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{{Short description|Japanese manga series by Clamp}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header|
{{Redirect|Chobit|the manga by Akira Toriyama|Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater}}
title_name=Chobits
{{Infobox animanga/Header
|image=Chobits_manga.jpg
| name =
|caption=The cover of volume 1 of the Chobits manga (English edition).
| image = Chobits volume 1 cover.jpg
|ja_name=
| caption = Volume 1 ''[[tankōbon]]'' cover, featuring Chi
|ja_name_trans=
| ja_kanji = ちょびっツ
|genre=
| ja_romaji = Chobittsu
| genre = {{ubl|[[Romantic comedy]]<ref name="BoxSetReview">{{cite web|last1=Kimlinger|first1=Carl|title=Chobits DVD Complete Box Set [Classic] - Review|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/chobits/dvd-complete-box-set-classic|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=December 30, 2018|date=August 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="top5"/>|[[Science fiction]]<ref name="top5">{{cite web|last1=Jing|first1=Jacki|last2=Loveridge|first2=Lynzee|title=Top 5 CLAMP Anime - The List|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2020-05-10/.159399|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=June 30, 2020|date=May 10, 2020}}</ref>}}<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Manga|
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
title=
|author=[[CLAMP]]
| author = [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]
| publisher = [[Kodansha]]
|publisher=[[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|25px|Japan]] [[Kodansha]]<br>[[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|25px|Canada]] [[Image: Flag of the United States.svg|25px|United States]] [[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px|United Kingdom]] [[Tokyopop]]<br>[[Image:Flag of Brazil.svg|25px|Brazil]] [[Editora JBC]] <BR>[[Image:Flag_of_South_Korea.svg|25px|South Korea]] Daiwon CI <br> [[Image:Flag of Sweden.svg|25px|Sweden]] Bonnier Carlsen
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher
|serialized=[[Young Magazine]]
| AUS= [[Crunchyroll Store Australia|Madman Entertainment]] (expired)
|first_run=[[2001]]
| NA = [[Kodansha USA|Kodansha Comics]]
|last_run=[[2002]]
|num_volumes=8
}}
}}
| demographic = ''[[Seinen manga|Seinen]]''
{{Infobox animanga/Anime|
| imprint = Young Magazine KC
title=
| magazine = [[Weekly Young Magazine]]
|director=Morio Asaka
| first = September 2000
|studio=Pioneer, Chobits Production Committee
| last = October 2002
|network=[[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]], BS-I <BR>[[Image:Flag_of_South_Korea.svg|25px|South Korea]] [[Anione]]
| volumes = 8
|first_aired=[[2 April]] [[2002]]
| volume_list = List of Chobits chapters
|last_aired=[[24 September]] [[2002]]
|num_episodes=26
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other|
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = tv series
title=Specials
| director = [[Morio Asaka]]
|content=<nowiki></nowiki>
| producer = {{ubl|Tatsuya Ono|Yuichi Sekido|Tetsuo Genshō}}
* Episode 9
| music = Keitarō Takanami
* Episode 18
| studio = [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]]
* Episode 27 (OVA)
| licensee = {{English anime licensee
| AUS= [[Crunchyroll Store Australia|Madman Entertainment]]
| NA= [[Geneon Entertainment]] (expired)<br>[[Crunchyroll]]
| UK= [[MVM Films]] (expired)
}}
| network = [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]]
| network_en = {{English anime network| SEA= [[Animax|Animax Asia]]| US= [[Funimation Channel]]}}
| first = 2 April 2002
| last = 24 September 2002
| episodes = 27 + OVA
| episode_list = List of Chobits episodes
}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
'''''Chobits''''' (ちょびっツ) is a [[manga]] and [[anime]] series created by [[CLAMP]]. The original manga was published from 2001 to 2002 by [[Kodansha]].
{{nihongo|'''''Chobits'''''|ちょびっツ|Chobittsu|lead=yes}} is a Japanese [[manga]] series written and illustrated by the Japanese manga collective [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]. It was serialized in [[Kodansha]]'s [[Seinen manga|''seinen'' manga]] magazine ''[[Weekly Young Magazine]]'' from September 2000 to October 2002, with its chapters collected in eight [[tankōbon|bound volumes]].
''Chobits'' was adapted as a 26-episode-long [[anime]] television series broadcast on [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] from April to September 2002. In addition, it has spawned two [[video games]] as well as various merchandise such as model figures, collectible cards, calendars, and artbooks.


The series tells the story of Hideki Motosuwa, a college student who finds an abandoned {{nihongo|''persocom''|パソコン|PasoKon}}, or [[personal computer]] (パーソナルコンピュータ ''pāsonaru konpyūta'') with an [[Moe anthropomorphism#Computers|anthro]]-human form, which he names "[[Chi (Chobits)|Chi]]" after the only word it initially can speak. As the series progresses, they explore the mysteries of Chi's origin together and questions about the relationship between human beings and computers. The manga is set in the [[shared universe|same universe]] as ''[[Angelic Layer]]'', taking place a few years after the events of that story, and like ''Angelic Layer'', it explores the relationship between humans and electronic devices shaped like human beings. ''Chobits'' branches off as a crossover into many other stories in different ways, such as ''[[Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle]]'', ''[[xxxHolic]]'' and ''[[Kobato.]]''
The [[English language|English]] manga is published by [[TOKYOPOP]], and the American translation is imported to [[Australia]] by [[Madman Entertainment]]. Also, the Traditional Chinese manga is published by COMICSWORLD.COM (天下出版有限公司) under official authorization for [[Hong Kong]] only. In Singapore, the Simplified Chinese version is published by Chuangyi. Unlike most CLAMP stories, ''Chobits'' is a [[seinen]] series, specifically of the [[magical girlfriend]] variety.

In North America, the manga was licensed for an English-language release by [[Tokyopop]] in 2002 and was re-released by [[Dark Horse Comics]] in 2009 and later, [[Kodansha USA|Kodansha Comics]] in 2020. The anime series was licensed by [[Geneon]] in 2002 and re-licensed by [[Funimation]] in 2010.


==Plot==
==Plot==
{{Main|List of Chobits characters}}
{{spoilers}}
The series centers on the life of Hideki Motosuwa, a [[rōnin (student)|held-back student]] attempting to qualify for university by studying at Seki [[higher education in Japan#College Entrance|prep school]] in Tokyo. Besides a girlfriend, he dreams of having a {{nihongo|''persocom''|パソコン}}: an [[Android (robot)|android]] used as a personal computer, which is expensive. On his way home one evening, he stumbles across a persocom in the form of a beautiful girl with floor-length hair lying against a pile of trash bags, and he carries her home, not noticing that a disk fell on the ground. Upon turning her on, she instantly regards Hideki with adoration. The only word the persocom seems capable of saying is {{nihongo|"chi"|ちぃ|Chii}}, thus he names her that. Hideki assumes that there must be something wrong with her, and so the following morning he has his neighbor Hiromu Shinbo analyze her with his mobile persocom Sumomo. After Sumomo crashes during the attempt they conclude that she must be custom-built.

