Chobits--'okay' or 'stay away'?

Postby **PinkCow** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:05 am

First of all, please forgive if this is posted in the wrong forum...I wasn't sure about here or anime reviews, but since I'm not doing the reviewing I thought I'd go with here. Anyhow.

My boyfriend, as well as a friend of mine, were talking to me about Chobits. Now, I think the animation of this particular show is really quite pretty, but I've never talked myself into watching it due to...quite a lot of the content. Some people have told me it's terrible and I should never watch it; others have said it's okay and not so bad. I don't want to watch it if I shouldn't...I just need a little help on this one.

Postby **uc pseudonym** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:19 am

This is the proper forum.

Regarding Chobits... hmm. I've only read the manga, but I would imagine that the anime is roughly similar. For those people that care about nice love stories, it is a decent one of those. Very CLAMP, if you like that.

Negative aspects. Only two leap to mind immediately: first, Chi spends a fair amount of time sans clothing, for generally no good reason. I believe someone mentioned this was less in the anime, but I cannot confirm that. Second, Chi's reset switch is located in the least comfortable of body cavities, if you get my drift. There's a reason for this, but it's a pretty obvious aspect.

Postby **Azier the Swordsman** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:35 am

From what I understand, one of the main characters (not Chi, the guy; I don't know his name, sorry) is a porn addict.

I've never seen this series, so I can't help a whole lot.

Postby **PinkCow** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 10:02 am

Hm...thanks to the two of you for answering so fast.

When you say 'sans clothing'...do you mean that it's very detailed, or is it kind of like...transforming-scenes-in-Sailormoon style?
And as for the button location...yeah, my friend warned me about that already. Is that scene like...a drawn-out one, or is just a fleeting thing? Does that even make sense? :eh:

Postby **Tenshi no Ai** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 10:26 am

PinkCow wrote:Hm...thanks to the two of you for answering so fast.

When you say 'sans clothing'...do you mean that it's very detailed, or is it kind of like...transforming-scenes-in-Sailormoon style?
And as for the button location...yeah, my friend warned me about that already. Is that scene like...a drawn-out one, or is just a fleeting thing? Does that even make sense?

Ok I've seen the whole anime and read all the manga so i can help fill you out.

The clothing part is only in the manga. Only at the begining of the anime is where Chi is without clothes, and her hair covers the bad areas. That's about it, but she does wear one dress that is a little revealing.

The button scene is the same in both manga/anime, and you can't see anything.

Yes, Hideaki is a porn addict and in both the anime/manga he has his mags laying around the house where Chi... (since she's not that bright) tries to copy the positions in the mag and Hideaki gets the wrong impression (I'm making it sounds worse than it really is though.)

I will warn you about one part though which I would concider the worse of the whole series. Chi wants to find a "good job" and finds a shady man that tells her he has one... except it's a peep show. She wears sort of revealing clothing and is told to well, strip down for her show :/ You can't see nudity in either version, except the manga I think has her in a bra and panties. Worse part is when her temporary mangager wants her to umm... press her on/off switch for the audience, and so does it for her. And that is the absolute WORSE part of the whole thing.

Yeah I know CLAMP can have warped-ecchi minds, but if you get past some of the bad parts, the manga/anime have a decent storyline about a few romances... sure some involve persocoms, but it's still a good story. Being a girl it was an easy show to watch and nejoy the show. And yeah there are quite a few hillarious scenes. But yeah, this anime/manga is indeed for mature audiences, in other words if you're mature enough, you can watch it. I find the art beautiful for both versions, and found a nice Chobits artwork book online that comes with many nicely done paintings by CLAMP. Once again, the pics are sometimes a little revealing :/ Still nice pics though I think (from an artist's perception).

If you want any other answers, just ask!

Postby **PinkCow** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 1:27 pm

Wow, thank you -very- much, that's helped me a great deal. I'm mature enough, but I can be kind of sensitive about some things...it sounds like the anime is a little more toned-down than the manga though, and I think I'm going to borrow the first few episodes from a friend and see what I think.
If anything I might just get that art book, since I really just want to see it for it the animation. ^^ Thanks so much again!

