FLCL

Imagine a world with robots, alien girls with guitars, a dad who dresses like a nazi, you can switch between real world and comic strip world, and you can have giant horns grown out of your forehead. Well if you are living in this world, then you should probably lay off on some of that acid. Because you just entered the world of Fooly Cooly!

FLCL is a 6 episode OVA of per unadultraited insanity. It tells you not to flip the hour glass over, but just smash it to pieces. It breaks the fourth, the fifth and sixth wall (yes I know there is no ... sixth wall.) But its also an interesting take on the coming of age story. FLCL takes place in modern day Japan, one day a young boy who plays Baseball, just like his big brother does in America is hit by a yellow vespa being driven by a mysterious girl who takes out a guitar and wakes him right in the noggen. Which creates a huge lump that eventually turns into a giant horn that explodes into a giant robot. And the rest is drug related history.

But yeah, seriously, see this anime. Not just because its insane, but beacuse its insanly brilliant. FLCL is not afraid to be something complelty different, yet feel like an old shoe. I won't lie, FLCL might turn some viewers off, but the ones that take it all in will be greatly rewarded.

Take care everyone.

Furi Kuri, or FLCL, is an interesting watch, and luckily a short one.

I'm not saying its bad, quite the opposite in fact. But the pace of FLCL is so fast that it fit into six episodes a story that could have easily gone 13, if not 26.

If you aren't really paying attention FLCL can seem to be the kind of anime that is completely random, such as Excel Saga. In actuality it has a decent storyline and most of the scenes make sense, but you really have to keep up with whats going on to reach that point.

The art style is quite good. During ... the action scenes it gives off an added sense of fluid motion that most anime lack. However there are no real times when the effects wowed me or anything, and the majority of the animation is just like most other anime.

The soundtrack for FLCL is from The Pillows and I really must say, their songs make the action scenes in this anime twice as good. I'm not too much of a music person, but just in writing this review the song that plays during most of the action scenes is popping into my head and giving me the feeling that something actiony should be happening about now.

I do have to say, FLCL did a fantastic job on keeping its characters memorable. Haruko in particular is the type of character you just don't forget once you watch the series. However, 'unforgettable' and 'likeable' aren't necessarily the same thing. Maybe it was because there wasn't really a character I identified with in the series, but I didn't find myself drawn to anyone specific.

FLCL's major flaw would be its pacing. I already stated about how you have to be paying attention or it seems random, and this is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't like an anime to force me to be attentive at every moment or I'll miss the big picture.

Overall, its good for a watch through. Or if you blink, maybe two or three so you understand whats going on.

Being the long time anime fan that I am, I love it when I watch something that stops me dead in my tracks when I watch it. FLCL was one of those animes. The first time I watched it, I was like a lot of people and just kind said to myself, "What in the world was that?!?! After viewing now several times, I still see things that I missed before.
It is a coming of age story unlike you have ever seen before or will see again I am willing to wager. Much has been written on the web and in the media about this, ... but you have to judge it for yourself. The animation and music (provided mostly by the indie Japanese band The Pillows) are a cut above the rest. I don't think I have enjoyed a soundtrack as much since Cowboy Bebop or Macross Plus.
Gainax, the makers of such animes as Kane Kano, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Wings of Honneamise, and Mahoromatic, shows again why in my opinion why they are the best studio out there in anime. They never seem willing not to push the envelope in what can be done with anime.
One note I would make, this is not really for the younger viewers out there. There is a good seal of sexual overtones through much of the series given the subject matter.

This is a story about a boy who gets bad head from girl. It's really sloppy how it's done, but it really so funny that I didn't accept it to be something serious until all the action scenes I saw. It's one of the best animes I've seen from Japan and has great music. Youl like it too if you dont mind some crazy in it, and there is crazy in it.

The Story I didn't understand because there was so much going on I just watched the boy's head keep getting crazy. The main focus of the story is with this big bulding that poors ... smoke outside. I can't ruin it but there's a lot from characters you wouldn't expect and is emotion-city.

The Art is good with lots of colors but gets crazy. Comic scene is the craziest and I heard it cost them a grand money to make. The whole show has a crazy style.

