Chobits...on TV!?

[Arxane]

Some of us have heard about "Chobits", one of the bigger series being released by Pioneer (bigger because it was created by CLAMP), but not everyone has seen it.

Well, that might change, because I just found out on the TechTV boards something very interesting. During an official chat, one of the mods blurted out the following good news/bad news:

Good news: Chobits will be on TV
Bad news: It won't be on TechTV

You can go here (http://cgi.techtv.com/memberservices/chat?room=animeunleashed&view_log=1&logfile_date=07292003&page=3) to read the blurb.

So what does this mean? I remember a similar incident occurring several weeks ago to a little show called "FLCL". Does this mean Cartoon Network has picked up "Chobits", and if so for which block?

Make of it what you will, because I honestly don't know.

[Sigma]

Let's just pray that Cartoon Network picked it up. I would hate to see it go to ABC or FOX.

[Pepperidge]

Sounds logical. CN has a good relationship with Pioneer, and Chobits would be perfect for Adult Swim. It's just tame enough to get by pretty much unedited.

I can't really imagine ABC or Fox picking up a sex comedy.

[Animation Otaku]

Chobits? On TV?

OMGWTF!!1 :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :anime: :anime:

*clears throat*

Wow! I never expected this. What's next, Cowboy Bebop and Trigun on TV, oh wait? Shoot.

An Anime Channel? OH Shoot.

Man the world sure has changed in a few years.

[Tea]

Hmm.... I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up on Adult Swim, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it ended up on the Strip. Weren't they trying to get some anime?

I've seen a few episodes, and I'll never get why it has such a following. I found it a little perverted. :shrug:

[Senbei Norimaki]

Isn't Chobits too perverted to air on U.S. TV?

[The Drizzle]

Hmm.... I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up on Adult Swim, but I also wouldn't be surprised if it ended up on the Strip. Weren't they trying to get some anime?

The day anime is on The Strip is the day Invader Zim is on DVD.

[Amano Ginji]

The Strip would be the 4Kids of adult anime.

They'd change it to make it like pr0n.

X_X

[Juu-kuchi]

Somehow I wonder if they'll show Shinbo 'fondling' Chii in Episode 2 or when Chii goes panty shopping in Episode 4.

[Pepperidge]

Why wouldn't they?

[livingfruitvirus]

The Strip would be the 4Kids of adult anime.

They'd change it to make it like pr0n.

X_X

im assuming you saw Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.

[Karl Olson]

where it goes, it should be interesting to see how it's handled. it's probably one my least favorite Clamp adaptions (the pacing bites IMO), but it still manages to pack quite a punch in the end.

Now, where's Angelic Layer. ;)

[Umino]

How CAN you air Chobits on TV? I mean the series is pretty tame (compared to the manga), but I mean how are they going to explain Chi's own switch?

EDIT: I forgot maybe it could air on one of those Digital Cable only stantions. (StarZ, Action, Showtime Beyond)

Also if it does air on CN, I'll be doing comparsions. :D

[Andrew]

Well, remember that ADV is now getting stuff for the Anime Network from other companies. That's another possibility here.

[EDIT: Though, now that I think about it, an Anime Network airing wouldn't necessarily prevent TechTV from obtaining the rights...Boogiepop Phantom airs on both channels. Hrm.]

Williams Street claimed that they didn't have anything coming up that wasn't already announced. So unless Chobits is the "big surprise" for next year, which I highly doubt...

I don't know. We'll see, I guess.

[RockItShipper]

The day anime is on The Strip is the day Invader Zim is on DVD.

Go to a comic show. :D

[Elven Moon]

Well, if they air it on AS I'll be able to see it :) ADV is another story...

[Ryoutarou]

What if it get's aired on the anime channel? that would suck.

[Pepperidge]

Things don't "air" on the Anime Channel.

[Sir Gatts]

It could be possible (Not saying that it will.) that Chobits could go to the International Channel as they currently deal with both Pioneer Animation and ADV.

[Karl Olson]

It could be possible (Not saying that it will.) that Chobits could go to the International Channel as they currently deal with both Pioneer Animation and ADV.


International Channel is always a possibility. I suppose some one could ask Pioneer at Otakon and find out.

[hello_lola]

Gee, if I'd known it was going to air on TV I wouldn't have bought it--same thing happened with Trigun *pouts while looking in empty wallet*.

[Andrew]

The thing about the International Channel is, as far as I know, all the shows they've ever licensed have been back-catalog titles. Nothing ever new and shiny and, you know, still being released. Now, that's not to say that they couldn't start getting newer shows, Chobits being the first...

Also, I have to wonder about broadcast deals with the International Channel. Would an IC airing actually preclude TechTV from getting the rights to the show? Has there been a case where a show was airing on IC and another channel at the same time?

As I mentioned earlier, that's my problem with suggestions about the Anime Network and (as someone on another board theorized) KTEH in San Francisco...both of those stations have aired shows that also ran on TechTV.

