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Zettai Kareshi

Description
From Viz:
Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online and signs up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover "figure." The very next day a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend!
Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he's going to cost Riiko if she doesn't return him in time...

*Includes two other side stories in the last volume called:

Ohoshisama ni wa Sasemasen! (I Won't Let You Become A Star!) -
A special short story that was published in a freebie book put out in Sho-Comi. Sneaking into a boys' school to exterminate ghosts! However, what is the boy Chima has always admired doing there...!?
- ShoujoMagic

Shounen Aromatic (Aromatic Boy) -
Kabuki Takitsugu is a boy who has the family trait of smell. He can smell anyone's fragrance and find their perfect match. One day, a mysterious girl named Hatsune appears before him, asking him to find a match for her. But, for some strange reason.. Hatsune doesn't have a scent.

Type
Manga

Related Series
N/A

Associated Names
絶対彼氏。
Absolute Boyfriend
I Won't Let You Become A Star
I Won't Let You Become a Star!
Lui ou rien ! (French)
Shounen Aromatic
Zekkare

Groups Scanlating

Latest Release(s)
v.5 c.29 by Syuura (1791d ago)
v.6 c.30-32v2 by Aerie Scans (1848d ago)
v.5 c.28 by Syuura's Angels (1894d ago)
Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin
6 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?
Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter
N/A

User Reviews
N/A

User Rating
Average: 7.9 / 10.0 (882 votes)
Bayesian Average: 7.89 / 10.0
10  22% (196 votes)
9+  19% (167 votes)
8+  22% (193 votes)
7+  17% (154 votes)
6+  8% (67 votes)
5+  5% (47 votes)
4+  2% (17 votes)
3+  2% (18 votes)
2+  1% (7 votes)
1+  2% (16 votes)

Last Updated
June 23rd 2010, 10:14pm PST


Genre

Categories

Recommendations

Forum
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Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year
2003

Original Publisher

Serialized In (magazine)
Sho-comi (Shogakukan)
Shojo Beat (VIZ)

Licensed (in English)
Yes

English Publisher
Chuang Yi (6 Volumes - Completed)
Viz Media (6 Volumes - Completed)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)
Weekly Pos #715 increased(+154)
Monthly Pos #1283 increased(+77)
3 Month Pos #1574 decreased(-3)
6 Month Pos #1574 increased(+152)

List Stats
On 335 reading lists
On 248 wish lists
On 2383 completed lists
On 100 unfinished lists
On 91 custom lists

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User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]
 

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Alright. by Crazyee. on August 15th, 2010, 12:19am

I found about this from my sister, who was once a big manga fan, I find it really alright, nothing BIG or Special.

About the ending, i dont find it bad as some comments say it is. But thats just my opinion, even though it is sad for me it's still alright. C'mon a human and robot? the only way that a happy ending could happen is if a fairy godmother grant Night a wish to become human. So for a robot who can think for himself, he did pretty well. He asked someone to look after the girl he loves, someone who can really take care of her and someone who can or have the possibility to give her a future, family as such.. such things he can never provide her.

But hey thats just how i see it.


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Nice by Skaro on July 26th, 2010, 9:49pm

I quite liked this manga. As several shoujo mangas, it's full of clichés, but they are really well developed and nice. You don't feel like all the cliches are being rushed into the scene to please you. Instead, the story moves at a nice pace and makes you wanna keep on reading.

The idea of a girl having to choose between two seemingly perfect guys is quite repetitive in shoujo mangas, but I believe this is one of the stories in which it makes you really, really sad when the girl has to actually choose one. In several others is oh! - so - obvious who she is going to go for and the lack of feelings on the part of the rejected guy makes you feel like this cannot be real. Here it almost made me cry seeing how the rejected guy reacted.

I wouldn't praise the ending, 'cause I don't think I completely understood it. I don't like endings which don't clearly show you what's happening or who the main character is going to stay with. Here you can understand either that she is going to wait forever for the one guy or move on and go for the other one.

All the same, I would recommend this to shoujo manga readers who like sweet stories with a bit of drama and sci fi in it.