The Sound was good especially music at the end credit. I actually think its pretty popular now day. Theres so much memorable tracks which makes sense since characters have guitars and things.

The Characters were funny and emotion. You really feel for the main Naowta because he's a lot like every misunderstood boy. He's good guy.

I enjoyed a lot but I like crazy things, if you do check out FLCL!l

FLCL is a fun little 6-episode OVA that the animation studio Gainax gave us in the year 2000 to mull over, and get confused over, and to stare at with glazed eyes. They had toyed around with "daft storytelling" in 1995, with Evangelion and the arbitrary crosses; but five years later, they went out and did it. They made FLCL.

If I had to describe it in one word, I would say FLCL is unconventional; if I had to describe the main theme of FLCL, I would say it focuses on adolescence. Everything that FLCL gives us is strange, and new, and crazy--just like the advent ... of puberty.

Let’s start off with a bit of details about FLCL. FLCL focuses on three main characters; the main character, Naota, a cynical 12-year old elementary schooler; Mamimi, the high-schooler girl who hangs out with him; and lastly, Haruko, Naota's housekeeper. All the events of FLCL take place in a mysterious, smoke-filled town called Mabase. Every episode of FLCL focuses on some predicament or situation, ranging from Mamimi's affinity for fire, to Naota's classmate's family problems.

What the majority of viewers fail to notice is FLCL’s use of subtle details, in order to convey each character's secret feelings and motivations. Personally, I think this is what distinguishes FLCL from any other anime. From Mamimi's blank gaze at Naota after Naota realizes she has been bullied, to Naota’s thoughts of cynicism and ambiguity towards Haruko, it manages to unleash a world of truths under the surface of illusions, by utilizing solely indirect characterization--a process rarely seen in anime today. What FLCL proves, above all, is that no long, dramatic flashbacks are needed to establish character traits effectively.

Although each of the 6 episodes features a different "story", all the episodes still maintain a sense of continuity. By the last episode, all of the separate events are connected and all loose ends, tied up. FLCL’s plot, contrary to popular belief, is not some random stuff that the creators made when they were drunk/stoned. Most of it does make sense. If one is willing to pay close attention to the subs and think a bit about what they read, they can understand the plot--even if it is only to a basic degree.

The pace of FLCL is ridiculously quick, with dialogue flying by every second, and this makes FLCL extremely difficult to comprehend at times. But the plot, in itself, is rather simple and not as convoluted as the rapid pace would suggest.

Let’s take an example. Episode 3 features a side character, Ninamori, who is Naota’s classmate and also the mayor’s daughter. Currently, the mayor is in a scandal that brinks on divorce with his wife, and Naota’s dad writes the tabloid that is giving all the details of said scandal. This is the basic plot exposition of episode 3. But half of the people who watched FLCL would probably have no idea what I’m talking about. Therefore, to dismiss FLCL, simply because it doesn't make sense at first, does it a great disservice.

It’s a show that is ridiculously hard to understand and grasp, because it is like a salad mix; full of different flavors and textures. One minute you may be watching a serious scene with someone acting depressed; the next minute you may be watching some robots coming out of their head. That said, you definitely need a suspension of disbelief to watch this show. According to Samuel Coleridge, who coined that term in 1817, if a writer could inhibit “human interest and a semblance of truth” into a fantastical story, then the reader would suspend judgement towards the feasibility of the tale. Indeed, the instant one moves past all of the fluff of FLCL, a beautiful simplicity comes the forefront. Therefore, FLCL is best when studied in simple terms. At it’s core, FLCL is simply a love story, a tale of coming-of-age, a study of human nature, and a story about truth and lies.

As Naota oftentimes says, “Nothing amazing happens here.”

I think FLCL is more a work of a literature than an anime; however, unlike classic literature, it has the fast pace and the relatability to back itself up and make itself interesting in today’s context. And no matter how pretentious it may sound, I will insist that every scene of FLCL was written with a good reason. FLCL is crazy storytelling with a purpose.