The story centers on the life of eighteen-year-old Hideki Motosuwa, a repeat student ("[[ronin]]") attempting to get into university by studying at Seki [[cram school]]. An honest and unassuming teenager raised on a farm, he has little experience with women, though his imagination and [[libido]] are both quite active. Besides a girlfriend, the other thing he dreams of having is a ''persocom'' ('''Perso'''nal '''com'''puter), a computer designed to look and act like a human. In the city where he studies for university (Tokyo), Hideki discovers that persocoms are commonplace. They are preprogrammed with fairly subdued personalities; they assist their owners with chores (such as shopping, dictation, email, and accounting) and are easily identifiable by the large data ports on the sides of their heads. But persocoms are expensive and Hideki has no money, so he figures the only way he'll ever have one is if he were to find one lying on the curb.

No sooner has he thought this than it happens: on his way home from school one evening, he stumbles across a persocom in the form of a beautiful young girl with long hair, wrapped in cloth, turned off, lying against a pile of trash bags. He carries her home, and after a long and nervous search for her on/off button, he finally "turns her on". She comes instantly to life and regards Hideki with open adoration, hugging him often and watching him fascinated as she often mimics the things he does, but the only word she ever says (until later episodes) is ''"chi"'', so this is the name Hideki gives her.

Hideki recruits the help of his technically-minded friend Shinbo to try to figure out where Chi came from. All they are able to determine is that she does not have any [[operating system]] installed. Shinbo is perplexed as to how she's able to be active at all with a blank memory, and this is the beginning of the mystery of Chi's origins and purpose.

Meanwhile Hideki takes it upon himself to teach words, concepts and behavior to Chi while he attends school, looks for a job, and makes new friends (many of whom have strong opinions of persocoms). He finds himself putting aside his libido and protecting Chi against people who want her for themselves; he buys her a storybook in which she seems to take an unusual interest; she shows him unconditional love and cheers him on through his studies. Before long it's clear that Chi is developing feelings for Hideki to a depth that persocoms aren't supposed to be able to have, and Hideki seems to be falling in love with her despite friends' warnings against having feelings for an artificial person.


Shinbo introduces Hideki to Minoru Kokubunji, a twelve-year-old prodigy who specializes in the field of custom-built ''persocoms.'' Minoru's persocoms, including Yuzuki, a fairly exceptional custom-built ''persocom,'' are not able to analyze Chi either, and thus they conclude that she may be one of the Chobits, a legendary series of persocoms rumoured to have free will and emotions. Although this is a possibility, Minoru is confident that it is only rumour. Yuzuki also adds that she does not resemble any persocom model in any available database and so she must be custom made after all.
==Themes==
Despite comic, or [[ecchi]] moments, Chobits itself deals with several dualities concerning subject matter it shows. The most explored issue throughout the series is relationships shared between humans and persocoms. "Atashi", a character drawn by the character "Hibiya", is a comic book used in the series to hint at the definition of reciprocated love to Chii, but is also used to highlight issues with human-persocom relationships; drawing upon the fact that because persocoms can be programmed to imitate desirable human behavior, many humans would opt-out of human relationships, as well as obvious problems, such as the inability to further produce offspring.


A major part of the plot involves Hideki attempting to teach Chi words, concepts, and appropriate behaviours, in between his crammed schedule of school and work. At the same time, Chi seems to be developing feelings for Hideki, at an emotional depth she is not supposed to possess, and Hideki struggles with his feelings for her. The need to figure out more about Chi and her mysterious functions and past becomes a pull for the characters in the series.
The series also seems to touch upon issues and ideals of virginity, and sexual intercourse; the "chobits" series being in line with the idea of only engaging in sexual intercourse with someone whom you are entirely in love with -- this is shown in the series, particularly when several males attempt to "interfere" with Chi. The idea of "love", as a concept is addressed for the denominator of the series also, in several installments of "[[A City With No People]]"; this deals with issues particularly relating to searching, and subesequently waiting for someone who is what would be referred to as a "soul mate". This is in parallel to the story of Freya, whom fell in love with her father and creator, and ultimately wished death due to heartache, and is used as a means of "aiding" Chi in her quest for "A Person Just For Me", or "My One and Only". Both Chii (Elda) and her sister, Freya; Atashii being linked to Chii, and the companion, linked to Freya.


Hideki's feelings intensify for Chi regardless of her being a persocom and despite his friends' painful experiences involving other persocoms. Chi becomes aware of her purpose through a picture book series called ''A City with No People'' which she finds in a bookstore. The books speak about many different things involving human and persocom relationships: persocoms and their convenience as friends and lovers, how there are things that they cannot do and questioning whether a relationship between a persocom and a human is really one-sided. It also speaks about the Chobits series; that they are different from other persocoms, and what they are incapable of doing unlike other persocoms. These picture books awaken Chi's other self, her sibling Freya who is aware of their past and helps Chi realize what she must do when she decides who her "person just for me" is. Together, Chi and Hideki explore the relationship between human beings and persocoms, as well as their friends' and their own.
The title ちょびっツ ''Chobittsu'' uses a mixture of [[hiragana]] ちょびっ ''Chobi(t)'' and [[katakana]] ツ ''tsu''. Similarly, the [[password]] チょびっつ ''Chobittsu'' for [[Chobits characters#Plum|Plum]] (a.k.a. "Sumomo"), set by Hideki in episode 19 titled "Chi Helps Out " of the TV series, also mixes katakana チ ''Ch(i)'' and hiragana ょびっつ ''(y)obittsu''. The mixed letters were chosen because the persocom's password required a mixture of hiragana, katakana and/or Latin alphanumeric characters for increased security. At the very end of the manga, Hideki gives Chi the password "Chobittsu", all in hiragana, except for the last character, which is in katakana.


