Typically, successful Anime focused on War-stricken countries or postwar civilizations are filled with Mech or Fantasy elements. Class disparity tends to revolve around people with Mech technology or some form of fantastical power that allows the ruling class to keep the poorer social classes at bay. Pumpkin Scissors, however, is a postwar story that feels harshly real while delivering a polarizing tale that could just as well have been a Depression Era or Cold War drama.
The story of Pumpkin Scissors, created by Ryoutarou Iwanaga, begins right after a ceasefire is called between the warring factions of the Royal Empire and the Republic of the Frost. The aftermath of this war is a heavily stratified social class reminiscent of the post-Cold-War USSR. Those at the top of the pecking order are the morally corrupt nobles. Outside of the wealthy classes, food has become a commodity reserved strictly for the military. This reality is further emphasized in Episode 6, “A Fruitful Time,” when a baby is given to the military since the child’s mother is not able to afford food.
Pumpkin Scissors is a military group, under the command of Captain Hunks, taxed with aiding in the postwar relief effort. The group’s 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin gave the group its name. Their job is to act as a pair of “scissors” cutting through the pumpkin rind of corruption in society. Lt. Malvin is the lead character in the story. Although she’s in the military, Alice is really a noble in disguise and stands at odds with her family. Her Pumpkin Scissors group changes when they are introduced to Randel Oland, a mysterious soldier from the 901 anti-tank-trooper unit. Oland wants to be a peaceful person, but his secret training in single-handedly taking down armored tanks constantly puts him in the line of fire.
The 24-episode series unfolds in two directions: the first follows Alice’s leadership of Pumpkin Scissors and her secondary life as a noble, while the second arc delves into the sealed past of the 901 anti-tank-trooper unit. Lt. Malvin’s double life comes to a head in the final six episodes of the series. Alice attends a ball with her sisters at a nearby mansion. When the party is broken up by an invading mob, the ensuing fight puts her directly between the nobles and the peasant class. Alice is forced to choose between the class she was born into and the class she has sworn to protect. As for Oland, we never really see the full scope of his mysterious past during the Anime series. However, it is hinted at that Alice and Randel may have grown feelings towards one another.
The series is filled with subtle humor throughout, including a few more raunchy over-the-top jokes. In one episode, Randel ends up in the hospital and his nurse asks him to give a urine sample into a glass jar. Even with the nurse’s help and several different sized jars, the glass constantly breaks due to Randel’s size.
Pumpkin Scissors is war Anime at it’s best, filled with strong characters, well-written humor and an ongoing story arc that is overwhelmingly compelling and real.
Release Date: Aug 25, 2009
Rating: 8 / 10
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