Karakuri Odette | |
Cover of the Japanese version of the third volume of Karakuri Odette published by Hakusensha
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カラクリオデット (Karakuri Odetto) |
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Genre | Slice of life, Science fiction |
Manga | |
Written by | Julietta Suzuki |
Published by | Hakusensha |
English publisher | |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Magazine | Hana to Yume |
Original run | September 5, 2005 – December 5, 2007 |
Volumes | 6 |
Karakuri Odette (Japanese: カラクリオデット Hepburn: Karakuri Odetto?, lit. "Mechanized Puppet Odette") is a shōjo manga by Julietta Suzuki that was serialized in the bi-weekly Japanese shojo manga anthology Hana to Yume. Though Karakuri Odette is actually Suzuki's second series, it was awarded the "Outstand Debut" award in the 31st Hakusensha Athena Newcomers' Awards. The series's 35 chapters were compiled into 6 volumes by Hakusensha. The series is licensed for an English release in the United States and Canada by Tokyopop.
Odette is an android created by Professor Yoshizawa. One day she asks to be enrolled in school so she can learn and understand the difference between "those girls" (high school girls seen on a TV program) and herself.
Karakuri Odette was published in Japan by Hakusensha in Hana to Yume in 35 chapters between September 2005 and December 2007, and collected in six volumes. The series was awarded the "Outstand Debut" award at the 31st Hakusensha Athena Newcomers' Awards. It is licensed in North America by Tokyopop and in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing. Tokyopop's license for the series was accidentally announced by a listing for the first volume on Amazon.com.
Deb Aoki, the manga guide on About.com, says that while Suzuki could have made Odette very unlikable, she instead "created a genuinely likeable teen robot who is more human than she thinks". Aoki praised the series, saying that it has "more to say than just your usual "he loves me, he loves me not" drama" of most shojo series. Aoki also mentions that the lack of "usual fussy school uniforms, floral flourishes or bishonen (pretty boy) eye-candy" is refreshing because it allows for the series's "heartfelt sincerity, gentle humor and thought-provoking sci-fi twists [to] shine through." Michelle Smith of the Manga Recon part of the Pop Culture Shock website says that in Suzuki's hands the series is "positively charming." Smith also notes the plainness of the art and that sometimes the bodies are "awkwardly posed," but felt that the paneling is good. Carlo Santos of Anime News Network also had words of praise for the series calling it a "heartwarming bit of escapism" though he does note that the lack of real scientific facts could make this unreadable for some. Santos later gave the second volume a B, saying, "Perhaps the most impressive thing is the series' ability to entertain even though it's not particularly ambitious or spectacular."