Chobits Review: A moving story and charming characters

Chobits - Chobits - Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 2, 2002 - September 25, 2002
TBS April 2, 2002 to September 24, 2002 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 26:20 to 26:50

■Broadcasting station

TBS

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 26

■Original Story

CLAMP

■ Director

Director: Morio Asaka

■ Production

Animation Production: Madhouse Production / Chobits Production Committee, TBS

■Works

©CLAMP, Kodansha/Chobits Production Committee

■ Story

A story about a world a little different from ours, where computers have human shapes.

After failing his university entrance exams, Hideki Motosuwa moves to Tokyo to attend a prep school. On the day he arrives, he picks up a humanoid computer that was abandoned in a garbage dump. The computer was super cute, but it only said "Chii."
Motosuwa named the computer "Chii" and decided to live with it.

Surrounded by the cute but mysterious Chiiya, his neighbor and cram school friend Shinbo, who helps him with everything from computers to studying, and Shinbo's lively homemade mobile plums, Motosuwa's lively life as a ronin begins.

■Explanation

The TV anime "Chobits" is an animated adaptation of the original manga of the same title (created by CLAMP and serialized in Weekly Young Magazine until its end), and was broadcast on the TBS affiliate and BS-i from April to September 2002.
Currently, one DVD and video volume is being released each month until February.
The original comics are scheduled to be released in eight volumes (published by KC Deluxe and Kodansha).

■Cast

・Chii/Rie Tanaka・Hideki Motosuwa/Tomokazu Sugita・Hiroshi Shinbo/Tomokazu Seki・Sumomo/Motoko Kumai・Minoru Kokubunji/Houko Kuwashima・Yuzuki/Fumiko Orikasa・Chitose Hibiya/Kikuko Inoue・Takako Shimizu/Suzuki Ryoko・Hiromi Omura/Megumi Toyoguchi・Hiroyasu Ueda/Yuji Ueda・Yoshiyuki Kojima/Junichi Suwabe・Kotoko/Yukana・Dita/Yuka Tokumitsu・Zima/Kazunori Chiba

■ Main staff

・Original work: CLAMP
・Director: Morio Asaka・Assistant Director: Hiroyuki Tanaka・Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Tsune Abe・Art Director: Chikako Shibata・Color Design: Yuriko Kakumoto・Directors of Photography: Takeshi Katsuyama, Kishi Katsuyoshi・Editor: Satoshi Terauchi・Music: Keitaro Takanami・Sound Director: Masafumi Mima・Producers: Tetsuo Genjo, Yuichi Sekido, Tatsuya Ono・Animation Production: Madhouse・Production Cooperation: Pioneer LDC, Movic・Production: TBS, Chobits Production Committee

■ Main Characters

Chi

A humanoid computer found in a garbage dump. Very cute.
At first, she could only say "chi", so Motosuwa named her "Chii".
A mysterious computer about which much is unknown, such as the OS or model number.

Date of production: Unknown Height: 152cm

・Hideki Motosuwa

A poor prep school student who failed to get into the university he wanted and came to Tokyo from Hokkaido. He spends his days working part-time jobs. His family runs a farm.
He accidentally picks up a humanoid computer named "Chii" at a garbage dump.
The type of person who says what they're thinking out loud.

Birthday: September 3rd Height: 185cm

・Hiroshi Shinbo

He lives next door to Motosuwa and is a friend from prep school who teaches him about computers and other things. Although he is annoyed at how little he knows, he puts up with him no matter what.
Owner of the mobile app "Sumomo."

Birthday: December 22nd Height: 180cm

・Plum

Shinbo's homemade mobile. Small but powerful.
She dances, jumps around on Shinbo's shoulders, and shows off all sorts of cute movements and talks.

Date of production: January 1st Height: 16cm

・Minoru Kokubunji

A first year junior high school student with a wealth of knowledge about computers. He teaches Motosuwa about computers. He seems to be a celebrity on the internet.
He lives in a mansion and owns several self-built computers, including Yuzuki's.

Birthday: January 25th Height: 145cm

・Yuzuhime

Minoru's home-built computer. Of all the computers Minoru has made, this one has particularly high specs and contains a variety of data.
His appearance and behavior patterns are modeled after Minoru's older sister.

Production date: December 25th Height: 160cm

・Hibiya Chitose

The manager of Gabu Jogasaki, the apartment building where Motosuwa lives.
He shares his dinner with her and gives Chii his old clothes.

Birthday: September 24th Height: 165cm

・Takako Shimizu

A beautiful teacher at the prep school that Motosuwa and Shinbo attend.
Motosuwa is often late to class or daydreams during class, so she often scolds him.

Birthday: July 28th Height: 167cm

・ Hiromi Omura

She is the daughter of the owner of the izakaya "Yorokonde" where Motosuwa works part-time, and is a high school freshman who also helps out at the izakaya. She is said to have an E cup.
It seems that he calls Motosuwa "senpai" (senior).

Birthday: May 20th Height: 150cm

・Hiroyasu Ueda

The manager of Tyrol, the sweet shop where Chii works part-time.
A kind person who always smiles.

Birthday: July 20th Height: 190cm

・Yoshiyuki Kojima

A fourth-year university student who is famous on the Internet as a creator of home-built computers. He is interested in the legendary computer "Chobits."

