“Buttobi!! CPU” Episode 1: A Retro Tech-Comedy That Tries Too Hard

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re a 90s kid who remembers saving up for a clunky PC9821 or geeking out over dial-up internet, Buttobi!! CPU Episode 1 might hit you with a wave of nostalgia. But if you’re here for fresh jokes or a plot that doesn’t feel like a recycled 80s teen movie, you might want to scroll past this one.

First off, let’s get the basics straight. This 1997 OVA (from the folks who brought us… well, not much else you’ve heard of) follows Akira Takaoka, your average computer-obsessed high schooler who’s the only kid in his Electric Brain Study Society without a PC. After years of saving, he finally has enough cash for the legendary PC9821—only to find the store sold out in five minutes. Bummer, right? But wait, a shady dealer offers him a “special” model: a biomechanical android named Mimi who looks like a cute girl but needs, uh, regular maintenance to keep running. Spoiler: that “maintenance” is exactly what you think it is.

Let’s talk about the good first. The retro tech vibes are on point. Seeing Akira drool over a PC9821 (a real 90s Japanese computer, for the uninitiated) and panic over sold-out stock? Relatable. The animation, while dated, has that classic hand-drawn charm—think bright colors, over-the-top facial expressions, and backgrounds that scream “1990s suburban Japan.” And Mimi? She’s got that bubbly, wide-eyed energy that makes you root for her, even if her “purpose” is cringey.

But here’s the problem: the jokes are tired. Like, “your dad’s old stand-up routine” tired. The anime leans hard into sex-comedy tropes—Akira accidentally walking in on Mimi changing, awkward innuendos about “charging” her, and a subplot where Mimi’s “malfunctions” lead to embarrassing public moments. It’s the kind of humor that might have made you snort-laugh in middle school, but now just makes you roll your eyes. As one reviewer put it, the concept is “overused,” and honestly? They’re right. We’ve seen this “nerd gets a magical girl who’s actually a machine” bit before, and Buttobi!! CPU doesn’t add anything new to the mix.

The pacing is another issue. Episode 1 spends 10 minutes on Akira saving up for his PC (we get it, he’s broke!) and only 5 minutes introducing Mimi. By the time the “maintenance” twist hits, you’re already checking your phone. The supporting characters—like Akira’s annoying club friends—are one-note, and the villain (a rival dealer who wants Mimi back) is so generic you’ll forget his name by the end of the episode.

Now, let’s talk about the fan reactions. From what I dug up, most viewers either love it for the nostalgia or hate it for the cringe. One MyAnimeList user joked, “I watched this for the PC9821, stayed for the… well, nothing else.” Another said, “The only good part was Mimi’s design—everything else felt like a cash grab.” Even the voice acting, while solid (shoutout to Yuriko Yamaguchi for voicing Mimi), can’t save the weak script.

Is there any reason to watch this? If you’re a die-hard retro anime fan or want to see what passed for “edgy” humor in the 90s, sure. But if you’re looking for a smart, funny tech-comedy, skip it. Buttobi!! CPU Episode 1 is like a floppy disk—once revolutionary, now just a relic you’ll probably never use again.

Final verdict: 2.5 out of 5. It’s not the worst thing you’ll watch, but it’s far from the best. Save your time (and your brain cells) for something that doesn’t rely on cheap gags to keep you entertained.

— A 90s kid who’s seen better.