==Production==
Chobits showcases the [[Gothic Lolita]] fashion style popular in Japan, with both Freya's and Chi's elaborate dresses.
[[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]]—a creative team consisting of [[Satsuki Igarashi]], [[Ageha Ohkawa]], [[Tsubaki Nekoi]] and [[Mokona]]—wrote and illustrated ''Chobits'', which is the first of their manga to be targeted towards older male readers (''[[seinen manga]]'').<ref name="Basics"/> The idea for ''Chobits'' originated from the group's experiences with computers, which would present indecipherable error messages when experiencing difficulties, to which they added a "sexier spin" to the concept.<ref name="Interview"/> After completing their previous manga series ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'',<ref name="northside"/> the group successfully pitched ''Chobits'' to the Japanese manga magazine ''[[Weekly Young Magazine]]''.<ref name="Interview"/> Clamp completed fourteen pages per week for ''Chobits''{{'}}s weekly serialization, totaling fifty-six pages a month.<ref name="northside"/> The title of the manga has its origins in "Chobi", the name of a cat at the place of Nekoi's former employment, which the group made into "Chobits", as the characters Elda and Freya were twins.<ref name="Interview"/>


Ohkawa designed Hideki and Chi first.<ref name="northside">{{cite book|author=Clamp|title=Clampノ絵シゴト North Side (1989–2002)|date=January 2005|publisher=Tokyopop|location=Los Angeles, California|isbn=978-1-59182-902-7|pages=154–5}}</ref> Chi's design as a personal computer resulted from Ohkawa's wish to increase the sense of "emotional discomfort" around becoming emotionally involved with something considered to be merely a lifeless machine.<ref name="Interview"/> The characterization of the protagonist Hideki proved to be difficult for her; in the beginning, she considered an "aloof" man who gradually warms up emotionally or a sex-obsessed man.<ref name="Interview"/> She decided that neither characterization would be a good fit for Chi and settled on one of a penniless and benevolent student.<ref name="Interview"/> In keeping with the conventions of the romantic comedy genre, the group had planned to introduce conventional characters, such as an older female neighbor and a physically attractive friend from childhood; in the case of ''Chobits'', the "childhood friend" never appeared.<ref name="Interview">{{cite book|author=Clamp|title=Clamp no Kiseki|volume=7|date=June 2007|publisher=Tokyopop|location=Los Angeles, California|isbn=978-1-59532-611-9|page=11}}</ref> The artwork was done in ballpoint pen to evoke the sense of "rough" lines,<ref name="Interview"/> and colored pages were done in acrylic gouache.<ref name="northside"/>
==Anime==
The anime consists of 26 episodes. Episodes 9, 18, and an extra 27th [[OVA]] episode are used as "recap" episodes, looking back on the events that happened so far. The episodes were re-numbered for the DVD release; the original recap episodes were not included in sequence, instead being published together on the final DVD and re-numbered as 8.5, 16.5 and 24.5 making the series itself only 24 episodes.


===Facts===
==Media==
===Manga===
*'''Supervising Director:'''Morio Asaka
{{Main|List of Chobits chapters}}
*'''Character Designer, Animation Director:''' Hisashi Abe
''Chobits'' began as a manga written and illustrated by [[Clamp (manga artists)|Clamp]], a collective of four Japanese [[mangaka|manga artists]]. It appeared as a [[Serial (literature)|serial]] in the [[Seinen manga|''seinen'' manga]] magazine ''[[Weekly Young Magazine]]'' from the 43rd issue for 2000 to the 48th issue for 2002.<ref name="Basics">{{cite book|author=Clamp|author-link=Clamp (manga artists)|title=[[Clamp no Kiseki]]|volume=7|date=June 2007|publisher=[[Tokyopop]]|location=Los Angeles, California|isbn=978-1-59532-611-9|page=4}}</ref> [[Kodansha]] compiled the eighty-eight chapters into eight [[tankōbon|bound volumes]] and published them from February 14, 2001, to November 29, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product/top.php/1234583547|script-title=ja:ちょびっツ（１）｜講談社コミックプラス|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703015916/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product/top.php/1234583547|access-date=June 21, 2008|language=ja|trans-title=Chobits (1)｜ Kodansha Comics Plus|archive-date=July 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3346323|title=Chobits Volume 8|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=June 21, 2008|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221020021/http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3346323|archive-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref>
In 2002, [[Tokyopop]] licensed ''Chobits'' for an English-language translation in North America and marketed it as part of its new unflipped manga line, which reads from right-to-left.<ref name="Flopped">{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-01-29/tokyopop-commits-to-unflopped-manga|title=Tokyopop Commits to Unflopped Manga|date=January 29, 2002|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref> Previously, translated manga was typically flipped from its original reading order to a left-to-right one to better suit Western readers.<ref name="Flopped"/> Tokyopop published the series from April 23, 2002, to October 7, 2003,<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021219164256/http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1123|archive-date=December 19, 2002|url=http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1123|title=Chobits Volume 1|publisher=Tokyopop|access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212193929/http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1747|archive-date=December 12, 2003|url=http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?page=product&productid=1747|title=Chobits Volume 8|publisher=Tokyopop|access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref> and its translation was distributed in Australia and New Zealand by [[Madman Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.madman.com.au/actions/periodicals.do?method=home&periodicalId=4| title=Madman > Manga > Catalogue > Chobits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216214103/http://www.madman.com.au/actions/periodicals.do?method=home&periodicalId=4|archive-date=December 16, 2006| publisher=[[Madman Entertainment]]| access-date=2008-08-18}}</ref> Tokyopop's license concluded in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-31/tokyopop-confirms-its-kodansha-manga-licenses-will-end|title=Tokyopop Confirms its Kodansha Licenses Will End|date=August 31, 2009|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref> At the 2009 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], [[Dark Horse Manga]] announced an [[omnibus edition]] of the series in celebration of Clamp's 10th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dark Horse - San Diego Comic-Con International 2009|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/san-diego-comic-con-international/dark-horse|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2009-07-25|access-date=2009-07-27}}</ref> In 2010, it published the two volumes on March 24, and September 29, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206081837/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-633/Chobits-Vol-1-Omnibus-Edition-TPB|url-status=live|archive-date=December 6, 2011|title=Chobits Vol. 1 Omnibus Edition TPB :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-633/Chobits-Vol-1-Omnibus-Edition-TPB|publisher=[[Dark Horse Manga]]|access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201174053/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-634/Chobits-Vol-2-Omnibus-Edition-TPB|archive-date=February 1, 2012|url-status=live|title=Chobits Vol. 2 Omnibus Edition TPB :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-634/Chobits-Vol-2-Omnibus-Edition-TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Manga|access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>


