Chobits

Title: Chobits
Year of Release: 2002
Status: Complete
Story: CLAMP
Art: CLAMP

I love CLAMP's work, and their ability to combine all their stories into an intertwining universe where characters from other series' they've created can interact with one another (eg. Chi from Chobits is seen several times throughout the CLAMP series Tsubasa: The Reservoir Chronicles, along with characters from the xXxholic series, and characters from Angelic Layer, and Kotabo at various times).



ART SECTION: 9/10

General Artwork & Backgrounds 4/4: I love the detail CLAMP puts into their work. While the story for Chobits is set in (relatively) modern day Japan, they obviously worked very hard to get the details for the cityscape(s) to be as accurate as they could. CLAMP has this thing where they put stunning amounts of detail into their work, and the majority of the time it goes unnoticed because it's just that good. CLAMP also has this thing where they like to set their stories in alternate universes, which allows them to basically draw whatever the hell they want and make it look however they please - but it's always really well done. I only bring that up because, for me, Chobits was a breath of fresh air amongst their works, because it is so different from their other works, in that sense.

Character Figures 2/2: As mentioned just above this sentence, CLAMP's detailing is extraordinary. For the characters, the detailing pertains mostly within the regions of the hair and clothing and stays away from the tradition "big anime eyes" type of styling, but it is something else entirely to compare it to another anime because Chobits is definitely unique in every sense.

Watchability (Flow) 3/4: I'm giving it a 3/4 because the anime series definitely catered to their fanbase by devoting entire episodes to Chi doing adorable things when, realistically, the story isn't about Chi but Hideki. I understand that Chi is adorable, and I understand that CLAMP wanted to feature her a little more prominently in the series, but I feel that it was a little unnatural. The end result was basically this: If you show a picture of Chi to someone who like anime, they'll likely exclaim "CHOBITS!" even if they haven't seen it. If you show that same person a picture of Hideki, they'd likely be confused about the character and not know which series he's from. Get my drift? I kind of undermines the whole theme of the series, which I'll get into a little more in the General Scenario section below.

STORY SECTION: 10/10 
 
General Scenario 2/2: This series tackles some very tough issues. First and foremost, the fact that Chi is a robot but looks like a human; she appears human, but is obedient to her master. I've seen and heard many complaints that the series objectifies women in that regard, because it's basically saying the perfect woman has no free will and should lack any personality to remain attractive to males. Okay, that might be correct to assume, but once you've seen it you'll know for yourself that there are male Persocoms throughout the series as well. Also, to say that women are being objectified in this series is hilariously inaccurate - the main theme to the series is the question of whether or not it's right or wrong to be romantically attracted to something non-human. Please explain how women are being objectified by not being the love interests in an anime (for once). That's like saying that guys are objectifying women in gay porn. No. Just... no. Furthermore, there are only 2 characters in the story that appear even remotely attracted to their Persocoms: Hideki (who seems very unsure of how he should proceed with these feelings), and Minoru (a Persocom programmer who appears to be madly in love with his favourite custom-made Persocom). While it isn't said outright, it's strongly implied that Minoru loves his custom-made Persocom very dearly and that his love transcends more than just the master/servant boundaries.

Pacing 2/2: This series has a great pacing. It was fun and light-hearted until the second half of the series came around, and even once that point had passed by, the pacing remained consistent despite the events occurring around the characters.

Side Stories 2/2: The side story for A City with No People, a picture book series featured in the anime to help Chi learn to speak and interact with others was mind-bogglingly well placed and helped to catapult Chi to the forefront of the story.

Plausibility 2/2: In today's society, there's a real strong presence in the field of AI and the manufacturing of robots. The possibility of this story becoming a reality is frighteningly near at hand, and for that I give this series a 2/2 rating.

Conclusion 2/2: I felt that they couldn't have ended this better. Literally everything about this series is wonderful, with exception to the Chi fan service aspects (for me, anyways).


VALUE & ENJOYMENT SECTION: 10/10

This is one of those series that I've seen many, many, many times. Each time I watch it I see something I never noticed before (I dunno, maybe I'm just half-blind or stupid) and each time the story touches my heart. I know I'll watch it several more times in my lifetime, and to find an anime with that much replay value is very rare indeed.
 
VERDICT: 29/30 

I thought rating Tsukihime, Lunar Legend at 27/30 was the best I'd get for awhile until I spontaneously decided to review Chobits. Wow, good job CLAMP.
I sentence this series to be awesome until the day that the world explodes and all copies are lost forever.
If you have never seen this series, you have to watch it. Yes, there's some romance, but that isn't the point of the series and it can easily be overlooked for the bigger issues and themes that the story deals with. It's time well spent and there is some magic about the series that keeps you almost entranced while you watch it.

SUGGESTION LIST

(Works by CLAMP)
Tsubasa: The Reservoir Chronicles
WISH
xXxholic
Angelic Layer
Kobato.