FullMetal*Panic!

Searched and couldn't find a topic on this adorable Anime.

Not as good as FMP! mind you but its silly and fun. I'm not done watching it yet but I know I'll be adding it to my list of DVD boxsets I'm going to buy.

Anyone else seen this show?

I'm actually getting around to watching that...but I stopped on episode 5 so far and I must say it is a very funny show. Hideki is sooooo messed up! Good stuff.

I just finished watching the whole series...trust me, you want to finish it. It's about the most adorable little love story. Yeah Hideki is a big goof! Great Anime, I might do some icons for it later.

I've seen the whole series, but I don't like it. =\
It's the robo-love concept in this anime... it's kinda...

Spoiler below of Chobits, ECS'ed, highlight to read:
[ecs]Alright, Chi doesn't have much memory and her AI is not advance to the point that it's hard to distinguish her personality between that of a human and a machine. So she's really innocent and child-like. A little girl. So it starts out with more of a father-daughter relationship: Hideki takes care of her and he's the only person she knows. But as it progress, turns into more of a romantic relationship. Him being the only one that may touch her at certain places, the someone just for her. So she falls in love with him because he's nice and takes care of her and he's the only person she knows? He wants to make her happy, but I can never tell if he loves her as a daughter, or as a girlfriend. I can't relate to Hideki, I don't think I can ever love a programmed creation like Chi more than like a child/pet.[/ecs]

But there are romantic series involving robots that I do like simply because the characters are different. Like Saber Marionette, ending spoilers below, highlight to read:
[ecs]Nothing much happens in the first season in terms of relationship development. The 3 marionettes love Otaru deeply and fight for his attention, but he doesn't show them more love than that of a close friend that cares deeply about them. Season 2 gave Bloodberry something Chi never got, an option :p. That circus guy she met will treat her just as well as Otaru (actually even better since she'll be his only one instead of 1 out of Otaru's 3). The other 2 girls also experience meaningful life without Otaru and the option to choose which life. The series ends well in the anime with the girls being reborn into 3 human baby girls with Otaru as their adoptive father. So they can grow like real people and not be bound by programming. Very sweet.[/ecs]

Or Mahoromatic. This isn't as heavy on the romance as the other two since Mahoro is more like a mother-figure than a lover. But Mahoro chose who to be with, she didn't get awaken by Suguru and imprint herself on him. And the series did explain why she chose to be a maid in her combat-retirement, reducing the sexist implications of the show. =]

I'm in love with my PC! j/k

I can understand how you feel, Circle. It took some getting used to at first, her being a robot and all. And the whole Father/Daughter relationship thing...my friend would go nutz, she's into that incest fic stuff.

But overall, I thought it was fun to watch. It was no FMP! at all. I just feel FMP! spoiled me for other Anime.

I watched some episodes, but I didn't really like Chobits... Though now I think it may have been more because of my own social problems at the time than the show. After reading Circle's post I think I will try to watch it again.

I found Chobits way too sweet and somehow too innocent. Male main character seemed like some loser who was not able to tell difference between machines and people, and I found Chii just plain stupid... Tabula rasa, for sure, but at the time I didn't found that interesting at all.

Circle wrote: [ecs]Alright, Chi doesn't have much memory and her AI is not advance to the point that it's hard to distinguish her personality between that of a human and a machine. -- I can't relate to Hideki, I don't think I can ever love a programmed creation like Chi more than like a child/pet.[/ecs]

Some times it is hard to tell what is "programmed" and what is "real". And " " because also programmed things are real, just different... And maybe not even much different. After all, human brain think with "zeros" and "ones": there is a electric pulse or there is not. So, I don't see why adwanded programming could not cause "real" emotions and thoughts.

Maybe, even propably, we could never know how programmed things feel. So what? How can we know how animals, even other people feel? They react when they face things, but computers may also react, if programmed.

Actually, this is why I find Chobits potentially very interesting. There is some questions of ethics and stuff, if you want to watch it analytically, and there is just plain fun it you don't.

Yes, if I will get Chobits again I will try to watch it.

I like the way you put that. I do agree its hard to see the difference sometimes. I even asked my boyfriend, "How would they....ya know..." and he said "Not all relationships are about physical contact." Which is true. I know its a big part of some relationships but I also know people who are very happy without physical contact. My boyfriend also added, "There's also other things..." I don't even want to venture a guess there.