After Dark Horse Comics' license expired, [[Kodansha USA Publishing]] announced its publication in 2019 under the Kodansha Classics line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-06/kodansha-licenses-6-new-manga-acquires-saiyuki-chobits-clover/.148703|title=Kodansha Licenses 6 New Manga, Acquires Saiyuki, Chobits, Clover|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=July 6, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kodansha.us/2019/07/06/kodansha-ax-2019-announcements/|title=AX2019 recap: all of our new licensing announcements and more!|publisher=[[Kodansha USA Publishing]]|date=July 6, 2019}}</ref> ''Chobits 20th Anniversary Edition'' was announced in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kodansha.us/2020/06/09/creator_spotlight_clamp/|title=Creator Spotlight: CLAMP! Rare Digital Manga Sale (Ends 6/15)|date=9 June 2020 |publisher=[[Kodansha USA Publishing]]}}</ref>
===Voice Acting Cast===
*''Hideki Motosuwa'': [[Tomokazu Sugita]]
*''Chi (Elda) / Freya (Dark Chi)'': [[Rie Tanaka]]
*''Hiromu Shinbo'': [[Tomokazu Seki]]
*''Takako Shimizu'': [[Ryoka Yuzuki]]
*''Sumomo'': [[Motoko Kumai]]
*''Chitose Hibiya'': [[Kikuko Inoue]]
*''Minoru Kokubunji'': [[Houko Kuwashima]]
*''Yuzuki'': [[Fumiko Orikasa]]
*''Yumi Oumura'': [[Megumi Toyoguchi]]
*''Kotoko'': [[Yukana Nogami]]
*''Hiroyasu Ueda'': [[Yuji Ueda]]
*''Yoshiyuki Kojima'': [[Jun'ichi Suwabe]]
*''Yumi's father'': [[Masao Yasuhara]]


''Chobits'' is also published in Hong Kong in [[Traditional Chinese]] by [[Jonesky]], in Singapore in [[Simplified Chinese]] by [[Chuang Yi]], in South Korea by [[Daiwon C.I.]], in France by [[Pika Édition]], in Spain by [[Norma Editorial]], in Mexico by [[Grupo Editorial Vid]], in Italy by [[Star Comics (Italy)|Star Comics]] (which serialized it in ''Express''), in Germany by [[Egmont Manga & Anime]] (which serialized it in ''{{ill|Manga Power|de}}''), in Poland by [[Japonica Polonica Fantastica]], in Brazil by [[Editora JBC|JBC]], and in Sweden by [[Carlsen Verlag]].
==Manga==
The original Chobits Manga was written by [[CLAMP]], a famous group of four Japanese [[manga-ka]] (manga artists). CLAMP has also authored [[Cardcaptor Sakura]], [[Magic Knight Rayearth]], [[Clover]], [[WISH]], [[Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE]], [[Clamp School Detectives]], [[XXXHolic]], [[Angelic Layer]] and others. CLAMP often reuses (or parallel to) various characters among their manga (discussed below). Chobits is one of their first attempts at the [[Shōnen]] genre.


An artbook based on the series, titled ''Your Eyes Only'', was published by Kodansha; it was licensed in North America by Tokyopop.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chobits Art Book: Your Eyes Only|date=8 January 2008|isbn=978-1598165951|author1=Clamp |publisher=TokyoPop }}</ref> In addition, ''A City with No People'', the fictional picture book written in the series by [[A City with No People|Chitose Hibiya]], was released in Japan as a picture book;<ref name="citynopeople-print">{{cite web| url=http://www.mania.com/chobits-vol-2-empty-city_article_75033.html| title=Chobits Vol. #2: The Empty City (of 7)| publisher=Mania.com| first=Chris| last=Beveridge| date=2003-05-23| access-date=2008-08-24| quote=I even went and bought the real version of the book that was made after the shows release and read parts of it to my daughter before bed.| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204073208/http://www.mania.com/chobits-vol-2-empty-city_article_75033.html| archive-date=2008-12-04 }}</ref>
The manga is 88 chapters long and was collected into 8 volumes, which are published by [http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=CHB&categorycode=BMG TOKYOPOP].


===Anime===
The manga originally ran in [[Young Magazine]], a Japanese magazine, from February 2001-November 2002.
{{Main|List of Chobits episodes}}
An animated adaptation of ''Chobits'' was produced by [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]], [[Tokyo Broadcasting System]], [[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan|Pioneer LDC]] and [[Movic]] and directed by [[Morio Asaka]], with Hisashi Abe designing the characters and Keitarō Takanami composing the music.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/chobits/about/staff.html| title=ちょびっツ| publisher=[[Tokyo Broadcasting System]]| language=ja| access-date=2008-08-22}}</ref> The series was broadcast in 26 episodes from 2 April 2002 to 24 September 2002 on TBS. It was later released on 8 DVDs.<ref name="tbs-dvds">{{cite web| url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/chobits/dvd.html| title=DVD&Video情報| publisher=[[Tokyo Broadcasting System]]| language=ja| access-date=2008-08-22}}</ref> The original episodes 9 and 18 are "recap" episodes, summarizing previous events. These episodes were re-numbered for the DVD release as episodes 8.5 and 16.5, respectively, and removed from their original sequence by being published together on the final DVD. As a result, the series is 24 episodes long on DVD. In addition, there are two DVD-only [[OVA]]s: a 27th episode recapping the series (numbered episode 24.5) and a 6-minute special, "Chobits: Plum and Kotoko Deliver". The opening theme is "Let Me Be With You" by [[Round Table (band)|Round Table featuring Nino]]. The ending themes are "Raison d'être" (Reason to Be) by [[Rie Tanaka]] (episodes 1–13), "[[24 Wishes|Ningyo-hime]]" (Mermaid Princess) by Rie Tanaka (episodes 14–25), and "Katakoto no Koi" (Awkward Love) by Rie Tanaka and [[Tomokazu Sugita]] (episode 26). The ending theme for the OVA is "Book End Bossa" by Round Table featuring Nino.


''Chobits'' was licensed in North America by [[Geneon]] in July 2002,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=George|title=AX 2002: Pioneer Panel|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-07-11/ax-2002-pioneer-panel|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=30 December 2019|date=11 July 2002}}</ref> which has released the series in 7 DVDs. This release is redistributed in the United Kingdom (on 6 DVDs instead of 7, placing the recap episodes and special as extras on disk 6) by [[MVM Films]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mvm-films.com/detailed/chobits_boxset.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225064035/http://www.mvm-films.com/detailed/chobits_boxset.htm|title=MVM Films :: Anime DVD Licensors :: Catalogue|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2009|work=mvm-films.com|access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref> and in Australia and New Zealand by [[Madman Entertainment]].<ref name="madman">{{cite web| url=http://www.madman.com.au/actions/series.do?method=view&videogramId=12| title=Madman > Madman Anime > Catalogue > Chobits| publisher=[[Madman Entertainment]]| access-date=2008-08-22}}</ref> At [[Anime Boston]] 2010, North American anime distributor [[Funimation]] announced that they license rescued Chobits and would release the series on DVD and [[Blu-ray]] on April 26, 2011 and May 10, 2011, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20100411_last_minute_additions_flow_in_for_kawaii_kon|title=Last-minute additions flow in for Kawaii Kon|first=Jason|last=Yadao|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=April 11, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-03/funimation-adds-chobits-eden-of-the-east-films|title=Funimation Adds Chobits, Eden of the East Films|publisher= [[Anime News Network]]|date=2010-04-03|access-date=2010-04-03}}</ref> The anime series made its US television debut on May 9, 2011 on the [[Funimation Channel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/2_e10509.htm|title=FUNimation Week 20 of 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725160047/http://www.funimationchannel.com/schedule/2_e10509.htm|archive-date=2011-07-25}}</ref>
==Connections with other works==
The manga of ''Chobits'' has a direct connection to the earlier [[CLAMP]] work ''[[Angelic Layer]]''. In the manga, Chi's creator and Chitose's late husband was also the person responsible for ''Angelic Layer'' (referred to in ''Angelic Layer'' as Ichiro Mihara, or Icchan). The anime has removed the connection between the two stories.<br/>
Minoru's sister, Kaede Saitou, is one of the many characters in [[CLAMP]]'s ''[[Angelic Layer]]''. In the manga during Minoru's flashback of his sister's death, you see three other characters, who are Kaede's friends from ''[[Angelic Layer]]'': Misaki Suzuhara, Sai Jounouchi, and Ohjiro Mihara.


