Chobits

In a near-future where “Persocoms” — personal computers built to resemble humans — have become a common sight, Hideki Motosuwa arrives from the countryside to study for college while scraping by on a tight budget. The latest models are far beyond his reach, so when he discovers a discarded Persocom in the trash and manages to power her on at home, it feels like an impossible stroke of luck. The catch: she appears malfunctioning and can only say “Chii,” the nickname Hideki gives her.

Unable to load information like other Persocoms, Chii has to learn everything from scratch, leaving Hideki to juggle exam prep with teaching her about everyday life. As he and his friends search for answers about what Chii really is — possibly connected to the “Chobits” urban legend of Persocoms with genuine hearts and minds — Hideki is drawn into a question that grows harder to ignore: what does love mean when the person you care for was made to be a machine?