---A few words on animation and art--
Like the story of FLCL, the animation and art is unconventional and follows no set format, but is done extremely well (to the credit of Gainax). Unlike other animes, FLCL's animation style abruptly changes depending on the situation, often for great comedic effect. For example, there is a scene in at Naota's dinner table that is animated entirely in manga form. There is even a scene at a barbershop that is animated like the TV show South Park. These strange aspects contribute greatly to the zany and off-the-wall atmosphere, but are definitely hit-or-miss.

---A few words on music--
An alternative rock band called the The Pillows performs most of the scores for FLCL’s soundtrack, and their songs fit into every scene. From their relaxingly beautiful "Hybrid Rainbow", to their energetic and vibrant "Little Busters", The Pillows never cease to let up. FLCL would not be the same without The Pillows, in my opinion. Obviously, not everyone likes rock music, so I would still consider it hit-or-miss.

---A few words on sub vs. dub--
The voice acting for the sub is consistent, and each VA voiced their respective roles excellently. However, I can't be as forgiving to the dub. It was badly done in some parts and didn't do many scenes justice. Compared to other anime dubs, FLCL's is certainly one of the better ones, but FLCL's sub is so much more better executed. Feel free to listen to both though.

---A few tips to understanding what is going on in FLCL:

-When watching, try not only to read, but to understand what each character is saying and why they are saying it. The story will all come together if you pay attention to the subs.

-Try to figure out simple things about the plot, like who is talking. This makes FLCL much more coherent and easy to understand.

-Don’t think too much about finding some deeper meaning. As you begin to understand more of the story, the themes will eventually rise out of the plot, and the actions of the characters.

-Don’t give up if some things don’t make sense. Try to cling to any semblance of plot exposition that you are given.

------

Thanks for reading ;) Comments and feedback are welcome.

First thing's first, FLCL is a very divisive and polarizing piece of media. You will probably have strong feelings towards this series either way you feel about it. I know I do. This review may be a little biased as FLCL has remained my favorite anime for the past 11 or so years.

STORY: (8)
This is perhaps FLCL's weakest category, though that does not necessarily make it a weak story. The biggest flaw in the show is that the plot is not immediately obvious, and may take multiple views to fully grasp. The show takes a baddie-of-the-week approach, which I generally dislike in anime. However, due ... to the short episode length this does not go on ad infinitum and is not overdone. Another consequence of the show's length is that the pacing is very quick and the story is focused as a result. Regardless the emphasis of the show is not on the plot, but on the characters. Like what director Kazuya Tsuramaki has emphasized, "comprehension should not be an important factor in FLCL (from an interview on Production I.G.'s website)."

ART: (9)
The art in FLCL is odd subject to judge. The show's most used art style is fairly middle of the road, though still holds up very well after 14 years. In addition to the main art style, the show often switches up its visual style, sometimes implementing visual gags to either explore or poke fun at the medium it takes. The animated manga and South Park scenes are particularly infamous. The depiction of the city of Mabase as a generic, boring, Japanese city is immediately recognizable for any that have lived in Japan. However, it is animated both plainly and beautifully, celebrating both sides of growing up in a boring town. Character designs are absolutely a joy. Special shout out goes to the design of Commander Amarao [dem browssss]. All in all, Production I.G. did an excellent job in the portrayal of the show.

Sound: (10)
I can't say enough about the music and performance of the voice actors in this show. The bulk of the music was written and performed by the Japanese rock group "The Pillows," while several themes and BGM was composed by Shinkichi Mitsumune. The music sets the tone for a series and FLCL has done this beautifully. I'd even go so far to say that the music in the series is up among the best with almost any anime series, save Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Terror in Resonance (coincidentally, all directed by Shinichiro Watanabe). The voice acting is superb, no matter which version you watch. I generally stick to watching anime in Japanese, but the English dub for the show is probably one of the best dubs in anime. The translators did an amazing job in switching some pop culture references to western audiences so that no comprehension was lost at all. If I had one word to describe FLCL's sound, it would be "masterful."