The series is also licensed in Taiwan by Proware Multimedia, in France and the Netherlands by [[Kazé]], in Germany by [[ADV Films]] and later Kaze Germany, and in Russia by [[MC Entertainment]]. The series was broadcast in Korea by AniOne TV, in France by [[Europe 2 TV]], in Spain by both Animax España and Buzz Channel, in Portugal on Animax Portugal, and in Poland by Hyper.
There is also a connection to ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]''. In the manga version, Tomoyo's mother, Sonomi Daidōji, makes a brief cameo appearance in Chiroru bakery, owned by Hiroyasu Ueda, in order to buy some sweets.


===Soundtracks===
In ''[[Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE]]'': another CLAMP manga, Chi makes a cameo appearance as the creation of Fye D. Flowright, a wizard from the country of Celes. Unlike in Chobits, Chi is presented as an artificial lifeform instead of a robot, and her ears have a more organic look similar to a fox. Sumomo and Kotoko also make an appearance in Ōto country, although they are much larger than normal.
Two soundtracks from the anime were released by [[Pioneer Entertainment|Pioneer]]. ''Chobits Original Soundtrack 001'' was released 1 July 2003 and ''Chobits Original Soundtrack 002'' was released 7 October 2003. Three singles were released, the opening theme "Let Me Be with You" by Round Table featuring Nino, and two ending themes by Rie Tanaka, "Raison d'être" and "Ningyo Hime". In addition, a [[character song]] album, ''[[Chobits Character Song Collection]]'', was released on 17 February 2004.


One piece of music in the anime nicknamed "Dark Chi's Theme" by fans (because it appears in "Freya mode") appears on the ''Best of Chobits'' soundtrack. Original name of the track is "Fuuma (Dialogue Mix)" and "Kamui (Dialogue Mix)", which are available on their respective singles "Fuuma" Single and "Kamui" Single from the ''[[X (manga)|X]]'' soundtrack.
Volume 3 of ''[[XXXHolic]]'' shows Watanuki and Yūko communicating with each other using a pair of headphones that look exactly like Chii's ears. Also present in Volume 3 is a shot of Maru and Moro reading "''[[A City With No People]]''", a book featured prominently in Chobits. One scene also has Mokona saying "Chii!".


===Video games===
In the chapters of ''[[Kobato]]'' that have been released so far, it is revealed that Kobato's landlady is Chitose Mihara (Chitose Hibiya), who lives with her husband (presumbly Ichiro Mihara, who has yet to appear in the manga) and her twin daughters, Chiho and Chise (Chi/Elda and Freya). Chiho and Chise are human girls and not artificial lifeforms of any sort.
In 2002 [[Marvelous Entertainment]] released in Japan only a ''Chobits'' game for the [[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]] called ''Chobits: Atashi Dake no Hito''. The game was available bundled with a clear blue Game Boy Advance with a [[decal]] of Chi above the A+B buttons and a ''Chobits'' logo above the D-pad.<ref name="game1">{{cite web| url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=7719| title=Nintendo to release Chobits GBA| publisher=Nintendo World Report| date=2002-09-04| access-date=2008-08-19}}</ref>


In 2003 [[Broccoli (company)|Broccoli]] released a [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 2]] game titled ''Chobits: Chii Dake no Hito'', a [[Bishōjo]] [[visual novel]]. Like the Game Boy Advance game, this too was released only in Japan.
In the manga, ''[[Suki (manga)|Suki]]'', the character Tomo writes a childrens book that mirrors the lives of the two main characters, much like Ms. Hibiya does for Chii and Hideki. The class in ''Suki'' also visits a museum where there is a statue of three "Keychain Persocoms", much like the one Yumi has.


Another PC-version game was also released in 2002, using [[Macromedia]] and [[QuickTime]] as the background support. This game is called ''Communication Game'', in which the player can "talk" with Chi and teach her to speak. It also contained some small games inside such as a keyboard typing game.
In 2002 Marvellous Entertainment Inc. released a ''Chobits'' game for the [[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]]. This game has not been released outside of Japan. The game was also available bundled with a clear blue Game Boy Advance with a decal of Chi above the A+B buttons and a ''Chobits'' logo above the D-pad.


==Reception==
The online forum [[Gaia Online]] features an item equipable to one's avatar called "Doll Ears" which are replica's of Chii's "ears". The item comes bearing the description: "A master dollmaker of Gaia once designed a small clockwork doll girl. He put all his heart into making her the most beautiful doll ever. He would wind her up and she would walk with him through town. Many say she was prettier than a real girl."
Reviews have been mixed. [[Shaenon K. Garrity]] of [[Anime News Network]] criticized the series' description of persocoms as "obedient" and "perfect," writing, "The persocoms are perfect women, stripped clean of everything that makes real women less than perfect servants to men—that is, one might say, everything that makes women human."<ref>{{cite web|last=Garrity|first=Shaenon K.|title=Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Special Guest Edition: Chobits|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2011-11-17|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> Finn Clark wrote, "The show's thematic engine lies in women who are objects. In a genre that's always at risk of objectifying women, here it's been made literal."<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Finn|title=Chobits|url=http://finnclark.thiswaydown.org/Review/Chobits.html|work=FinnClark.com|access-date=2 June 2013}}</ref>
The adaptation was criticized for shifting the focus from Hideki to Chi, in particular for having episodes devoted to Chi "doing cute things" and providing [[fanservice]].<ref name="THEM">{{cite web| url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=215| title=Chobits| publisher=THEM Anime Reviews| last=Carpenter| first=Christina| year=2002| access-date=2008-08-24| quote="Whereas the manga version of Chobits concentrates more on Hideki's point of view, with him finding out Chii's secrets, the anime is Chii, Chii, and nothing but Chii. Now, if it were more about Chii finding out facets of her personality, basically a retelling of the manga from her point of view rather than Hideki's, this would be fine. Instead, three-fourths of the series is devoted to watching Chii do cute little things.}}</ref> [[Helen McCarthy]] in ''500 Essential Anime Movies'' stated that the OVA's main strength is "its questioning of how we use technology, and whether it can be a substitute, rather than a support, for real life".<ref>[[Helen McCarthy|McCarthy, Helen]]. ''500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide''. — Harper Design, 2009. — P. 49. — 528 p. — {{ISBN|978-0061474507}}</ref>


==Trivia==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
Most of the seiyu who voiced characters here would go on to voice characters in the hit mecha anime series [[Gundam Seed]] and [[Gundam Seed Destiny]].