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The first manga I ever read... by arion:susumu on June 14th, 2010, 7:22am

...So I'm quite biased. But this is different to most shoujo manga, and, actually, to most of Watase's work (she even said in a side-note in the manga that she didn't normally do just romance, there normally had to be some kind of other plot). I thought it was refreshing. I normally try to stay away from shoujo, but this one is definitely worth a read.

The art was stunning, the series was just the right length, and with just enough comedy to balance the drama. I did actually cry at times, just like a laughed loudly many times. I actually liked it so much that I bought the whole series.

Riiko is cute and funny without being a typical 'every-one loves me' character that seems to be so popular in the shoujo world (something that I really hate). Night is gorgeous and innocent, while Soshi is serious, and yet so sweet. Gaku was pretty awesome, too. It had some interesting sub-plots that, I was happy to find, were played out until the end.

{{@ astroasis -
Spoiler (highlight to view)
did you even read it properly? She didn't 'end up' with Soshi, and Night was different to all of the other 'robots'. That fact played a massive part in the manga!
}}


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... Last updated on June 14th, 2010, 7:24am
  
Three by Trussardi on May 3rd, 2010, 1:46pm

The whole idea of being in a dilemma about having to decide if you want to date robot boyfriend when there's a really hot guy living nearby who is very interested was just so ludicrous to me, and the ending was just so bad that I don't see myself ever wanting to reread it. Especially after having read something like Chobits, which also does the whole human/robot love and relationships far better if we're meant to take it seriously.

Rating: 3  / 10.0


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Mixed it with music and here are my results by baybh3e on April 11th, 2010, 1:03am

I read manga while listenening to "Only One" by Yellowcard during the sad moments. I think it was that was probably the main thing that made me cry at the end because the words of the song just fit so well with the manga. The only bad thing about it now is that I can't listen to that song anymore because it will cause my tears to well up in my eyes from thinking about this manga. May be because I'm sensitive. But I still recommend it nonetheless.

Rating: 9  / 10.0


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so cool !!! by khazzz on March 5th, 2010, 7:09pm

i rated it for 10!!excellent!! hehee
i think this manga is sooo cool..esp the boys..ahaha..omg so good looking..hehe
night tenjo is really a perfect "man" or perhaps "doll"...ahaha
but nevermind..as long as he is perfectt hehheee...
i wish i had a boyfriend like that too..ahaha but not a doll XDXDXDXD
watase yuu always good in drawing boys ahaha smile)

Rating: 10  / 10.0


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ARGH!!! The Ending!!! D: by astroasis on February 18th, 2010, 11:11pm

I think it's sad that this manga was my first introduction to Yuu Watase's work. It left me with a bad impression of her and a wondering of how it was she'd gotten so popular. I've since read a lot of her other titles and am slowly starting to reassess my opinions.

I think Night would've been a better character for me (more likable) had Soshi not been in the picture. I mean, the girl needs a robot boyfriend when she has a hottie next door who's in love with her? And then the whole "Do I date this robot or the hot real guy next door" dilemma was so frustrating. Hello? Robot or Human? Is this really a decision you need to stress yourself out over?

I kept reading, wanting to see how this would all end... and I have to say, I wish I hadn't. The ending was absolutely horrid. I'm going to use a spoiler tag here, so I can sufficiently rant about it for a moment:
Spoiler (highlight to view)
ARGH!!! This is one of the worst endings I've ever seen! It would've been one thing if Riiko had chosen Soshi as her man... but no, Yuu Watase went another way with this one. A ridiculous way. Riiko chooses Night... and then he goes kaput, so she ends up with Soshi anyway. On what planet is this a good ending? Soshi knows he's not the guy Riiko really wants to be with - and not only that, she chose a friggin' ROBOT over him. Night's kaput, so the ending sucks for him, too. And Riiko is now stuck with her second choice, always pining away for the first choice... who was a friggin' robot. Absolutely ridiculous.


I feel generous giving this manga a 6... but on the other hand, as much as I dislike the ending and found the characters/plot pretty ridiculous, it was still a decent read. It had its charming moments, I suppose... and wasn't a complete waste of time.

