Pumpkin Scissors is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryotaro Iwanaga. Originally serialized in Magazine GREAT in 2002 it was later moved to Monthly Shonen Magazine in October 2006. The manga has been licensed by Del Rey. An anime adaptation of Pumpkin Scissors has been released, produced by Gonzo and AIC, which began airing on October 2, 2006 across several Japanese television stations and ended with the 24th episode on March 19, 2007. The series was originally licensed to the North American market by ADV Films for $780,000. In 2008 it became one of over thirty titles transferred from ADV Films to FUNimation.
Plot
Set in a region strongly resembling Western Europe, where technology is at best mid 1930s in which a catastrophic war has just ended similar to that of the Great War that occurred in the early parts of the 20th century, the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost have declared a ceasefire to end the war indefinitely. The Empire is plagued by starvation, and pestilence, with former soldiers turning to thievery, banditry and other forms of crime, forming into gangs to survive the post-war period. Three years later, to aid the people of the Empire in the war relief effort, the Imperial Army State Section III, also known as the Pumpkin Scissors unit, is established. The name for the group was an idea from one of its officers, the 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin. According to her, in their war relief effort, they must "face the threat of corrupt people who protect themselves behind lies, power, and money like the rind of a pumpkin", and Section III must act like a pair of scissors cutting through those layers and delivering justice for the people. This is a constant message which ripples throughout the series. The unit is, however, berated constantly, considered a propaganda tool used by the government, and is seen as an insult to the war relief effort by many within the army, as well as the Empire's citizens. Randel Oland, a veteran soldier with a mysterious past, joins their ranks and steadily the Pumpkin Scissors unit begins to be taken more seriously as the plot begins to unravel.
Characters
; 2nd Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin ; Corporal Randel Oland ; Captain Hunks ; Warrant Officer Martis ; Warrant Officer Oreldo ; Sergeant Major Lili Stecchin ; Mercury ; First Lieutenant Webner ; Lionel Taylor ; Major Connery ; Wolmarf ; Hans
Media
Manga
Pumpkin Scissors was originally serialized in Magazine GREAT in 2002, but later moved to Monthly Shōnen Magazine in October 2006 where it is still serialized as of 2018. The manga was licensed by Del Rey as announced at the New York Comic Convention 2007. Del Rey published the first 5 volumes before it closed down. It is currently being published in English by Kodansha USA, a subsidiary of the Japanese publisher Kodansha. The most recent Japanese release, Volume 22, became available on September 14, 2018.
Anime
The 24-episode anime adaptation was animated by Gonzo and AIC and produced by Geneon. It aired on Tokyo MX between October 2, 2006 and March 17, 2007. It was licensed by ADV Films and dubbed by its in-house studio then re-licensed by Funimation following ADV's closing in 2009. The show also aired in English on Animax Asia from May 21, 2010 to June 23, 2010 with a locally produced dub.
Reception
The English edition of the first volume of Pumpkin Scissors was named by the Young Adult Library Services Association as among the best graphic novels for teens for 2007. The anime adaptation has received a mixed response from Anime News Network and The Escapist. Most of the criticism is directed at the lack of focus the series has for its story arcs and an ending that leaves the series incomplete. Theron Martin from Anime News Network did give some praise when going over the remaining four episodes of the anime, pointing out individual character moments, particularly Alice's duel, but criticized the series overall for dragging out the plot. The Escapist concluded their review by stating that "Had Pumpkin Scissors focused on fully developing at least one aspect of the story, it might have been a good series. As it stands, it feels unfinished with only a few interesting bits to spare from being totally forgettable."