==See also==
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|first=Thomas|last=Lamarre|author-link=Thomas Lamarre|date=July 2006|title=Platonic Sex: Perversion and Shôjo Anime (Part One)|journal=[[Animation (journal)|Animation]]|volume=1|issue=1|pages=45–59|doi=10.1177/1746847706065841|s2cid=193228688 }}
*[[Chobits characters]]
* {{cite journal|first=Thomas|last=Lamarre|author-link=Thomas Lamarre|date=March 2007|title=Platonic Sex: Perversion and Shôjo Anime (Part Two)|journal=[[Animation (journal)|Animation]]|volume=2|issue=1|pages=9–25|doi=10.1177/1746847706068899|s2cid=62879554 }}
*[[Chobits media information]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070602150526/http://www.clamp-net.com/database/chobi.html CLAMP page]
*[http://www.chobits-city.de Biggest German Chobits Fansite!!]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060704142125/http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=CHB&categorycode=BMG Tokyopop page]
*[http://www.chobitsdvd.com/ Chobits DVD] Official English site for the anime
*Kodansha USA Publishing page: [http://kodansha.us/series/chobits-20th-anniversary-edition/ Chobits 20th Anniversary Edition]
*[http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=CHB&categorycode=BMG Chobits Manga] Official TOKYOPOP site
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040610114853/http://geneonanimation.com/titles.php?series_id=68 Pioneer/Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. ''Chobits'' English DVD anime] website (Archive)
*[http://www.tbs.co.jp/chobits/ TV Animation Chobits] TSB official site (Japanese)
*[http://soundless-words.net/chobits Keppaku] English language fansite.
*[http://www.tbs.co.jp/chobits/ TSB official ''Chobits'' anime site] {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://chobits.dazn.net Chobits - The Anime] (fansite)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161227210104/http://funimation.com/shows/chobits/ Chobits - The Official Anime Website] from [[Funimation]]
*{{Anime News Network|manga|1553}}
*[http://www.colorwalk.net/chobits/ INNOCENCE] (fansite)
<!-- Fan sites will be removed so do not even try to add them. See [[WP:EL]] -->
*[http://www.geocities.com/chobits_chiiwish Chobits UK] (fansite)
*[http://www.chibits.co.uk Chibits.co.uk] (fansite)


{{Chobits}}
[[Category:Anime series]]
{{CLAMP}}
[[Category:Manga series]]
{{Weekly Young Magazine - 2000–2009}}
[[Category:CLAMP]]
{{Morio Asaka}}
[[Category:Chobits]]
{{Madhouse}}
[[Category:Seinen]]


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[[Category:Chobits| ]]
[[Category:2001 manga]]
[[el:Τσόμπιτς]]
[[Category:2002 anime television series debuts]]
[[es:Chobits]]
[[Category:Crunchyroll anime]]
[[fr:Chobits]]
[[Category:Fiction about artificial intelligence]]
[[ko:쵸비츠]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics titles]]
[[id:Chobits]]
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[[Category:Geneon USA]]
[[Category:Kodansha manga]]
[[ja:ちょびっツ]]
[[Category:Madhouse (company)]]
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[[Category:NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan]]
[[pt:Chobits]]
[[Category:Robot comics]]
[[ru:Чобиты]]
[[Category:Romantic comedy anime and manga]]
[[fi:Chobits]]
[[Category:Science fiction anime and manga]]
[[sv:Chobits]]
[[Category:Seinen manga]]
[[th:ดิจิทัล เลดี้]]
[[Category:TBS Television (Japan) original programming]]
[[zh:人形电脑天使心]]
[[Category:Tokyopop titles]]
[[Category:Works by Clamp (manga artists)]]

Latest revision as of 05:09, 7 October 2024

"Chobit" redirects here. For the manga by Akira Toriyama, see Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater.
Chobits
Volume 1 tankōbon cover, featuring Chi
ちょびっツ
(Chobittsu)
Genre
Manga
Written byClamp
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintYoung Magazine KC
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 2000 – October 2002
Volumes8 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed byMorio Asaka
Produced by
  • Tatsuya Ono
  • Yuichi Sekido
  • Tetsuo Genshō
Music byKeitarō Takanami
StudioMadhouse
Licensed by
Original networkTBS
English network
Original run 2 April 2002 – 24 September 2002
Episodes27 + OVA (List of episodes)

Chobits (Japanese: ちょびっツ, Hepburn: Chobittsu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by the Japanese manga collective Clamp. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from September 2000 to October 2002, with its chapters collected in eight bound volumes. Chobits was adapted as a 26-episode-long anime television series broadcast on TBS from April to September 2002. In addition, it has spawned two video games as well as various merchandise such as model figures, collectible cards, calendars, and artbooks.

The series tells the story of Hideki Motosuwa, a college student who finds an abandoned persocom (パソコン, PasoKon), or personal computer (パーソナルコンピュータ pāsonaru konpyūta) with an anthro-human form, which he names "Chi" after the only word it initially can speak. As the series progresses, they explore the mysteries of Chi's origin together and questions about the relationship between human beings and computers. The manga is set in the same universe as Angelic Layer, taking place a few years after the events of that story, and like Angelic Layer, it explores the relationship between humans and electronic devices shaped like human beings. Chobits branches off as a crossover into many other stories in different ways, such as Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, xxxHolic and Kobato.

In North America, the manga was licensed for an English-language release by Tokyopop in 2002 and was re-released by Dark Horse Comics in 2009 and later, Kodansha Comics in 2020. The anime series was licensed by Geneon in 2002 and re-licensed by Funimation in 2010.

Plot

[edit]
Main article: List of Chobits characters

The series centers on the life of Hideki Motosuwa, a held-back student attempting to qualify for university by studying at Seki prep school in Tokyo. Besides a girlfriend, he dreams of having a persocom (パソコン): an android used as a personal computer, which is expensive. On his way home one evening, he stumbles across a persocom in the form of a beautiful girl with floor-length hair lying against a pile of trash bags, and he carries her home, not noticing that a disk fell on the ground. Upon turning her on, she instantly regards Hideki with adoration. The only word the persocom seems capable of saying is "chi" (ちぃ, Chii), thus he names her that. Hideki assumes that there must be something wrong with her, and so the following morning he has his neighbor Hiromu Shinbo analyze her with his mobile persocom Sumomo. After Sumomo crashes during the attempt they conclude that she must be custom-built.

