Walking in The Town With No People – Chobits

Now that I have my thoughts on Full Metal Panic in physical form, I’ve decided to get my thoughts on Chobits expressed on a physical medium too. Chobits is my favourite series (second only to Full Metal Panic) and has been so for a long time. I’m not sure what it is I watched first, but nonetheless, Chobits is very close to my appreciation of Full Metal Panic. In some cases my reasons for liking it are similar to Full Metal Panic, and in others, my reasons are quite different. I’m probably going to continue writing about all my favourite anime, even if they’re a bit older. I just want to express my thoughts to the world, and myself, so that I can have a better understanding of why I like the anime I like.

Fated Encounter

Hideki Motosuwa has failed to get into university. Despite looking forward to it a lot, he rather quickly perks up when he decides that he will move to Tokyo to go to a cram school (I was in a similar situation once, but I was a lot less enthusiastic about my new decision). However, when he gets there, Tokyo seems rather overwhelming. There’s so many people about, and so much going on. There are even Persocoms everywhere! Persocoms are basically walking computers. They can perform word processing, internet browsing, gaming and other tasks that PCs perform. Persocoms can even talk!

Chobits is actually set in present day Tokyo, so the technology used in the Persocoms isn’t too different from the technology of today’s PCs. Anyway, so Hideki is in awe of the Persocoms, but regrettably cannot afford one. After getting lost and having a rather embarrassing moment in front of his landlady, he moves into his flat/apartment (well, it’s actually just a small single room). Later that day, Hideki is heading back to his room whilst mulling things over. He then happens to come across a Persocom wrapped in nothing but bandages and has been left on top of a pile of garbage…

At first he thinks it’s a dead body, but quickly realises it’s a Persocom. After some thinking, he carries the Persocom home, and boy it’s heavy. Upon getting home, he tries to boot up the Persocom. (Warning: this clip is not safe for work)

It turns out that the Persocom can’t talk properly, and can only say the word “Chii”. After a bit of confusion, Hideki names her Chii. According to Shinbo, she might not even have an operating system installed, so how she’s active and responsive is a complete mystery. Taking Shinbo’s advice, Hideki brings Chii to a 12 year old Persocom prodigy called Minoru Kokobunji. Minoru’s analysis confirms nothing other than that Chii has learning software installed. Hideki takes it upon himself to teach Chii the ways of the world. However, Minoru warns Hideki it’s best that Hideki doesn’t fall in love with Chii.

Awareness

Interestingly, Chobits manages to point out some sociological problems that have come about from this computer age that actually do exist today, or, at the very least, will exist should our technology advance as far as it does in the story. Like in real life, characters in Chobits recognise the problems or have been victims of the problem themselves, and it tells each story in a darker way than you would imagine, given the way the comedy plays out in other episodes. If I recall correctly, more than half of the series takes place at night, so that helps give it that darker edge.

Hideki’s lecturer, Miss Shimizu, was happy with her husband until they got a Persocom. Because of the convenience of Persocoms, he grew too attached to it. Their conversations revolved around only Persocoms, and it got to a point that her husband would only talk to the Persocom. Eventually, he totally forgot that she was coming home one night, and she got locked out. The sad part is that she couldn’t get angry or cry. She just looked lost. Hideki’s friend and co-worker, Yumi, had to break up with her boyfriend because she had an inferiority complex to Persocoms (and still does). Talking about Persocoms causes her pain. Also, Chii’s work manager, Ueda, was actually married to a Persocom. He got a lot of stick from neighbouring shops, but he didn’t care because they were in love. However, she was an old model, and she began to break down and lose her memory. Then, she was hit by a car and “died” (whether A.I can die or not is a mystery). Really, every character has emotional scars because of Persocoms. This paints a very dark picture for what’s to come with our technology.

Tongue In Cheek

The ecchi scenarios and aspects of Chobits create misunderstandings with the less thought inclined type of viewer. To some, Chobits may seem like a typical ecchi comedy, but that’s not exactly right. It’s true that Chobits is an ecchi comedy, but that is not something which brings people to it. Most people come for the story or concept. However, the ecchi and comedy scenes have dual purposes. First, they are there to mock the typical ecchi comedies that are floating around. There are far too many cliches in those types of anime, and Chobits essentially makes fun of them by parodying them, or, ironically, simulating them. The other purpose is obviously to provide good fan service for those that want it, and considering the concept and source material, it’s not surprising that the fan service exists.

The One Just For Me

Wow. Chobits is just beautiful from start to finish. You will never find anything more melancholic yet beautiful at the same time. It paints a picture of not just our future, but even our present day. We need more human interaction, and less time spent with spent with technology. Just what goes through the mind of A.I.? Can machines with artificial intelligence really feel? Can they have emotions, and do they really die? Chobits gives me plenty to think about, and I still don’t have anymore answers than I did the first time I watched it. But then, I think mystery is far more fascinating than fact.