Postby **Lunis** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 2:01 pm

Even though you've already made your decision, I would like to put in my two cents. I tried watching one episode just to see what it's like. My dad was nearby within listening distance. I knew how bad some anime could get with sexual stuff, so I decided to give it three strikes. The first strike I gave was when two of the boys were talking about trying to take a girl to bed after a date. The next strike was the last one I gave, because I just turned it off after that one. The main guy was talking about being nervous about the date, and Chi advised him to read porn. I decided that since there were two strikes that were pretty bad, in my opinion, during the first five minutes of the show, I really need not be watching it. My dad agreed.

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 2:21 pm

i watched the first episode of this a while ago. the art is really nice, but I think there is just too much bad junk in it to make it worth watching. i couldnt watch past the 1st episode.

Postby **PinkCow** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:56 pm

Wow, thanks again guys...after hearing the last three comments, I'm not sure at all about trying the first episode. Someone advised me that if I was just watching it for the art, to watch Card Captor Sakura instead...hm, I'm not sure at all now. But thanks very much for pointing this stuff out.

Postby **ShiroiHikari** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 8:04 pm

yeah, I personally didn't like Chobits. .__. it was embarrassing watching it with two other guys. and that was just like, the first couple of episodes. so yeah, no more Chobits for me. I'm not a fan of sexual "humor" I guess.

edit: forgot a quotation mark o_o

Postby **awsam007** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:45 am

I've seen the entire anime. Chobits was very funny, very artistic, even touching at times...and unfortunatly contained very mature themes as well. I enjoyed it but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone who can't handle sexual humor. It belongs in the mature section for sure, but at least I give CLAMP credit for portraying Hideki's porn fetish as something abnormal and shameful. The show itself has high production values (art, music, widescreen presentation) but stay away unless you're mature enough.

Postby **Tenshi no Ai** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 10:32 am

awsam007 wrote:I've seen the entire anime. Chobits was very funny, very artistic, even touching at times...and unfortunatly contained very mature themes as well. I enjoyed it but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone who can't handle sexual humor. It belongs in the mature section for sure, but at least I give CLAMP credit for portraying Hideki's porn fetish as something abnormal and shameful. The show itself has high production values (art, music, widescreen presentation) but stay away unless you're mature enough.

Exactly.

But for all those saying that you watched one ep and stayed away, might've been a good choice for you guys, but I've always thought never to judge an anime by only watching an ep or so (unelss it is in fact hentai or whatever).

Honestly, I've seen worse than this series (Elfen Lied for example... the impression from the first ep was.......). But even with Elfen I'm trying to get past the bad parts at the begining (in that case, extreme violence... even for anime TV!) so I can get to the storyline, which seems promising.

For the Chobits story in both the anime/manga, it DOES in fact get deeper, and that's why I like it. Yes it does have it's sexual-mature theme and if you must stay away from it, do. But once again, if you get past all that stuff it's a very nice show. A VERY nice anime ending, except a very... different manga ending. I'd probably prefer the anime ending, though.

Postby **Raiden no Kishi** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 1:26 pm

Frankly, I don't think any deep storylines are worth wading chest-deep in the fanservice-y sewage. I can't really find any reason to care about the main characters, a perverted loser and an android whose sole purpose in life is fanservice.

That's why I couldn't even finish the first volume.

Rai

Postby **PinkCow** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 1:42 pm

Hm...well, these recent posts have really made me second-guess giving Chobits a try. Now I feel like I'm caught in the middle of a moral dilemma and I can't figure out which way to go. This is all very confusing...but againk thanks very much for the opinions and info about it. I'm still working on sorting this out in my head.

Postby **Tenshi no Ai** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:08 pm

PinkCow wrote:Hm...well, these recent posts have really made me second-guess giving Chobits a try. Now I feel like I'm caught in the middle of a moral dilemma and I can't figure out which way to go. This is all very confusing...but againk thanks very much for the opinions and info about it. I'm still working on sorting this out in my head.

If that's the case, I suggest you read up a bit on it. Summaries and maybe browse through some ep. guides and such.