Shinbo introduces Hideki to Minoru Kokubunji, a twelve-year-old prodigy who specializes in the field of custom-built persocoms. Minoru's persocoms, including Yuzuki, a fairly exceptional custom-built persocom, are not able to analyze Chi either, and thus they conclude that she may be one of the Chobits, a legendary series of persocoms rumoured to have free will and emotions. Although this is a possibility, Minoru is confident that it is only rumour. Yuzuki also adds that she does not resemble any persocom model in any available database and so she must be custom made after all.

A major part of the plot involves Hideki attempting to teach Chi words, concepts, and appropriate behaviours, in between his crammed schedule of school and work. At the same time, Chi seems to be developing feelings for Hideki, at an emotional depth she is not supposed to possess, and Hideki struggles with his feelings for her. The need to figure out more about Chi and her mysterious functions and past becomes a pull for the characters in the series.

Hideki's feelings intensify for Chi regardless of her being a persocom and despite his friends' painful experiences involving other persocoms. Chi becomes aware of her purpose through a picture book series called A City with No People which she finds in a bookstore. The books speak about many different things involving human and persocom relationships: persocoms and their convenience as friends and lovers, how there are things that they cannot do and questioning whether a relationship between a persocom and a human is really one-sided. It also speaks about the Chobits series; that they are different from other persocoms, and what they are incapable of doing unlike other persocoms. These picture books awaken Chi's other self, her sibling Freya who is aware of their past and helps Chi realize what she must do when she decides who her "person just for me" is. Together, Chi and Hideki explore the relationship between human beings and persocoms, as well as their friends' and their own.

Production

[edit]

Clamp—a creative team consisting of Satsuki Igarashi, Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi and Mokona—wrote and illustrated Chobits, which is the first of their manga to be targeted towards older male readers (seinen manga).[3] The idea for Chobits originated from the group's experiences with computers, which would present indecipherable error messages when experiencing difficulties, to which they added a "sexier spin" to the concept.[4] After completing their previous manga series Cardcaptor Sakura,[5] the group successfully pitched Chobits to the Japanese manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine.[4] Clamp completed fourteen pages per week for Chobits's weekly serialization, totaling fifty-six pages a month.[5] The title of the manga has its origins in "Chobi", the name of a cat at the place of Nekoi's former employment, which the group made into "Chobits", as the characters Elda and Freya were twins.[4]

Ohkawa designed Hideki and Chi first.[5] Chi's design as a personal computer resulted from Ohkawa's wish to increase the sense of "emotional discomfort" around becoming emotionally involved with something considered to be merely a lifeless machine.[4] The characterization of the protagonist Hideki proved to be difficult for her; in the beginning, she considered an "aloof" man who gradually warms up emotionally or a sex-obsessed man.[4] She decided that neither characterization would be a good fit for Chi and settled on one of a penniless and benevolent student.[4] In keeping with the conventions of the romantic comedy genre, the group had planned to introduce conventional characters, such as an older female neighbor and a physically attractive friend from childhood; in the case of Chobits, the "childhood friend" never appeared.[4] The artwork was done in ballpoint pen to evoke the sense of "rough" lines,[4] and colored pages were done in acrylic gouache.[5]

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]
Main article: List of Chobits chapters

Chobits began as a manga written and illustrated by Clamp, a collective of four Japanese manga artists. It appeared as a serial in the seinen manga magazine Weekly Young Magazine from the 43rd issue for 2000 to the 48th issue for 2002.[3] Kodansha compiled the eighty-eight chapters into eight bound volumes and published them from February 14, 2001, to November 29, 2002.[6][7]

In 2002, Tokyopop licensed Chobits for an English-language translation in North America and marketed it as part of its new unflipped manga line, which reads from right-to-left.[8] Previously, translated manga was typically flipped from its original reading order to a left-to-right one to better suit Western readers.[8] Tokyopop published the series from April 23, 2002, to October 7, 2003,[9][10] and its translation was distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment.[11] Tokyopop's license concluded in 2009.[12] At the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, Dark Horse Manga announced an omnibus edition of the series in celebration of Clamp's 10th anniversary.[13] In 2010, it published the two volumes on March 24, and September 29, respectively.[14][15]

After Dark Horse Comics' license expired, Kodansha USA Publishing announced its publication in 2019 under the Kodansha Classics line.[16][17] Chobits 20th Anniversary Edition was announced in 2020.[18]

Chobits is also published in Hong Kong in Traditional Chinese by Jonesky, in Singapore in Simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi, in South Korea by Daiwon C.I., in France by Pika Édition, in Spain by Norma Editorial, in Mexico by Grupo Editorial Vid, in Italy by Star Comics (which serialized it in Express), in Germany by Egmont Manga & Anime (which serialized it in Manga Power [de]), in Poland by Japonica Polonica Fantastica, in Brazil by JBC, and in Sweden by Carlsen Verlag.

An artbook based on the series, titled Your Eyes Only, was published by Kodansha; it was licensed in North America by Tokyopop.[19] In addition, A City with No People, the fictional picture book written in the series by Chitose Hibiya, was released in Japan as a picture book;[20]

Anime

[edit]
Main article: List of Chobits episodes

An animated adaptation of Chobits was produced by Madhouse, Tokyo Broadcasting System, Pioneer LDC and Movic and directed by Morio Asaka, with Hisashi Abe designing the characters and Keitarō Takanami composing the music.[21] The series was broadcast in 26 episodes from 2 April 2002 to 24 September 2002 on TBS. It was later released on 8 DVDs.[22] The original episodes 9 and 18 are "recap" episodes, summarizing previous events. These episodes were re-numbered for the DVD release as episodes 8.5 and 16.5, respectively, and removed from their original sequence by being published together on the final DVD. As a result, the series is 24 episodes long on DVD. In addition, there are two DVD-only OVAs: a 27th episode recapping the series (numbered episode 24.5) and a 6-minute special, "Chobits: Plum and Kotoko Deliver". The opening theme is "Let Me Be With You" by Round Table featuring Nino. The ending themes are "Raison d'être" (Reason to Be) by Rie Tanaka (episodes 1–13), "Ningyo-hime" (Mermaid Princess) by Rie Tanaka (episodes 14–25), and "Katakoto no Koi" (Awkward Love) by Rie Tanaka and Tomokazu Sugita (episode 26). The ending theme for the OVA is "Book End Bossa" by Round Table featuring Nino.