Character: (10)
As someone who has been often described as a Type B viewer (begrudgingly), I am pleased to say that the characters in FLCL are some of the most memorable and enjoyable ones in any medium this reviewer has seen to date. The main characters are beautifully portrayed and the side characters are fleshed out well enough to make them believable. Many review have knocked FLCL for not developing all of its characters, but it is important to note that FLCL is a short, six episode OVA and does not have the adequate screen time in order to go in depth with all of its characters. To do so would take valuable time away from the real meat of the show.

Enjoyment: (10)
FLCL is not just my favorite anime, it is my favorite piece of multimedia. The show resonates with me and has gotten me through some hard times in my life. I believe that FLCL is a unique experience that everyone will interpret differently and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

After hearing discussion about this anime I found this out about it. There are two kinds of people appear after watching the anime, those who understand it and those who don't. Those who understand it are those who love the anime and those who don't are the ones who don't necessarily hate it but are left confused.

Story 8/10
The story is good but its one you won't actually get until the third episode but simple as that really. Its not too overwhelming and is actually interesting. The comedy is a little overdone in it all but the action is really great and also just ... over the top random.

Art 7/10
Its a very simplistic style as far as how everything is drawn but I think it suits FLCL very well considering what its about. All I really have to say about that.

Sound 9/10
I really enjoyed the songs for this anime but if I didn't know any better I would say you could probably make a music video for the pillows with the anime. The songs are also very catchy and memorable its just like I hear a couple of notes and I'm like "Yep, thats FLCL."

Character 6/10
I did not enjoy the characters as much as I though I would. Mamimi herself was really of a downer than anything. I don't know if its just me but a lot of shows that are just really random and all characters are just really energetic they always have that one downer character so don't feel "too" good about watching the anime. The anime also doesn't include much background information about any of its characters so it was kind of hard to pick up on things like Mamimis story and all and hell, probably wouldn't have picked up on some crucial things without reading the wiki.

Overall 7/10
This was a good anime but I think it is a little over-hyped for what it actually is. The comedy wasn't really the best but if you like really spazzy and random events go ahead and give it a watch. Hell, watch it if you don't, I think it really excels in is presenting itself enjoyable to any audience. So if you got a few hours to spare I would give it a watch, just don't focus too much on plot or anything it will make somewhat easier to understand.

Putting it simply, FLCL is a fast-paced, high-energy, crazy fun thrill ride. It is so easy to get sucked into it and lose out on a productive afternoon (or many, MANY afternoons). FLCL is a great show and is must-watch for any anime-lover.

FLCL's main story is very strange and confusing. It is basically about a boy trying to be mature in a world of immature adults. But what is important to me is how multi-layered it is. You could see it as just a weird coming-of age story, or as a clever, 6 episode metaphor for puberty. There are many characters and all ... of them have their own story arcs, you just need to look for them. FLCL can be surprisingly sentimental and sweet or it will be absolutely insane and funny.Every time you watch it, you find something new.

The artwork is probably the best looking of the time period. FLCL is now 15 years old, and its artwork is on par with modern anime. It implements dynamic angles and camera movements to suck you in. You really FEEL the characters. Another great point about it's artwork is the fact that the style is constantly changing, to good effect. Every style change sells the tone of the scene and never feels out of place.

This anime is probably most praised for it's fantastic soundtrack. It fits
every scene, every MOMENT so well. Also noteworthy, there is this automatic nostalgic value to punk music, which is absolutely perfect for this coming-of-age story.

The characters in the show are all very different and are generally pretty likable. They range from a lonely girl who can't let go of her ex-boyfriend to a yellow Vespa riding, pinked haired alien hell bent on destroying "Medical Mechanica" and absorbing the power of a space pirate. They are each interesting in their own rights and you will find one that you like.

FLCL is nothing if not enjoyable. Maybe you don't like/understand the story. Maybe you think the characters are annoying. Maybe you hate punk music. I guarantee you will still enjoy FLCL. It has so much diversity in it's characters, story and art style, you would be hard pressed to TRULY hate it as a whole. Maybe in parts, but never as a whole.

It is cool, crazy, funny, action-packed, nostalgic and interesting. There is something for everyone. It offers A LOT of re-watch value, as it has hidden stories and meanings that need a few views to find. Overall, this anime is a winner for me and hopefully many others.

