Chobits
Director
Morio Asaka
Production
Madhouse, Project Chobits, TBS
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2002
Chobits Volume 2: The Empty City
By otaku_kei
15th May 05  So Chi and Hideki are getting to know one another. He has made sure she has some panties, even though it took all of his willpower (after all he wouldn't want to come across like a pervert, not in anime it's never heard of). Chi is starting to learn words, and has now worked out that Hideki is called Hideki, and the kettle is NOT called Hideki. Whilst the cute humour of the first few episodes is now left behind this second visit into Chobits takes a more serious slant but one that never forgets about the light-hearted core that has so far made this show what it is. With these four episodes we get to see Chi grow slightly more as her CPU learns how to interact. Her discovery of a book titled 'The Empty City' seems to provide some impetus to her, perhaps awakening some hidden programs inside her. This book certainly appears to signify more than would be expected. But the main crux of these episodes relates to Hideki's woes with cash and his abysmal attempts to survive in Tokyo. With all of his outgoings such a rent, school fees, study materials, food... Hideki is struggling to make ends meet. So Chi volunteers to get a job, an endeavour that has mixed results. Already into the second volume and we are starting to get hints at some kind of conspiracy behind Chi's creation. Why does this book have such significance, who is the floating Chi dressed in black, what the hell does it all mean? Questions raised, that are not answered here but help to move this show away from some of the puerile humour that has dogged it. But then again I'm a fan of some puerile humour every so often, hell I like South Park and you cannot get more puerile. We still get a fair smattering of Hideki getting flustered by Chi, or his lusting over any pretty girl he meets such as his teacher, landlady, co-worker... he may be slightly desperate. These lustings of course come hand-in-hand with the obligatory nosebleed, an affectation that the Japanese associate with sex drive - I have no comprehension as to why. So with the end of the second volume, this show has not abandoned what has made it enjoyable so far but has introduced a new plot thread that hints at a more serious plot to come later. At this point I am finding this show enjoyable, but I think that much of the hype around this fan favourite may all have been too focussed on Chi. Yes, she is cute. No, she does not carry this show. If you enjoyed volume 1 then there is nothing to complain about here, but by the same guide if you could not stand volume 1 then stay clear as this volume is mostly the same.
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English Language 2.0; Japanese Language 2.0; English Subtitles; Textless Opening; Image Gallery; Trailers
Release information: OUT NOW
Notes: Volume 2 has pretty much everything that Volume 1, the same high quality of picture and sound, and also the same lack of extras apart from the standard image gallery and textless opening that each UK release gets blessed with.
-- otaku_kei 15th May 05
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