Raiden no Kishi wrote:
Frankly, I don't think any deep storylines are worth wading chest-deep in the fanservice-y sewage. I can't really find any reason to care about the main characters, a perverted loser and an android whose sole purpose in life is fanservice.

That's why I couldn't even finish the first volume.

Rai

Half the anime/manga out there are filled with fanservice and it's something pretty hard to get away from. The main characters do turn out to have good personalities. Even if Hideki is into porn like most "normal" guys are in the world, he's actualy a sensitive/shy/frigid even, person. So he really ain't a pervert. Chi's pupose in life is actually [spoiler]to find "the one for her" just like any human would do. Being a Chobit, it's like her AI is real, and the only help she has to do it, is her creater's wife writing picture books to help, and having the "soul" of her twin sister inside of her, to help her find "the one"[/spoiler]

And THAT is the true purpose of the story. Can't be helped that CLAMP make nice stories with fanservice in them, I mean, even Rumiko Takahashi does that at times with Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2.

Postby **shooraijin** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:46 pm

I spoilerized your post for you, but in the future: [ spoiler] [ /spoiler] (take out the spaces).

Postby **uc pseudonym** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm

awsam007 wrote:I've seen the entire anime. Chobits was very funny, very artistic, even touching at times...and unfortunatly contained very mature themes as well. I enjoyed it but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone who can't handle sexual humor. It belongs in the mature section for sure, but at least I give CLAMP credit for portraying Hideki's porn fetish as something abnormal and shameful. The show itself has high production values (art, music, widescreen presentation) but stay away unless you're mature enough.

I fully support the general statement as personified by the final sentence. However, I would draw slight issue with the phrasing of " I enjoyed it but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to someone who can't handle sexual humor." Specifically, use of the word "handle." There's quite a group of people who, while being mature enough to deal with a given series, simply find such things stupid. Minor distinction, but the nuance is entirely different.

Postby **awsam007** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:15 am

I agree with all of what Tenshi said. And uc psedudonym, sorry, I didn't mean "handle" as in, if you can't watch that sort of thing without it leading you to sinful thoughts etc, then there's something wrong with you. In fact, all the off-color humor bothered me to the point where I almost stopped watching the series, but as Tenshi said, it really does get much deeper and poignent and the fan servicy stuff goes away as far as I can remember. Anyway, sorry again, bad choice of words of my part. Point taken.

For example, the point where I knew this series wasn't just a stupid fan service fest was...

[spoiler]...at the end of one of the episodes halfway through in the series when it's raining and Hideki sees his friend with his teacher. Suddenly the music changes to something very dramatic and continues through the credits, becoming the new closing song from that point of the show on. Very nice directing and production work there. The show is completely different from then on. It was completely unexpected.[/spoiler]

Postby **termyt** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:35 am

I agree with the Angel of Love enough to where I wasn't going to post except something jumped out at me. I've watched and not been bothered by shows with a lot more fan service than the Chobits anime. Perhaps I have a higher tolerance (or maybe I'm just warped?)

Anyway, the amount and types of fanservice you can handle is pretty much up to you. I'd recommend watching the first DVD to see what you think. If it's too much, stop watching. If it's not, then there's a pretty decent story waiting for you and they cut back on the fanservice later in the show.

I would also echo what awsam007 said - the worst parts of the series are looked down upon and discouraged. That doesn't necessarily excuse their presence in the first place, but it makes it more tolerable.

Postby **Mr. SmartyPants** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 6:16 pm

i like chobits... i think it's a cute anime, though there are times of fanservice, i just ignore it. The plot is what draws me in.

Postby **desperado** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:06 am

sorry about bringing back such an old post but i have something to say, i liked the anime but it had one part (im making this quick have school soon) that made me just stop and evaluate conting to watch it. this is when one of the students runs out with the teacher (who is married) to a resort. and seriously the thing plays it up as if its a good thing.

Postby **Kisa** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:30 am

Anime and manga wise I heard it is VERY fanservicey and hentai-ish. Everything from skimpy clothes to nudity and porn . . . yes it is by CLAMP who hass wonderful stories and art, but its not worth it. I flipped through it once and was utterley disgusted . . .