I think I liked it just for its obvious fantastical elements. The fact that it could prolly happen in real life but never in my lifetime. I tend to like that kind of stuff. I do think its one of the most adorable stories I've seen. Had some silly parts as well.

I'm glad you're going to give it another try.

This was on of my fav shows. However, the Manga has a better ending.

Saber Marionette is a different form of love all together, its not a guy falls in love with robogirl type. Saber is more like To Heart in that respect.

Mahoro has a more kinky humor to it (particularly the,*ahem*, well rounded school teacher and her well rounded valentines day chocolate....), where Chobits is more of the innocent 'things that children say/do' humor.

I liked them all, so I would suggest watching them all.

Ooo, maybe I should check out the manga's ending...

After all, human brain think with "zeros" and "ones": there is a electric pulse or there is not

Nope .... If only that were true, I could make a copy of me and store it. <g>
Chiii .. *shudders*

Just make sure you don't touch "that" or you'll reset yourself. }B>

Circle: The ending in the manga is more fleshed out (pun not intended). The anime basically watered it down and shortened it so much that it made far less sense.

Taurec wrote:

After all, human brain think with "zeros" and "ones": there is a electric pulse or there is not

Nope .... If only that were true, I could make a copy of me and store it. <g>

Well, it is a bit complicated, neurons getting linked and all... But neuron without a electrical messages is as non-usefull as computer withtout electricity, and a neuron is connected or is not and there is a electrical message or not... A bit like a computer's components, connected to... things that keep information and "think" with electrical pulses. There is not THAT big difference, in theory.

Damn, my English skills suck way too much to explain what I am trying to say *sigh*

What if they could make a complete, exact copy about human brain and put them to a body? If they made a copy os Your brain, who would the person be, and would it be a real person?

What if they would not use organic cells but electrical components that work exactly like organic cells in every way?

What if they use hell much computer stuff and replace neurons with it, with code that makes sectors work like neurons?

And so on... Of course it is science fiction, and pretty old sci-fi not to mention, but I can't see why it would not be possibile to copy a person on computer, with much more advanced technoligy than we have now.

The difference is that a brain is a massively parallel architecture which organizes information based purely of associativity.

Take for example moving from NY to LA:

Computer:
1 ) start in NY
2 ) pick up an item
3 ) drive to LA
4 ) deposit item
5 ) drive back to NY
6 ) Pick up another item
7 ) loop back to step 3, until all items are moved.
8 ) done

Human Brain:
1 ) NY = LA
2 ) done

It will be a very long time until a computer can match what a human brain can do.

Chobits definately had it's moments, but I'm not sure if it's something you'd
want to recommend to everyone. Mind you, I've seen all the anime but only
read part of the manga, but I'd have to say the whole 'what is human / what
makes us human' gets lost in the dramady between Hideki and Chii, versus
a human / computer interaction story like Ghost in the Shell.

In terms of accessibility, I would have to say Chobits comes off as easier
to relax to. To this day, I still find times I can't turn off my brain to enjoy
the GiTS manga, and I've read the thing cover to cover more times than I
can count.

...and in dark, private moments, I REALLY have to wonder about exactly
WHAT it is that Hideki and Chii do late into the night... comments about
<bleep>ing your computer up aside

...just my 0.02




Regards

HELLFIRE wrote: Mind you, I've seen all the anime but only
read part of the manga, but I'd have to say the whole 'what is human / what
makes us human' gets lost in the dramady between Hideki and Chii, versus
a human / computer interaction story like Ghost in the Shell.

On the other hand, that drama could be as interesting if watched slowly. It makes you to get lost and cry and laught with someone who maybe does not feel a thing, not that way we speak about feeling. It is a bit like psychological horror vs. normal horror, minus horror side, of course.

Ghost in the Shell is definetly a master piece, but is is already made, and it has a bit darker colour. Interaction part is very strong, but very different than Chobits, maybe much because of what purpose the robots were made.

KiLlEr wrote: It will be a very long time until a computer can match what a human brain can do.

Sure thing, and that is why we watch sci-fi movies about artificial intelligence, not go out and chat with some And that is exactly why it is interesting subject... Theoreticly possibile, but still so painfully far. A bit like traveling around the space and making colonies to galaxes far away.