Review of Chobits: Vol. 3

Introduction

Chobits takes place in a not too distant future, where computers and similar gadgets have evolved into Persocoms. Designed to be companions for people, they are technological devices in robot bodies that look completely human except for the ears, with a degree of intelligence and personality, and tailored to the needs of their owners.

Hideki Motosuwa is a Ronin, that is he has failed his entrance exams for university, and is playing catch up by enrolling in a prep school to get his grades up to scratch. He`s left his home in the country and moved to the city for this, finding lodgings as well as a job in a bar to pay the bills. He`s shy around the opposite sex, though he has a healthy interest in girlie magazines, or Yummies as he calls them. He`s surprised to see the number of Persocoms in the city; it looks as if everyone has got one of the expensive items. He knows he`ll never be able to afford one, so it seems serendipitous when he finds one discarded. He`s not exactly savvy about technology, but fellow student and neighbour Hiromu Shinbo along with Minoru Kokubunji help him reactivate Chi. But Chi is a blank slate, one that miraculously appears to be operating without an OS. Hideki is soon spending his spare time teaching Chi, but Chi manifests some odd traits. Just where did she come from, and what was she before her memory was wiped?

This is the third volume in Chobits, and contains 5 more episodes.

9. Chi Buys
Chi has her first pay check from the bakery, and decides that her first shopping trip should be to get a present for Hideki. It`s a good thing that she knows what he likes, namely Yummies. Meanwhile Shinbo reminds Hideki that persocoms need hygiene too, and he has to steel himself to teach Chi how to bathe. Hard at the best of times, the task becomes impossible when he sees Chi`s present. Then Kokubunji phones.

10. Chi Meets
Hideki is stunned when Yumi asks him out on a date. He`s soon bemoaning his lack of experience and looking for advice. Shinbo`s happy to oblige of course. Meanwhile Chi stays at home to read her new book. It`s a continuation of The Empty City, the book that had her levitating before, and this new chapter has equally odd effects on her.

11. Chi Confirms
Spooky weather sends Hideki`s imagination into overdrive, as he recalls a ghostly story about a murder that took place in an apartment block. In an apartment building much like the one in which he now lives. When his fears begin to get the better of him, Chi decides to investigate.

12. Chi Plays
Hideki gets hold of a DVD player, but what to watch? He goes to the video store to buy some Yummies on disc, but he meets Kokubunji who convinces him to try an online RPG instead, one in which Chi can play as well. Only once they are in the game, Chi goes missing.

13. Chi Goes To The Ocean
It`s summer and Hideki decides to devote all his effort to studying. That doesn`t explain how everyone ends up at the beach though for a weekend of sun and relaxation. Hideki gets the wrong end of the stick when his teacher offers him a private lesson. Then Chi decides to swim with the dolphins, only persocoms aren`t that waterproof.

Video

Chobits gets a clear and sharp 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer. The stylised animation has a simple pastel palette, avoiding bright primary colours for a more muted gentle colour scheme that complements the story ideally. The character designs are simple but effective. The layer change is neatly placed between episodes 3 and 4.

Audio

You get a choice of DD 2.0 Stereo English or Japanese. The subtitles are translated from the Japanese, and there is also an option to have just the signs translated. As always, I listened to the Japanese track, and it is accomplished well enough, with noticeable Stereo separation. The English dub is serviceable, but not astounding, the biggest drawback of which has to be the voice chosen for Chi, which sounds monotonous and out of character. In a more and more common occurrence with anime, the music is excellent. I loved the opening theme, "Let Me Be With You" and my toes were most definitely tapping.

Features

The Apple Mac menus are back. There are a few inconsequential extras as per usual for these anime DVDs. You get the textless closing, the original Japanese opening, an art gallery containing 15 images from the shows, and trailers for Paranoia Agent and Samurai Champloo. There is also a simple jacket picture that displays when the disc isn`t spinning.

Conclusion

Volume 3 of Chobits provides more of the same gentle relationship comedy and mystery as before, as more hints are revealed about Chi`s past, her personality develops and Hideki finds that he is drawn to her even more. In the US, Chobits was released over 7 discs, with Volume 3 containing 4 episodes. With the advent of Volume 3 with an extra episode in the UK, I get the feeling that MVM will be releasing the series in a wallet-friendlier six discs.

Hideki is a likeable enough chap, unsuccessful, well meaning though awkward, and with a habit of talking to himself. His relationship with Chi is at the heart of the story, and it`s a tender, warm affection that he has for her. She is essentially an innocent, a blank slate, and naturally he becomes protective of her, as well as a teacher. She also returns that affection, but at this point in the series, it`s more of a platonic relationship that has the potential to become deeper. He`s also unique in his provincial background in that he treats persocoms with respect, yet can still distinguish between them and human company. But those lines gradually blur in these episodes. He jumps at the chance to go on a date with Yumi, but will get embarrassed for Chi, jump to protect her, and even risk his life for her.

Chobits works on many levels. On the surface it`s a romantic comedy, sweet and heart-warming, but there is also a commentary on how we as a society interact with our technology. There`s more of this as Chi continues to read The Empty City. When people start interacting with Persocoms instead of each other, what will become of human society? On top of this is the big mystery; just who is Chi, where did she come from, and why is she so different from the average persocom?

Chobits is a gentle paced anime, which certainly has entertainment value. It`s one of those peculiarities common to anime that Hideki is always surrounded by beautiful women, one of whom, Yumi obviously adores him. Yet he is awkward and shy, and on some level prefers the company of Chi. There is also the fact that much of the show has a narrow focus on Hideki and Chi, and even if you enjoy the characters, the constancy of awkward situations between them means that Chobits is better in small doses. I enjoyed the episodes that featured the entire cast more, especially when they were there as more than a means to exposition. Chobits is an enjoyable gentle anime, none too taxing and full of sweet characters and tender situations, but it doesn`t stand out as anything spectacular or groundbreaking.