Karakuri Odette
Plot. Odette is an android created by Professor Yoshizawa. One day, she asks to be enrolled at a local school, so she can learn and understand the difference between "those girls" (high school girls seen on a TV program) and herself. Manga. "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. Reception. Deb Aoki, writing for About.com, stated 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 had "more to say than just your usual "he loves me, he loves me not" drama" of most series. Aoki also mentioned that the lack of "usual fussy school uniforms, floral flourishes or bishonen (pretty boy) eye-candy" was refreshing, allowing for the series ' "heartfelt sincerity, gentle humor and thought-provoking sci-fi twists [to] shine through." Michelle Smith of Pop Culture Shock reviewed that in Suzuki's hands the series was "positively charming." Smith noted the plain quality of the art, and that sometimes the characters were "awkwardly posed," but felt that the paneling was good. Carlo Santos of Anime News Network also had words of praise for the series, calling it a "heartwarming bit of escapism" though he noted that the lack of real scientific facts could make it unreadable for some. Santos later gave the second volume a B grade, saying , "Perhaps the most impressive thing is the series' ability to entertain even though it's not particularly ambitious or spectacular."