[8.0/10]
______________________________________________________________________________________________

You're twelve. Impatient enough to zone out before class even starts. Eager to go watch the clouds. After all, doing nothing is better than doing something. The teacher goes on, their voice joining those clouds in the sky, out of sight out of mind. You've been noticing yourself change. Things look darker, sharper, maybe it's the weather, but the perpetual smog overcast on your insides doesn't seem to be clearing. A rainstorm over your ribs, ice coating your heart, hail pouring onto your liver, fog building around your intestines, a tornado forming in your-- Wait. Are the girl's skirts getting shorter or is it just ... you?

No, they have to be. Why else would they be crossing their legs every time they sit down? It's not just the sight, but the ideas that get you feeling... enchanted? Nervous? Anxious? All of the above? Why are you so sweaty? What's this pit in your stomach that grows and grows and grows until you feel gorged on your pervasive self-indulgence, wobbling to the nearest restroom to let it all out? It's confusing, but you aren't confused. You don't bother with that. Why should you? The clouds are on the horizon.

They always are. At least to Naota. A twelve-year-old boy living in a peaceful town whereby his definition nothing happens. Naota is, of course, dealing with his own issues. His older brother, Tesuku, who moved to America to follow his baseball career, leaving a mitt-shaped hole in the heart of the ones dearest to him. He's an invisible, infinitely idealized figure by Naota, who has Tesuku's ex-girlfriend, Mamimi, draped over him. She prays for the return of her love and imposing this loss onto Naota, forcing him to fill shoes much too big for him. If juggling an older, cooler, edgier, and wounded girl isn't enough, Naota's body decides to collide him with the bright-yellow Vespa of puberty.

Contorting through dozens of keyframes that purposefully lack smears or even apparently few in-betweens, Naota lands face down onto the concrete. A massive lump or horn, forms on his forehead. A symbol of his first step into adulthood and the initial journey into getting these pent-up emotions literally beaten out of him. This abrasive, loud, and forever looming figure dashes across the street and plants a wet kiss on his lips. Haruko is that figure. He awakens to the lips of his future, his pixie dream girl. A disgusting, older character that takes him by hand and forces him into situations that rip every shred of him apart.

Naota rejects this change initially. A bandage over the horn, over the newly formed embarrassment, but of course it follows him home. Waking up to see Haruko right there at the breakfast table with his parents. Kinetic, obnoxious, and constantly in your face. In tune with the show, her personality and slung bass guitar keeps us in-tune with her mindset. Get this kid riled up by any means necessary. Naota is confused, upset, and full of bitter rage. A childish rejection of the impending change. It isn't until an inciting incident forces his horn to burst through the bandage and erupt onto the street. The initial sight is of flesh. That quickly morphs into a robot, Canti, who plays as the second half to Naota's fuming interior, his hook into the unobtainable image of perfection; his brother.

FLCL decides to stay fully below its base narrative. A narrative that forms in the mind of a kid going through the biggest change every boy goes through at a certain point. The entire world takes place within a mind, and that mind is under siege. As Naota says. "Nothing amazing happens here. Only the ordinary." Read to be a representation of his mental state, the infiltration of puberty is what rips him out of that malaise.

Every character is more of a symbol than anything, which makes their applicability and connection only as strong as your understanding of that fact. Mamimi is his past, his childhood. Haruko is the impending storm of puberty and adulthood. Amarao, the agent which tries to subdue Naota's change is the rejection, a facade of adulthood, and Canti, the robot which was birthed in the first episode is the ultimate signpost of maturity. With that knowledge, the narrative falls away and tunes you into the abstract, chaotic imagery as pure reflection.

That's both praise and criticism, as this OVAs intention is not only unclear but ultimately directionless in both a positive and negative way. While I firmly believe that any young boy would find this series not only engaging but a perfect representation of their current mentality; I can't help but feel as though a lot of the meaning will float by them. I can only see it as a point of reflection for an older audience, thinking back to youth and appreciating the chaotic nature that defined its entirety. Take that as you will. A piece of reflection that may not be suited for the youth it's intended to examine.