Also, it's always nice to have a horrible ending to complain about. XD

Rating: 6  / 10.0


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There should be an anime also by darcyaglow on December 22nd, 2009, 1:01pm

I do not know why people here complaning so much =.=
This manga is obviously good! Just admit that!
The artwork is beautiful and the length of the series is just nice. Not so many unnecessary scenes though (the improvement of Yuu Watase) and not a single dull moment.
I do enjoy all the series.
There r many cliche in manga and it is impossible for the mangaka to come up with the totally 100% original idea. But I do think that if the mangaka can express her own style in story-telling and artwork, she is the winner.
Anyway, there should be an anime ^^ I think it gonna be successful just like the drama and the manga itself.


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My rating...why it's sooo low. by LUEser on October 14th, 2009, 8:31am

I rate this manga a four ONLY because the ending was good enough for me: pretty tragic. But...it did not match this manga, which throughout the whole thing was a girl's imagination about the perfect man. She was having fun yet she had to work to have him, but the story doesn't grab hold of my attention tight enough. I don't like this manga at all.

Absolute Boyfriend Manga

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Absolute Boyfriend
Absolute Boyfriend, Volume 1.jpg
Cover of the first volume of the original Japanese release of Absolute Boyfriend
絶対彼氏。
(Zettai Kareshi)
Genre Romantic comedy, Science fiction
Manga
Written by Yuu Watase
Published by Shogakukan
English publisher Singapore Chuang Yi
United States Canada Viz Media
Australia New Zealand Madman Entertainment
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Shōjo Comic
Original run March 25, 2003February 25, 2005
Volumes 6
TV drama
Network Fuji TV
Original run April 15, 2008June 24, 2008
Episodes 11
Anime and Manga Portal
Absolute Boyfriend (絶対彼氏。 Zettai Kareshi.?) is a six volume manga series by Yuu Watase, first serialized in Shōjo Comic. Chuang Yi licensed it for an English language release in Singapore, with the first volume released in March 2005. Viz Media licensed the series for an English release in North America, serializing the series in its Shojo Beat manga anthology as well as releasing the volumes.
The manga series was adapted into an eleven episode live-action drama series. It has been confirmed in October, 2010 that a Taiwanese version will be filmed.

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Plot

Riiko Izawa has never had a boyfriend and she has been rejected by every boy she has ever had a crush on. When she returns a lost cell phone to an oddly dressed salesman, she mentions wanting a boyfriend so to thank her, he directs her to his company's website, Kronos Heaven. When she visits the site, Riiko finds it's a site to create your own lover. Thinking its a game, she customizes and accidentally orders one. The next day, her new lover arrives. Following the instruction manual, she kisses him to wake him up and configure him to be in love with only her. She names him "Night." Three days later, she is shocked to learn that she only had him for a free trial for 72 hours. The salesman, Gaku Namikiri, tells her that she must now pay 100,000,000 yen for Night, however, they will waive the fee if she helps them to collect data about how women think and feel to help perfect future models.
Riiko must now keep Knight's true nature a secret from everyone around her. She also soon finds herself in a love triangle between Night and her childhood friend Soshi, who declares his love for her out of fear he will lose her. As the series progresses, Night begins to develop real human emotions, enabling him to truly love Riiko but also resulting in system malfunctions. When Riiko almost loses Night due to the malfunctions, she realizes that he is the one she really loves. She apologizes to Soshi, who moves to Spain with his brother to live with their dad. Night and Riiko spend a few happy weeks together, during which they go on dates, get their picture taken together, and purchase matching rings as symbols of their undying love.
As the series ends, Night begins to grow sleepier and sleepier. The problems developed by him exceeding his abilities eventually causes his machinery to stop working, resulting in his "death". Before he died, he wrote a letter directed to Soshi telling him what was happening and asking him to take care of Riiko. He also sends his ring, which Riiko noticed he has not been wearing immediately prior to his death. In the letter he tells Riiko that she doesn't have to cry for him any more. Riiko then smiles through her tears and forever treasures the ring, picture and her memories of Night her first love, and eternal boyfriend.

