Anime Dark Star :: ...::IMPORTANT::...

Trimis: 29/05/2007 09:25

Poveste:
n Tokyo, the latest trend is to own a “Persocom,” or mobile personal computer. These Persocoms look like humans and serve numerous functions, from providing directions to working as cashiers; they are almost viewed as a necessity. What is Hideki, a country bumpkin, to do when he finds an abandoned Persocom that may be a legendary Chobits model?

“Chobits” begins with 18-year old Hideki Motosuwa having just failed his college entrance exam. Hideki travels to Tokyo to go to cram school. Once he arrives, Hideki notices how many people own Persocoms. Hideki wants one too, but they are out of his price range (he also learns that talking to himself out loud makes people stop and stare). Hideki wishes he had a Persocom so he can have email and browse for porn on the Internet. At his apartment, Hideki quickly becomes friends with Shinbo, a boy in the same cram school as Hideki, and his hyper mobile Persocom Sumomo. Still, Hideki is obsessed with owning his own Persocom. Finally, as he admits defeat, Hideki stumbles upon a Persocom in a pile of trash. At first he mistakes it for a dead person, but is relived when he notices it is not a human after all. Plus, it is a very cute girl Persocom, so Hideki convinces himself that it is all right to take home. When Hideki finally activates the Persocom, all she can say is “Chii,” so that is the name Hideki gives her.

Soon, Shinbo and the apartment landlady learn about Hideki’s new Persocom. Using Sumomo to investigate, Shinbo learns that Chii has no Operating System. He refers Hideki to Minoru, a child who programs Persocoms. Minoru also studies Chii, and concludes that she may in fact come from the legendary Chobits series, a type of Persocom that possesses free will. Despite not having an OS, Chii is able to learn how to speak. Hideki is excited to teach Chii more, but Minoru advises him not to fall in love with her, or he “will end up in tears.” Hideki heeds Minoru’s advice at first. As the story develops, Hideki often reflects on Minoru’s warning, but begins to think of Chii as a human being.

“Chobits” plays heavily on the emotions of Hideki. The story can be silly and lighthearted at times, but also very melancholy. After teaching Chii how to speak, Hideki decides to get a job. Searching fruitlessly, Hideki is splashed by a girl cleaning outside a tavern. While his clothes are washed, Hideki wears the robes of a tavern worker, and is mistaken for the new hire! The tavern owner is the girl’s father, and he offers Hideki a more permanent position. Hideki’s spirits are lifted, and the next episode is a funny adventure where Chii and Sumomo go shopping for panties. Even simple tasks like finding a job or taking a bath can result in disaster with Chii. To make matters worse, there are others who want to take Chii away from Hideki. Is Chii really one of the legendary Chobits?

“Chobits” is a beautifully animated series based on the CLAMP manga. The story is full of subplots, including a ghost story, online video game worlds, and a trip to the beach, but also a few subplots that hardly involve Chii at all. A few episodes have almost no new material, and the pacing of the story might not keep the interest of viewers seeking lots of action. “Chobits” could have actually had fewer episodes while retaining essentially the same story.(sper k intelegetzi)