What great reflection it is, though! A post-Evangelion victory lap of anachronistic indulgence. If Gainax is to be blamed for the modern-day zeitgeist that anime has not only consumed but suffered from, then FLCL may as well be the peak of that established style. Unashamed and eager to please, a lapdog of Anno protege Kazuya Tsurumaki, FLCL jumps at any opportunity to indulge in the otaku-driven landscape of the anime we know today. The awkward sexuality, the male-driven demographic, the perverse camera angles. All of this is serviced by the meta-narrative, sure, but it still exists in the same feedback loop that funds the industry now. Apart from the kinetic, spectacular animation and direction that distinguishes Gainax and to a certain extent their offspring Trigger from the slobbering, talentless hacks that feed off the industry, we get this extra push for a meaning behind consuming. This meaningful indulgence was perfected early. Everything else is pale imitation that struggles to even iterate. Understanding that you see the creation and iteration so early on.

Which extends to another favorite of mine, Kill la Kill. Similarly having a sexuality-driven narrative held up by a powerful and well-done meta-narrative that entangles the series with themes that are necessary to make the indulgence palatable. Without this secondary structure, we'd have only the base narrative which isn't saying much. Without the meta-narrative in FLCL, unfortunately, we wouldn't have anything at all. Where it falls behind is where the majority of symbolism-driven products do. Once the symbols are understood, applied, and consumed, you are rarely left with anything else to latch onto, especially if the symbolism doesn't have a lasting effect on you.

This is where I'd argue for traditional stories or at least a combination of the two. To continue the brief comparison between Kill la Kill and FLCL, the symbolism in KlK is what keeps the narrative intact but ultimately is also held up by the bevy of characterization choices that power through the arcs and give us a connection to characters and symbols alike. Meanwhile, FLCL doesn't have a similar connection to the characters because the narrative is solely hung onto the themes, similarly to how Naota is latched onto Canti. It's there for the ride more so than anything else. With that said, there may be a very fair argument to be made for the strength of the symbolic narrative being substantially more effective in FLCL, which I'll leave for every unique viewer to decide for themselves.

The clouds are always waiting, but the perfect day to witness them never comes. There's always something else that throws you onto a different path. That chaotic path is often the one that doesn't let youth go until they've fully matured. FLCL captures that viscerally, with epic, kinetic, and heavily abstract visuals. Snappy, fourth-wall obliterating dialogue, and odd, abrasive choices in framing and art style. A combination of western cartoons and anime, Gainax wears their love and inspiration proudly. A blaring, unapologetic beam into a kid's mind. One could say the show's confusing, erratic style is not only intentional but mandatory. If the narrative couldn't do so, perhaps the visuals and head-nodding soundtrack could make you feel young again. That's the beauty of reflection. Stepping into shoes much too small for you and marveling at how much you've grown. Leaving your childhood behind, as it leaves the bounds of your mind, with its pyromaniacal idealism, and embracing the future, whoever that may be.

Quick review on FLCL: IT DESERVES ALL THE POSITIVE CREDIT ITS BEEN GIVEN! It really disappoints me to see the amount of negative reviews this anime has received and I just want to set the record straight for anyone that is considering to watch or anyone has watched this and did not enjoy it.

FLCL Story, Characters, Sound, Animation, etc. in General
Though the story is not force fed to the viewer like most anime these days FLCL requires the viewer to give a good amount of attention to understand the basics of whats happening in this crazy show. Every episode is well put together ... with a normal scenario turning into a big ordeal. The characters I find to be unique, enjoyable, relatable, and well designed. The main character Naoto is just a boy trying to be like his mature brother, in a world were all of the adults act childish. Mamimi or Mameme or something is his friend/girlfriend and she is a highschooler that acts pretty care free in life, skipping school, smoking, just doing her own thing. Harukou is a really lively character that I love, really funny, nice references, and the actors for all the characters nail the voices spot on (for sub). Side characters are even well put. Sound is great, (think from 2000) everything is clear, all of the vocals are crisp, the sounds for the background and fighting are perfect, music is amazing, love the entire soundtrack, very catchy, smooth, soothing, and epic. The animation is gorgeous and incredible.