Postby **PinkCow** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:44 am

Just in case anyone reading this thread wondered, I still was never able to get up the nerve to give Chobits a chance. It's still something I'm debating with myself over, and I really wish I could've come to a better conclusion. I guess I'm just gonna be doomed to fight with myself about until one day I just either decide to give in and watch it or give up and don't.

Postby **Kisa** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:46 am

If you want to see without buying, just flip through the manga in the stores, you'll get the idea . . . nothing is worth all that stuff you have to get past to the story . . .

Postby **desperado** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:31 pm

ahem now ill say in greater detail what i said before. being a guy at my age a lot of the stuff happens a lot at school so it doesnt bother me to much (the pervertedness of some of the jokes) but something did bother me and truly disturbed me about the series. the main characters best freind runs away with there teacher who is married. the only explanation is that they are "running away for love" and that she "wanted to teach elementry but my husband wanted me to teach this so we could have more time together even though elementry teaching was my dream" (now dont get me wrong for misquoting im just telling you what it said on the fansub i watched quite a while back) and it glorfies "running away for love" even though the main character is uneasy about it he finally comes to accept it at the end. this is totally wrong and is pure adultry besides having sex with a minor. (it shows there legs as he jumps on top of her in one scene) now the ending of chobits was extremely good for an anime and the rest was simple college and highschool guys joking stuff (crude joking and the exesive jokes to the main characters porn collection bugged me) so my verdict is. youll like this if your a hormonal guy that doesnt understand the need to be pure, but this series has good but the bad far outweighs it in the anime version. i suggest if you must see it (it does have some good stuff story wise (the ending)) skip the bad episodes (get a guide) othewise i suggest staying away from it (though a personocon would be usefull in todays life)

Postby **PinkCow** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:17 pm

Well, not being hormonal or a guy, and not enjoying such types of humor, I think my final verdict will be "stay away" on Chobits. A friend of mine is still trying to convince me to watch it with her...so I may appease her and watch the first episode... But! I would like to say thank you -very- much to all those who have put their two cents' worth in for me here. ^-^

Postby **desperado** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:20 pm

anytime. just make sure to stay away from that one episode i think it may be called "running for love" or something along that line

Postby **Kisa** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 6:45 am

Yes stay away is good. . . don't let your freind pressure you though!
Glad to have helped!
^^

Postby **termyt** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:39 am

I didn't read the manga, so I don't know about its contents, but I have seen the anime. The main character - Chii - gets her self into some compromising situations through her own naivetÃ©, but there is no hentai. There are some suggestive poses, but no nudity. As a matter of course, Chii is defended rigorously by her owner, Hideki, which I find to be a redeeming quality. I was fine with the level of innuendo in the show, but Iâ€™ll also say I seem to have a higher threshold for that than many people do on this site.

As for the running away for love episode, just to clear up any misunderstandings about the anime (again, I canâ€™t comment on the manga), thereâ€™s a few things that should be considered:

[spoiler]
1. The school is a cram school for students who failed their college entrance exams. The student is an adult and the teacher is only a few years older than her students, so thereâ€™s no underaged relations.
2. The teacher is divorced from her husband who fell in love with a persocom. Adultery is the one reason that justifies divorce and her husband committed that against her with his computer, at least in his heart. So sheâ€™s not an adulteress and thus, neither is the student.
3. The teacher and the student end up married, but Iâ€™m not sure of the timing of this. The official matters of divorce and re-marriage are a little sketchy, so you can choose to believe the best or the worst.
[/spoiler]

I donâ€™t really want to start a Chobits war, but I felt I should speak a little of what I know of the series. In the end, it has a pretty positive and interesting story to tell and I enjoyed it. The only way you can know if you are OK with it is to watch the first few episodes. But, if you are uncomfortable with it, then donâ€™t. Itâ€™s better to be safe than sorry and thereâ€™s no shame in refusing to watch something you arenâ€™t comfortable with.

Postby **desperado** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:25 pm

ok if thats what really happened then i cant say anything. im just saying what i understood from it

Chobits--'okay' or 'stay away'?

Chobits--'okay' or 'stay away'?

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