And as TechTV themselves mentions in their FAQ, shows airing on premium channels like Starz!, Encore, or Showtime doesn't necessarily prevent them from getting the rights to those, either.

Honestly, the only channel I can think of that would both have a place to air Chobits and would absolutely prevent TechTV from getting the rights is Cartoon Network.

[Ryoutarou]

As long as it air's somewhere good it's all good.

[Sir Gatts]

IChannel though doesn't seem to fall under the category of Starz! & Encore, but more such as the category of the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel. For the current dubbed anime that the IChannel has aired, there is only Fushigi Yugi, Lost Universe, Soul Hunter, and El Hazard (OAV & 2 TV Seasons). Neither have aired on any other network up to this point, as to my knowledge.

[Ryoutarou]

How do you get ichannel?

[Sir Gatts]

How do you get ichannel?

http://www.internationalchannel.com/feedback/faq.asp

"How do I get International Channel?
International Channel is a basic cable television channel, just like CNN or ESPN. You must subscribe through your local cable provider. To find out if International Channel is available in your area, visit our cable system locator (http://www.internationalchannel.com/channelsearch/index.asp)."

In this case, if you don't have IChannel, your need to ask your cable provider to carry the channel.

[Tash]

what's Chobits about?

I saw an add for it in my Initial D manga, but could someone please enlighted the rest of us, thank you.

[Karl Olson]

what's Chobits about?

I saw an add for it in my Initial D manga, but could someone please enlighted the rest of us, thank you.

On it's surface it seems like another fan servicey robot girl anime. However, it ends up dealing with the human to human relationship complications caused by humanoid robots in a lot depth. To phrase it another way, it's starts off as Hand Maid May, but it very quickly (well not quite as quickly in the anime) becomes like A.I. in terms of depth.

[Sir Gatts]

What Pioneer says:

A Boy’s first computer.
A country boy from Hokkaido, Hideki arrives in the big city (Tokyo) to go to college. Instantly, he is shocked and amazed by the variety and prevalence of Persocoms: personal computers designed to look and act like animals or even people! Too poor to afford one of his own, Hideki is overjoyed to discover a discarded Persocom in a trash heap. However, this gift of fate turns into a mystery as his Persocom, Chi, appears to be able to operate without her OS... How real is real?
It falls more into an romantic/comedy/sci-fi gender at this point,.. with an good amount of understandable fan-service which builds to the story line.

[Illia Sadri]

Somehow I can't see Chobits on Adult Swim. It is simply too perverted. The location of Chii's 'switch' the pany shopping, the near constant porno references..... we've seen edits in other Adult Swim shows for less than that.

[Pepperidge]

Have we now?

[Karl Olson]

Have we now?


actually, we haven't. If you can get away with fetish wear in Family Guy, the Mooninites stealing porn and Carl in the middle of paying a hooker with pennies in ATHF and the blantant offscreen sex in Sealab 2021, the switch and porno references in chobits are easy to let slide IMO. Besides, Blue Gender could blow open a ton of loop holes when it comes to sexual issues.

[Illia Sadri]

actually, we haven't. If you can get away with fetish wear in Family Guy, the Mooninites stealing porn and Carl in the middle of paying a hooker with pennies in ATHF and the blantant offscreen sex in Sealab 2021, the switch and porno references in chobits are easy to let slide IMO. Besides, Blue Gender could blow open a ton of loop holes when it comes to sexual issues.

I do think Blue Gender may very well push things as far as what will be allowed as far as sexuality.

Although fact is it seems they are more likely to edit stuff out of the Japanese shows than the american shows. I was thinking about the things that had been cut out of Trigun and Bebop... usually small scenes but nonetheless proves that they are still a bit weary of certain things. We had the infamous pillow transformation and the removal of any scene involving guns to the head in those shows (which in Trigun one of the cut scenes was in their opening credits, which made no sense.)

Also with Chobits it isn't like the other shows where we have occasional sexuality or a joke. It is very prevailent sex gags. A show having it on occasion may very well slip through the cracks of sensorship but this has it happen multiple times an episode. Chobits is a very perverted show in general... I just cannot see CN not making some heavy edits to it.

For some reason it does seem they allow the american shows to get away with more. Family guy probably because it is one of their mainstream shows, and thus a wider audience would rant. However, the anime shows have a specific market and CN doesn't want to tread. And again, none of the american shows have sex gagas nearly on the level as Chobits has proven.

[lostrune]

For some reason it does seem they allow the american shows to get away with more. Family guy probably because it is one of their mainstream shows, and thus a wider audience would rant. However, the anime shows have a specific market and CN doesn't want to tread. And again, none of the american shows have sex gagas nearly on the level as Chobits has proven.

American shows tend to get away with sexual jokes because those are comedic rather than arousing. The pics hardly "make me think the wrong thing," as the Barenaked Ladies would say. No enducing of nosebleeds.

And yes, Chii looking like a lolita prey doesn't help make viewers think the right thing any. :D