If you didn't know already, (this comes from Gainax)... and this may explain why you are confused at the way this anime looks, is made, and how the story is presented, but if you aren't a fan of other Gainax's works... lol you probably won't like this, but I promise as confusing and strange as this anime may look, it was very enjoyable with stunning animation, music, (story that people seem to miss), and most characters were great. It is only 6 episodes meaning that everything may seem to quick, but I personally think everything was delivered in a very well paced time. Also meaning the rewatch value is pretty high really easy to watch again personally. I was amazed and impressed and you may be too. Just go in there with an open mind and listen to the work of art that FLCL is.

10/10
it's by Gainax what did you expect

Don't be fooled by FLCL, it looks like child's play but this Gainax action anime for my dvd player, is one of the hardest i've ever watched. The characters should look familiar to you. They're the little people from a classic puzzle anime.

The story is ok, the feel is too tight. Strange considering that most of the time there's a problem with story in an anime, it's because it's too loose.

Even expert watchers will find it difficult to advance very far. Each time you pick up where you left off, you're supplied with only 5 episodes. The one that's running when you start, ... plus 4 in reserve. We're not sure, but we suspect they're 6 episodes with 24 minutes each. That sound somewhat short, but the density makes it not so.

The story becomes increasingly complex, as more special abilities are acquired, and the art spreads into the foreground. Because of this spread, the anime has 3D elements, but is not truly 3D, an amazing thing to see. Since Gainax has been obsessed with concentrating on 3D anime for my DVD player.

Naoto is quite irritating, when he yells in his high pitch tone, every time he jumps off the ground, thank goodness I was able to mute my audio using my remote. Bottom line, a good anime. But not very high on anyone's priority list. I don't really have any hints for you.

Personal Reason: FLCL saved my life. It was the Summer of 2020 and I was thinking about Killing myself. I was going to drinking dish cleaner liquid in a high amount of it. I knew what time I was going to do it. Before I was going to do it at night I looked up Anime to watch you need to watch before dying and a Buzzfeed article comes up and on Number 16 it was FLCL. It was only 6 episodes and I watched it. That night I was crying and drinking water in my bathroom. Sorry for all of that.

Reviews: FLCL is ... about Baseball, Sex, robots, growing up, guitar, and a lot more. Being an adult is the reason why I like it the most. In the show, every adult is a piece of shit or just dumb and kids and the smarter ones. One The first viewing of it seems crazy, confusing, contradictory, and just looks dumb. But the thing is it is meant to be like that experienced that way and how do I know this its in the show (I think episode 2) when Naota and his are talking. In the show, Naota's dad analyzing the deeper meaning of a robot living in their house but it's just a crazy random thing that happens in the world. Ya and Kazuya Tsurumaki said, "With Evangelion, there was this feeling that you had better be smart to understand it or even work on it but with FLCL, I wanted to say it's ok to feel Dumb and Stupid." FLCL is imagination being made physical and tangible. It's strange moments, over-the-top action scenes with guitar (I love it), reference, stylistic changes (South park, Manga) Fourth wall break thrown in the first episode. Become mature is the one thing I like the most about FLCL. The image of violence and sexuality isn't just titillation it is used as a lens to shape a bigger picture around growing up. As I said before Adults in FLCL are dumb and Kids are smart. So what does it mean to grow up? Naoto (and many other "I act like Adults") thinks that being adults means you are stoic, removed, uncaring, swaying focused on appearing cool, letting any type of admiration go to his head, feeding his ego in nutshell. He doesn't really understand maturity and he's too afraid to take a chance at expressing himself emotionally which is what keeps him from maturing. We see him growing as he learns to understand his youth, realizing that age and wisdom aren't always synonymous. FLCL teaches me you should have ideas of kids even if you are an adult. FLCL is the best thing in the world.


Oh ya, there are dicks in it too.

There are many shows out there which piss people off. FLCL is one of them. some shows do it by being slow, or repetitive in it's events. some shows simply are completely insane. FLCL does not fit in with any of these camps. (well perhaps kind of in the latter) However there is an order to it's insanity here. most don't see it, and nor are they supposed to. no one is supposed to see the order in this show.

