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Pumpkin Scissors
Anime DVD Review
The war is over. And now the real challenge of rebuilding a devastated empire begins. Famine, pestilence, greed, crime and unemployment are rampant. Enter Lieutenant Alice Malvin — a new kind of hero for anime. Charged with the command of the Imperial Army's Intelligence Section 3, code-named "Pumpkin Scissors", Alice is a hot-headed idealist who is totally devoted to her job - exposing the corrupt power-mad nobility who prey on the weak (which manages to put her at odds with her own family).
 But as Alice starts to peel away the layers of a massive government cover-up involving a defunct super-soldier program, she discovers the existence of military technology decades ahead of what the Army has. And, one of these super-soldiers, who can destroy tanks with only a handgun, is a member of her team! (But this is a good thing.)
Although Pumpkin Scissors has a really wonky title, it's actually a very interesting and compelling anime series. Alice is a wonderful lead character, with a penchant for following her heart and doing the morally right thing, even if the course of action puts her in serious jeopardy. She's often ready to jump into a fight and is definitely "Westpoint" material. And for once, it seems, you have a female character in anime who isn't there just to show skin.
 The point of view of the entire series seems to be loosely based on Germany right after World War Two. There you had castles with nobles living the high-life while the working class suffered. Teams of disenfranchised soldiers roamed the countryside as bandits. Furthermore, our team of protagonists appear to be riding around in what is obviously a VW Schwimmwagen, a 4-wheel-drive amphibious "jeep" built by Volkswagen during the war. And while the Germanic accents of the American dub may seem hokey, they are not entirely out of place, given the European look to the scenery.
The costume design and settings also appear to pay homage to Full Metal Alchemist, and this may be intentional, given the success of that series. Gonzo's animation keeps the level of action high and the animation as always is top-notch quality in terms of production value.
Overall, we were impressed and we're eagerly awaiting the next volume. Our only complain is not enough extras on the DVD. Regardless, this is an anime series with much to offer and we're looking at it as "the next big thing".
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, November 2007
Below: Scenes from Pumpkin Sissors.
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