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A.I, Love You
Manga Review
If you're a big fan of "Love Hina", then the manga series "AI Love You" is right up your alley. Ken Akamatsu's pre-Love-Hina days were spent writing and drawing this cute, episodic, slice-of-life series that also reminds us of the fan-favorite Chobits (crossed with the film "Short Circuit" (and perhaps "Weird Science" as well!).
Hitoshi Kobe is your below-average high school nerd, but, he's a genius with computers. He stumbles through 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, as she is such an advanced AI that she is indistinguishable from a human. 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 has more girls than he can handle.
The story is very "Akamatsu-like" with "many girls and one guy" goings-on, but as usual for Ken Akamatsu, it's handled well and is a lot of fun to read, especially with three different AI's who each have their own odd quirks. The manga is comprised of mini-stories that are a couple of chapters long, it's based around random, slice-of-life, everyday happenings.
TokyoPop did an excellent job translating and preparing the manga for US release, and it's a real treasure for Love Hina fans who want more from the master of the wacky romantic comedy.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, December 2006
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