Chobits

Chobits
Artist/ Author: Clamp

Publisher: TokyoPop April 2002


April 23, 2002, ISBN-10: 1931514925



Plot Summary:Created by CLAMP a collection of four Japanese author artists. It is a seinen manga. A story of about a student trying to prepare for University, and he wants a Persocom. A Persocom is a robot in human form. By chance, he stumbles on a beautiful persocom, and she is tied up by the trash. He takes her home and turns her on, and then he calls her “Chii,” as it is the only word she speaks. In the story we see Hideki struggle as he teaches Chii language and appropriate social behavior. He also cannot decipher who made her and he visits many different people, including a twelve year old genius too, and he and his acquaintances realize she might be a “Chobit,” which is a “Legendary” Persocom with both “free will,” and “emotions.”


Critical Evaluation: The Persocom idea is an interesting twist. CLAMP's construction of Chobits appeals to the gaming and cyber crowd and the fact that the Persocoms free will and is not merely a robot to please the males; instead she also does what she wants.



Information about the author:CLAMP is a group of four women manga artists. The members at this time are Ageha Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, Mokona, and Satsuki Igarashi. Clamp creates: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, Chobits, Cardcaptor Sakura, X, Wish, Suki Dakara Suki (Because I Love You) and many others.

Genre: Manga

Curriculum Ties: none

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Do you find a moral dilemma in creating human-like robots to keep people happy?
2.) Do you feel Chii's behavior makes it easier or more difficult to accept that she is a robot?

Reading Level/ Age of interest: Some mature material: Ages 16 and up/ 10th grade up

Challenge Issues: There are no strong challenge issues.

Selection Reasons: I chose this manga title because the subject of a Persocom seemed that it would be interesting to people to discuss and consider the pros and cons of such a creation.