibrant.
The voice acting was another job well done but playing the subtitles along with the English voices, you’ll see quite a difference. I did notice that what they said is more understandable than what was subtitled and found that I enjoyed it better in English.
Like with most new series, the first volume is always the builder of questions, the episodes that lay out the lines for the story to follow. By the fourth episode I found myself hooked and now I can’t wait to get my hands on the second volume.
Licenser: ADV
Studio: Gonzo
Length: 100 mins
Retail: $29.98
Release Date: 10.23.07