Birthday: June 18th Height: 180cm

・Kotoko

Kojima's homemade mobile. A high-performance computer with specs on par with a humanoid computer.

Date of production: March 3 Height: 16cm

Dita

One of the two people who are chasing Chii for some reason.

Height: 150cm

・Zima

One of the two people who are chasing Chii for some reason.

Height: 190cm

・???

A mysterious computer that frequently calls out to Chii. It looks just like Chii, but...

■Subtitle

・#1/Chii Awakens (2002/04/02)
・#2／Chii goes out (2002/04/09)
・#3／Chii Remember(2002/04/16)
・#4／Chii's Errand (2002/04/23)
・#5／Chii Found (2002/04/30)
・#6／Chii Weakened(2002/05/07)
・#7／Chii Working (2002/05/14)
・#8／Chii and Confusion(2002/05/21)
・#9／Shinbo and Sumomo talk (2002/05/28)
・#10/Chii Buy (2002/06/04)
・#11／Chii Encounter (2002/06/11)
・#12／Chii Check (2002/06/18)
・#13／Chii Playing(2002/06/25)
・#14／Chii goes to the sea(2002/07/02)
・#15／Chii Entertaining(2002/07/09)
・#16/Chii Do nothing (2002/07/16)
・#17／Chii Makanau(2002/07/23)
・#18／Minoru and Yuzuki talk (2002/07/30)
・#19／Chii Helping (2002/08/06)
・#20／Chii disappears(2002/08/13)
・#21／Chii Waiting (2002/08/20)
・#22／Chii Request(2002/08/27)
・#23／Chii Answers(2002/09/03)
・#24／Chii Clothes and towels(2002/09/10)
・#25／Chii Decides (2002/09/17)
・#26／Chii only person(2002/09/24)

■ Related works

・OVA Chibi

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Let Me Be With You
Lyrics: Kitagawa Shori Composition: Kitagawa Shori Arrangement: ROUND TABLE
・Song: ROUND TABLE featuring Nino

・ED1
・Raison d'être
Lyrics: ACKO
・Composition: Rui Nagai ・Arrangement: Rui Nagai ・Singer: Rie Tanaka

・ED2
・Ningyohime・Lyrics by Nanase Okawa・Music by Akino Arai・Arrangement by Zentaro Watanabe・Singer by Rie Tanaka

・ED3
・Katato no Koi ・Lyrics by Keitaro Takanami ・Composition by Keitaro Takanami ・Arrangement by Keitaro Takanami ・Singer by Tomokazu Sugita & Rie Tanaka

review

Chobits is an anime based on the original work by CLAMP, which was broadcast in 2002. The story is set in a world where humanoid computers exist, and follows the story of Hideki Motosuwa, who failed his university entrance exams, and grows through his life with a mysterious humanoid computer named "Chii" that he finds in a garbage dump. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work.

Story and Themes

The story of Chobits begins when Hideki finds Chii, a mysterious computer that can only speak to "Chi." The story revolves around the gradual unfolding of her true identity and abilities. As Hideki lives with Chii, her existence forces him to think deeply about his own life and relationships. The work depicts themes such as the relationship between humans and AI, love, loneliness, and self-exploration, deeply moving viewers.

character

Each character in this series is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The main character, Hideki, has a pure and kind personality, but also has a humorous side, sometimes saying what he thinks. Chii is a character who combines cuteness with an air of mystery, and her growth and changes enrich the story. Additionally, the characters surrounding Hideki, such as Shinbo Yasumomo, Kokubunji Minoru, and Yuzuhime, are also charming, and their presence supports Hideki's growth.

Visuals and Music

CLAMP's unique character designs are faithfully reproduced in the anime, creating a visually stunning piece. Chii's design in particular captures the hearts of viewers by expressing both cuteness and a mysterious aura. Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme, "Let Me Be With You," by ROUND TABLE featuring Nino, is a soothing melody that draws viewers in. The ending themes also each have a different atmosphere, stirring emotions as the story unfolds.

Production and staff

Chobits is characterised by high-quality animation produced by Madhouse. Director Morio Asaka paid close attention to detail in order to express CLAMP's worldview in animation, achieving both visual beauty and narrative depth. Additionally, the work of character designer and chief animation director Tsune Abe has been praised for faithfully recreating CLAMP's original work while bringing out the anime's unique charm. Takanami Keitaro, who was in charge of the music, also provided beautiful music that matched the atmosphere of the work, evoking the emotions of the viewer.

Viewer reactions and ratings

Chobits has been loved by many viewers since it first aired, and is still highly regarded today. In particular, the cuteness of Chii and the moving storyline have attracted many fans. The theme of the relationship between humans and AI has also been highly praised, deeply moving viewers. The DVD and video releases have also been well-received, proving the strong support from fans.

Recommendation

Chobits is a moving work that explores themes such as the relationship between humans and AI, love, and self-exploration. I highly recommend it to viewers who are especially drawn to Chii's cuteness and the story's development. It is also recommended for fans of CLAMP and viewers who are particular about visuals. Furthermore, it is a work that will satisfy viewers who enjoy the beauty of the music and the high quality of the production. Please give it a watch.