[edit] Characters

  • Riiko Izawa (井沢 リイコ Izawa Riiko?)
Played by: Saki Aibu (drama)
Riiko is a young, flat-chested 16 year old girl who has bad luck with boys. When she helps a strange salesman named Gaku Namikiri, she ends up ordering a cybernetic boyfriend. Though initially shy around her new boyfriend, Riiko begins to fall in love with him, while also finding herself struggling with her new admirer, Soshi Asamoto. Riiko is rather naïve, clumsy, and simple-minded, but kindhearted, hardworking, and serious.
  • Night Tenjo (天城ナイト Tenjou Naito?)
Played by: Mokomichi Hayami (drama)
Night is a cybernetic doll custom ordered by Riiko. As such, he is the "perfect boyfriend": charming, dependable, intelligent, athletic, good-looking, sensitive, and completely devoted. At first he is perfect for Riiko because it is in his programming, however as the series progresses, Night develops true emotions and a genuine love for her and has his own will. He is 6' tall as shown on the back of the first volume of the English version.
  • Soshi Asamoto (浅元ソウシ Asamoto Soushi?)
Played by: Hiro Mizushima (drama)
Soshi is Riiko's childhood friend. He watches over her and takes care of her while her parents work far away. At first he just treats her as a very good friend. However, as the story progresses, Soshi found out that he had stronger feelings for Riiko. He discovers he loves her and confesses to her.
  • Gaku Namikiri (ガク·ナミキリ Gaku Namikiri?)
Played by: Kuranosuke Sasaki (drama)
Gaku is a salesman for Kronos Heaven, a company specializing in making highly realistic robots, or "figures." Though usually businesslike and down-to-earth, Gaku is sometimes mistaken for a cosplayer because of his odd manner of dress. When Riiko cannot return Night nor pay the bill for him, Gaku allows her to keep him so Night can collect data on how to become a better lover for use in future models. Whenever there is a problem with Night, Gaku is the one to fix him. He tends to use Spanish words in conversations, at least in the English version of the manga.

[edit] Media

[edit] Manga

Written by Yuu Watase, Absolute Boyfriend premiered in Japan in the March 2003 issue of Shōjo Comic. It appeared monthly until the thirty-fifth and final chapter was published in the February 2005 issue. The chapters were published in six collected volumes by Shogakukan with the first volume released on October 25, 2003 and the final volume released on February 25, 2005.[1][2]
Absolute Boyfriend is licensed for both English and Chinese releases in Singapore by Chuang Yi, which has released all six volumes of the series.[3][4] Madman Entertainment subsequently imported and republished the Chuang Yi English translated volumes in Australia from May 17, 2006 through October 11, 2006.[5][6] In North America, the series was licensed for an English translated release by Viz Media. It was one of the first six manga series Viz included in the June 2005 premiere issue of the company's new manga anthology Shojo Beat.[7] It continued to be serialized in Shojo Beat until it reached its conclusion with in the March 2008 issue.[8] Viz simultaneously released the six collected volumes of the series, with the first volume released February 7, 2006 and the final volume released on May 6, 2008.[1]
The series is also licensed for regional language releases in Germany by Egmont Manga & Anime, in France by Kana, and in Brazil by Conrad.[1]

[edit] Volume list












No. Japanese[2] Singapore (English)
Release date ISBN Release date ISBN
1 October 25, 2003 ISBN 4091384617 March 2005 ISBN 981-260-381-6
  • The Lover Shop
  • Three-Day Boyfriend
  • The Purchase
  • The Million-Dollar Man
  • Dinner
  • Let's Go To School!

Australian release
North American release
2 January 26, 2004 ISBN 4091384625 ISBN 981-260-411-1

  • School Trip
  • Friends
  • Thank You
  • The Girl You Love
  • The Kiss
  • Ex-Girlfriend

Australian release
North American release
3 April 26, 2004 ISBN 4091384633 ISBN 981-260-454-5

  • Return
  • Sex
  • The Use Of Force
  • Stay With Me
  • True Feelings
  • How Dare You?

