Gunslinger Girl OVA "Il Teatrino" DVD Review

Gunslinger Girl can be best defined as an action drama anime covering politics, power and petite professionals; mechanical assassins that belong to the Social Welfare Agency with young male handlers that they develop complex relationships with.

The OVA has finally been released on DVD, and for fans it is a nice enough farewell to all of the protagonists as they are left in relative peace, but for everyone else it may come off as confusing and creepily moe (young cuteness) and bish (pretty boy).

Unfortunately this was designed for the former audience base; the OVA is covered over two short episodes and there is no recap for the past seasons, as such it feels disjointed, jumping from one character and sharply colourful scenario to the next. Every aspect of Europe is overdone with bright striking colours that are more akin to a fun fair, as opposed to the grittier more earthly anime series Noir which feels like a more grownup version of this.

The Funimation dubbing can be quite grating, the score is unengaging and the action rambling as it phases from melancholy and gentle to upbeat and violent. Essentially there is only one action scene, the first part covers the characters tying off a loose end, but ultimately the OVA is about them coping after an aftermath, as in the series they suffered various tragedies.

Little girls with guns and glasses come off as a little creepy, especially considering the age of their handlers and this OVA contains many scenes of underage frolicking, perhaps to demonstrate the point of their supposed innocence.

Even for fans of the show, this is not really essential viewing, it has some closure but in terms of engaging the series as a whole, it is not required viewing.

The DVD itself has some extras; an interview with the Japanese cast and clean opening and closing songs, but at 50 minutes running time for the OVA it is quite light on content.