I hope you like it!

Name: Chobits
Genre:: Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction
Tankoubon: 8
Serialized In: Young Magazine
Released: 2001 – 2002
Story & Art: CLAMP
Published By (Japan): Kodansha
Published By (US): TokyoPop

Scores

Story: 9/10 (x 3 = 27 pts)
Art: 10/10 (x 3 = 30 pts)
Gut Score: 10/10 (x 4 = 40 pts)

Total: 97/100 (97%)

Review

Chobits was one of the first manga series that I completed, and I have to say that even to this day it is the best one I have completed. As with most of the manga series I have read, I watched the anime version first and loved it. However, however much I loved the anime, I like the manga even better.

Hideki Motosuwa is a student in a cram school who is living in an apartment in Tokyo after his parents booted him out of his house upon graduating high school. Hideki is trying to get into a college in Tokyo, but was rejected in his first attempt. He amazes over the human-looking computers called Persocoms, but is too poor to buy one himself. However, one day he stumbles over a female one left in the trash and takes it home and names her Chi.

This begins the laughs, drama…and mystery. What is Chi? Who made her? What is her purpose?

It also poses several philosophical questions such as what does it mean to be “alive”? What does it mean to feel emotions? Can a very complex computer program such as those that Chi runs really give her emotions?

The manga doesn’t necessarily tackle these questions head on or in depth, so its not really heavy philosophical reading, but the questions are posed in one way or another.

The manga has complete and satisfying story lines, tying up all it’s lose ends. The art is impressive, even for a CLAMP work, and the story is very thoughtful and thought-provoking. Unlike most other CLAMP works I have read or are reading, this one is geared more for teen or adult males instead of teen or pre-teen females, though Chobits could easily be enjoyed by females as well I think as the social commentary applies to both sexes, even if the protagonist in Chobits is male.

There is some mild female persocom nudity, but nothing that I’d describe as gratuitous, and some harsh language, including the two big words, but again, I wouldn’t describe it as gratuitous. TokyoPop rates Chobits OT (Older Teen Age 18+).

First Read: February – May 2006
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Hell Yes

There is a short article describing Rumbling Hearts. The first episode is also featured on the DVD that comes with the magazine. If you want to see more clips, the first episode is available for streaming at the Rumbling Hearts web page (with episode 2 upcoming). Also, short clips of the first 5 episodes can be streamed under the episodes section there.

Meanwhile, NewTypeUSA featured the Kashimashi manga Volume 1 as it’s manga of the month.

Both got good reviews.

Oh yeah, and tomorrow I’ll be unveiling a new design just for the month of December in honor of the release of Rumbling Hearts (can you tell I like it)?

Anime DVDs

November 28, 2006
Case Closed – Volume 2.1
Elfen Lied – Collection
Girls Bravo – Box Set
Kyo Kara Maoh! – Volume 2.1
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny – Volume 5
MoonPhase – Volume 2
Negima! – Volume 4
Ninja Nonsense – Volume 4
Planetes – Complete Collection
Please Twins! – Complete Collection
Speed Grapher – Volume 4

November 29, 2006
Bleach – Volume 1
Hikaru no Go – Volume 5
Naruto – Volume 6

Manga

November 28, 2006
Suzuka – Volume 2
XXXHolic – Volume 8

November 29, 2006
Berserk – Volume 14

November 30, 2006
Negima! Magister Negi Magi – Volume 12
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days – Volume 3

Name: Ai Yori Aoshi (Season 1), Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ (Season 2)
Genre:: Romance, Comedy, Harem
Episodes: 36 (24 in Season 1, 12 in Season 2)
Released: April 10, 2002 – September, 2002 (Season 1),
October 12, 2003 – December 28, 2003 (Season 2)
Based On: Ai Yori Aoshi manga by Kou Fumizuki
Director: Masami Shimoda
Produced By: J.C. Staff, Rondo Robe
US Distribution By: Pioneer/Geneon

Major Japanese Cast

Kaoru Hanabishi: Souichiro Hoshi
Aoi Sakuraba: Ayako Kawasumi
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Akiko Hiramatsu
Tina Foster: Satsuki Yukino
Taeko Minazuki: Kaori Mizuhashi
Mayu Miyuki: Sayaka Narita
Chika Minazuki: Halko Momoi
Takashi: Kazutoshi Hatano
Satou: Makoto Higo

Major English Cast

Kaoru Hanabishi: Dave Lelyveld
Aoi Sakuraba: Michelle Ruff
Miyabi Kagurazaki: Lia Sargent
Tina Foster: Wendee Lee
Taeko Minazuki: Sue Beth Arden
Mayu Miyuki: Kirsty Pape
Chika Minazuki: Kari Wahlgren
Takashi: Lex Lang
Satou: Ron Allen

Scores

Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherency/Story Arc: 8/10 (x 2 = 16 pts)
English Dubs: 3/10 (x 1 = 3 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)

Total: 164/200 (82%)

Review

Ai Yori Aoshi is about Aoi Sakuraba, the daughter of the head of a rich conglomerate, and her secret fiance-to-be Karou Hanabishi. When the two were little, their marriage had been arranged given Aoi’s stature and the fact that Karou was himself the heir to another major conglomerate. However, Karou was only adopted, and after witnessing the treatment of his mother, especially after she died, Karou ran away from the Hanabishi clan to live on his own. This, in turn, nullified the arranged marriage, but Aoi was still determined to marry Karou. As a result, Aoi’s caretaker, Miyabi, arranges so that they can live together – sort of – but mandating that their relationship be kept secret.

Now, how the story sounds up until now, it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty serious and romance-heavy story. However, the story takes a turn when Karou runs into an old friend from America, Tina, at college and she starts staying at Aoi’s place due to having no other place to stay. Another friend, Taeko, soon joins them for much the same reason, and Ai Yori Aoshi starts moving into the harem genre. This series does have an air of romance and seriousness that hangs over the series, with several episodes dedicated to the serious romance aspects of the story more than the harem parts – something which have been largely absent from most other series classified as harem – but it is still mostly a comedy.

Of course, the set-up leads into quite a bit of the comedy, with other female characters frequently hitting on or otherwise trying to lure Karou into their clutches with Karou unable to tell them that he is simply unavailable. Of course, each of the characters having their own quirks that add to the craziness helps as always.

Other than having the more serious romance aspects maintained throughout the series, this series is better than most harem series in another way: while there is fan service, I’d consider it to be more tastefully done. Also, despite being a harem series, it is hardly mindless. The relationship of all the characters evolve over time, with each of the characters learning from all the other characters on how to make themselves better, at least in their eyes due to each of the characters primary strength, whether that’s honesty, being headstrong, determination, or skill and knowledge.

Such a series could easily fall into a mess of goop, but Ai Yori Aoshi is able to keep itself going strong despite being a rather complex story. Add good animation and pretty good music to the mix and you have a pretty good series. The only technical part of the series that I’d have to say I was greatly disappointed with were the English dubs. I’m pretty tolerant of English dubs and probably 85 to 90% of most shows I hear dubs I find the dubs to be pretty much acceptable. Ai Yori Aoshi, however, falls into the other 10 or 15%. Despite having experienced voice actors in virtually all the major rolls, nearly every single one of them flops. Perhaps its not surprising that the ADR Director for this series only has one other ADR Directing credit.

Overall, I think this is a series that most people will like. If you like harem, this still holds to that genre without going overboard, but there is material in this series to help feed those who like more romantic comedies as well.

First Watched: October – December 2005
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes