Manga Review: AI Love You

[Eclipse]

Manga: AI Love You (aka Ai ga Tomaranai)
Genre: Shonen, Romance, Comedy
Author: Ken Akamatsu
Licensor: Tokyopop
Publisher: Kodansha
Serialized In: Shonen Magazine 1994-09 to 1997-10

Hitoshi Kobe is your below-average high school nerd but with a twist--he's a genius with computers. He lives on in his pathetic life without school smarts or the ability to get girls, but he still has one haven left: the AI’s (artificial intelligences) he's been creating. One day, while he is working on AI number 30, a freak accident happens when lightning causes an electrical surge in his computer. Somehow, number 30 comes to life and becomes a part of Hitoshi's everyday life. Number 30, Saati, changes Hitoshi's life forever since she is such an advanced AI and no different from humans. Now he lives his days surrounded by girls and has fun like never before. Add in the domineering number 20 and badly programmed, gender-changing number 40 and Hitoshi will have more girls than he can handle.

Story:
The story is very "Akamatsu-like" with its many girls and one guy thing going on, but it's done pretty well. Since there isn't much of a story it makes the manga easier to read. It's mostly comprised of mini-stories that are a couple of chapters long. They're usually just funny and provide for character development. Since this is a slice-of-life type series, it's based around random, everyday happenings. The little story that there is could be described as "events that threaten Hitoshi’s everyday life with the AI’s,” some of which include the “Billy G. Saga” and other events that occur when new characters realize that the AI’s have special powers. The only problem was the end of the series. It appeared to be rather forced and left questionable things.

Art:
If you've seen Negima or Love Hina, the drawing style will look very familiar. AI Love You was the series Akamatsu made before Love Hina. The art was consistent and had a very shonen feel to it.

Overall:
AI Love You has an episodic type of story so you won't be stuck on plot for too long. All the characters are likable enough, especially the three AI's who each have their own odd quirks. The art was well drawn and wasn't covered in fan service or disproportioned people. Tokyopop did a decent job on the series, although there wasn't excessive fan service and dirty jokes, or too many cultural jokes, which would cause any problems. Something notable about this series was that towards the beginning it seemed sort of similar to Ah! My Goddess. Both started out with an average, insignificant guy having a girl appear in his life with whom he would eventually fall in love with. Then, in both, the guy's new happiness makes the stuck-up girl he used to like get jealous. The story branches off from there but the similarities seemed a bit odd. Altogether, it was done well. There weren’t any plot holes (not including the end) and the art was clean. It’s a very likable series for those who like comedy, romance, or both.

Overall: 8/10
Story: 7/10
Art: 8/10
Characters: 7/10

Reviewd by: aznricekid
Proofed by: Cruzle
Edited by: Marlex