Chobits was licensed in North America by Geneon in July 2002,[23] which has released the series in 7 DVDs. This release is redistributed in the United Kingdom (on 6 DVDs instead of 7, placing the recap episodes and special as extras on disk 6) by MVM Films,[24] and in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment.[25] At Anime Boston 2010, North American anime distributor Funimation announced that they license rescued Chobits and would release the series on DVD and Blu-ray on April 26, 2011 and May 10, 2011, respectively.[26][27] The anime series made its US television debut on May 9, 2011 on the Funimation Channel.[28]

The series is also licensed in Taiwan by Proware Multimedia, in France and the Netherlands by Kazé, in Germany by ADV Films and later Kaze Germany, and in Russia by MC Entertainment. The series was broadcast in Korea by AniOne TV, in France by Europe 2 TV, in Spain by both Animax España and Buzz Channel, in Portugal on Animax Portugal, and in Poland by Hyper.

Soundtracks

[edit]

Two soundtracks from the anime were released by Pioneer. Chobits Original Soundtrack 001 was released 1 July 2003 and Chobits Original Soundtrack 002 was released 7 October 2003. Three singles were released, the opening theme "Let Me Be with You" by Round Table featuring Nino, and two ending themes by Rie Tanaka, "Raison d'être" and "Ningyo Hime". In addition, a character song album, Chobits Character Song Collection, was released on 17 February 2004.

One piece of music in the anime nicknamed "Dark Chi's Theme" by fans (because it appears in "Freya mode") appears on the Best of Chobits soundtrack. Original name of the track is "Fuuma (Dialogue Mix)" and "Kamui (Dialogue Mix)", which are available on their respective singles "Fuuma" Single and "Kamui" Single from the X soundtrack.

Video games

[edit]

In 2002 Marvelous Entertainment released in Japan only a Chobits game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance called Chobits: Atashi Dake no Hito. The game was available bundled with a clear blue Game Boy Advance with a decal of Chi above the A+B buttons and a Chobits logo above the D-pad.[29]

In 2003 Broccoli released a Sony PlayStation 2 game titled Chobits: Chii Dake no Hito, a Bishōjo visual novel. Like the Game Boy Advance game, this too was released only in Japan.

Another PC-version game was also released in 2002, using Macromedia and QuickTime as the background support. This game is called Communication Game, in which the player can "talk" with Chi and teach her to speak. It also contained some small games inside such as a keyboard typing game.

Reception

[edit]

Reviews have been mixed. Shaenon K. Garrity of Anime News Network criticized the series' description of persocoms as "obedient" and "perfect," writing, "The persocoms are perfect women, stripped clean of everything that makes real women less than perfect servants to men—that is, one might say, everything that makes women human."[30] Finn Clark wrote, "The show's thematic engine lies in women who are objects. In a genre that's always at risk of objectifying women, here it's been made literal."[31] The adaptation was criticized for shifting the focus from Hideki to Chi, in particular for having episodes devoted to Chi "doing cute things" and providing fanservice.[32] Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies stated that the OVA's main strength is "its questioning of how we use technology, and whether it can be a substitute, rather than a support, for real life".[33]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kimlinger, Carl (August 11, 2011). "Chobits DVD Complete Box Set [Classic] - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Jing, Jacki; Loveridge, Lynzee (May 10, 2020). "Top 5 CLAMP Anime - The List". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Clamp (June 2007). Clamp no Kiseki. Vol. 7. Los Angeles, California: Tokyopop. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-59532-611-9.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Clamp (June 2007). Clamp no Kiseki. Vol. 7. Los Angeles, California: Tokyopop. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-59532-611-9.
  5. ^ a b c d Clamp (January 2005). Clampノ絵シゴト North Side (1989–2002). Los Angeles, California: Tokyopop. pp. 154–5. ISBN 978-1-59182-902-7.
  6. ^ ちょびっツ（１）｜講談社コミックプラス [Chobits (1)｜ Kodansha Comics Plus] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  7. ^ "Chobits Volume 8" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Tokyopop Commits to Unflopped Manga". Anime News Network. January 29, 2002. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Chobits Volume 1". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on December 19, 2002. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  10. ^ "Chobits Volume 8". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on December 12, 2003. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  11. ^ "Madman > Manga > Catalogue > Chobits". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 16, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  12. ^ "Tokyopop Confirms its Kodansha Licenses Will End". Anime News Network. August 31, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  13. ^ "Dark Horse - San Diego Comic-Con International 2009". Anime News Network. 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
  14. ^ "Chobits Vol. 1 Omnibus Edition TPB :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". Dark Horse Manga. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  15. ^ "Chobits Vol. 2 Omnibus Edition TPB :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". Dark Horse Manga. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  16. ^ "Kodansha Licenses 6 New Manga, Acquires Saiyuki, Chobits, Clover". Anime News Network. July 6, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  17. ^ "AX2019 recap: all of our new licensing announcements and more!". Kodansha USA Publishing. July 6, 2019.
  18. ^ "Creator Spotlight: CLAMP! Rare Digital Manga Sale (Ends 6/15)". Kodansha USA Publishing. 9 June 2020.
  19. ^ Clamp (8 January 2008). Chobits Art Book: Your Eyes Only. TokyoPop. ISBN 978-1598165951.
  20. ^ Beveridge, Chris (2003-05-23). "Chobits Vol. #2: The Empty City (of 7)". Mania.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2008-08-24. I even went and bought the real version of the book that was made after the shows release and read parts of it to my daughter before bed.
  21. ^ "ちょびっツ" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  22. ^ "DVD&Video情報" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  23. ^ Phillips, George (11 July 2002). "AX 2002: Pioneer Panel". Anime News Network. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  24. ^ "MVM Films :: Anime DVD Licensors :: Catalogue". mvm-films.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  25. ^ "Madman > Madman Anime > Catalogue > Chobits". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  26. ^ Yadao, Jason (April 11, 2010). "Last-minute additions flow in for Kawaii Kon". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  27. ^ "Funimation Adds Chobits, Eden of the East Films". Anime News Network. 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  28. ^ "FUNimation Week 20 of 2011". Archived from the original on 2011-07-25.
  29. ^ "Nintendo to release Chobits GBA". Nintendo World Report. 2002-09-04. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  30. ^ Garrity, Shaenon K. "Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Special Guest Edition: Chobits". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  31. ^ Clark, Finn. "Chobits". FinnClark.com. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  32. ^ Carpenter, Christina (2002). "Chobits". THEM Anime Reviews. Retrieved 2008-08-24. "Whereas the manga version of Chobits concentrates more on Hideki's point of view, with him finding out Chii's secrets, the anime is Chii, Chii, and nothing but Chii. Now, if it were more about Chii finding out facets of her personality, basically a retelling of the manga from her point of view rather than Hideki's, this would be fine. Instead, three-fourths of the series is devoted to watching Chii do cute little things.
  33. ^ McCarthy, Helen. 500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide. — Harper Design, 2009. — P. 49. — 528 p. — ISBN 978-0061474507

Further reading

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