Australian release
North American release
4 June 26, 2004 ISBN 4091384641 ISBN 981-260-454-5

  • First Crush
  • A Big Problem
  • Secret
  • The New Model
  • Maintenance
  • Open Your Eyes

Australian release
North American release
5 October 26, 2004 ISBN 409138465X ISBN 981-260-551-7

  • The Tiny Boyfriend
  • Both
  • My Love For You
  • A Nurse Job
  • I'm Sorry
  • The War Over The Girlfriend

Australian release
North American release
6 February 25, 2005 ISBN 4091384668 ISBN 981-260-654-8

  • Kind Lies
  • Someday
  • The Final Act: Eternal Boyfriend
  • Extra Stories: I Won't Let You Be A Star!, Aromatic

Australian release
North American release

[edit] Drama CD

A drama CD based on this manga was released under the title Zettai Kareshi - Figure Darling in Japan by Marine Entertainment on August 25, 2004.[21]

[edit] Live-action television series

[edit] Japanese incarnation

A live-action adaptation of the manga began airing on Fuji TV on April 15, 2008 and ran for eleven episodes until its conclusion on June 24, 2008. In the live-action version, Riiko Izawa is an office lady in search of a boyfriend, and she ends up in possession of a "robot" known as Night Tenjo, who is programmed to be the perfect boyfriend. However, this creates a love triangle with a distinguished young man at her company who also has feelings for her. Riiko is played by Saki Aibu, Night is played by Mokomichi Hayami, and Soshi Asamoto is played by Hiro Mizushima.[22]
In March 24, 2009, a special episode of this series was released and featured 3 years after the last episode of the series, whereas Riiko had become a patissier and is engaged to Soshi Asamoto; and Night was suddenly revived by a Kronos Heaven employee, who wanted to use his individual ego to her own gain.

[edit] Taiwanese incarnation

It has been confirmed on October 5th, 2010 that a new live-action series of Absolute Boyfriend will be filmed. Taiwanese actor Wu Chun and Korean actress Ku Hye Sun will play the roles of "Night" and "Riiko". Filming is yet to begin.[23]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Absolute Boyfriend". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2847. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  2. ^ a b "List of Absolute Boyfriend volumes" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solrenew_search_ez?jan=&pat=b2&text=%90%E2%91%CE%94%DE%8E%81. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  3. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend English releases". Chuang Yi. http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/new/ecatalogtitle.php?title=Absolute+Boyfriend. Retrieved 2008-05-08. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend Chinese releases" (in Chinese). Chuang Yi. http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/new/ccatalogtitle.php?title=%26%2332477%3B%26%2323545%3B%26%2330007%3B%26%2321451%3B. Retrieved 2008-05-08. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V1". Madman Entertainment. http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=6745&method=view. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  6. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V6 (Final)". Madman Entertainment. http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=6750&method=view. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  7. ^ "Shojo Beat Details". Anime News Network. 2005-02-08. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-02-08/shojo-beat-details. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  8. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend". Shojo Beat 4 (3): 72. March 2008. ISSN 1932-1600. 
  9. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V1". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6745. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  10. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 1". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=5162. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  11. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V2". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6746. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  12. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 2". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=5828. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  13. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V3". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6747. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  14. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 3". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=6306. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  15. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V4". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6748. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  16. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 4". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=6307. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  17. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V5". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6749. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  18. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 5". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=6805. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  19. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend (Manga) V6 (Final)". Madman Entertainment. http://b2b.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?method=view&releaseId=6750. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  20. ^ "Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 6". Viz Media. http://vizmedia.com/products/products.php?product_id=6837. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
  21. ^ "Zettai Kareshi - Figure Darling listing at Amazon.co.jp" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-language/product/B0002IJN94/ref=dp_change_lang?ie=UTF8&language=en%5FJP. Retrieved 2008-03-24. 
  22. ^ "Yuu Watase's Absolute Boyfriend adapted for live-action". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-02-21/yuu-watase-absolute-boyfriend-adapted-for-live-action. Retrieved 2008-02-22. 
  23. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dIiOej4Oik

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