The main theme of this show is growing up and decision making. but none of those decisions really matter, because ... none of your decisions will have much effect on it's outcome. You are stuck on this path you don't want to travel on and you're going at light speed. FLCL's main character Naota is someone who has yet to come to terms with this. or rather he's the type of person who can't just go with the flow of things. But despite his attempts at being the mature one in every situation he is pulled along with his father, some large organization, the medical machina, and of course Haruhara Haruko's scheme. It isn't about the choice you make, it's whether or not you make the choice at all. The difference between having made the decision your self or had it decided for you by someone else, is what is important.

Most people you ask will complain that the show makes absolutely no sense, and that they hate it or don't like it because of that. But like certain other shows i've encountered, it must be this way. It must be incomprehensibly confusing otherwise it cannot get the point across. This story is told through the eyes of a 12 year old boy at a transitional point in his life where he's changing from child to adult, and during this time he is trying to make responsible decisions and act with maturity amongst immature peers and even authority figures. Life is confusing for someone during those years and even more so under those circumstances. growing up is a confusing thing.

overall the art and animation is good, though from time to time in the show they choose to switch styles into a completely screwed up scribbly art style. at some point they even changed to south park.

The sound track is by The Pillows, whose music fits the mood of the show perfectly. be it crazy and confusing, or full of hope for a better tomorrow. When the characters are looking for a silver lining in the clouds, the pillows deliver the mood with their sound.

all in all FLCL is a fantastic show in my opinion. It has a solid story, though delivered in a completely butchered way and flipped upside down and turned inside out. However you will come to understand and sympathize with parts of the cast, while the rest are there entirely to throw off the balance of the show, Naota and Mamimi are characters you will understand, both of whom most of us will be able to relate to.

FLCL was among the first anime I ever saw. Like many people, it originally left me confused and unimpressed. I had little anime experience at that time, and much of the show's heavy-handed metaphors and symbolism can elude even avid anime fans, so it makes sense that I was a bit overwhelmed. However, I rewatched this series after I became more familiar with the medium, and since then I've rewatched it dozens of times. I maintain that FLCL is one of the ultimate anime OVA series.

Story:
FLCL is a coming-of-age tale. It follows a young boy, Naota, on his journey through the volatile transitional stage ... of adolescence. Naota's personality and outlook on life are established within the first minutes of the show through the memorable quote, "Nothing amazing happens here." Describing his hometown, the Japanese every-city of "Mabase." As the plot progresses, Naota deals with brilliantly exaggerated metaphorical manifestations of many internal and external conflicts that are faced by almost all adolescent boys. The issues of facing the responsibilities that come with becoming and adult, learning to deal with other people, influence from other societies, coming to terms with loss, failure, rejection, and even success, and of course, surviving puberty and growing into one's sexuality are all touched on. And so-done in a fantastically imaginative and artistic way. You pick up on new metaphors every time you watch it. And it flawlessly blends its more serious messages with humor and excitement.
10/10

Art:
Typical of Gainax, the studio behind classic shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and many others, the art in this series is quite fantastic. The character designs are all very unique and unmistakeable. The action scenes are chaotic and thrilling. The female characters are not hypersexualized, at least not even close to the degree of other shows. And the scenery and background blend perfectly into the setting. Nothing to complain about.
10/10

Sound:
The show's soundtrack is almost entirely music from the J-Rock band, The Pillows. In my opinion, it is one of the best soundtracks to any anime ever. Besides being excellent music on its own, the songs perfectly complement and accent the tone and feel of the scenes in which they are featured. I'll remember the ending theme, "Ride on a Shooting Star," for the rest of my life. The voice acting is excellent. No voice is overly grating or offensive, and both the Japanese and the English voice actors all do a phenomenal job of capturing the personalities and moods of their characters.
10/10

Characters:
The characters are loveable, memorable, and brilliant. They all bring something to the table and do so poignantly. Much attention is given to the characters and their development, down to whether they are left or right handed. Character development is the main theme of the show and it is expertly highlighted, especially with regards to the ways that each character impacts Naota as both he and they change.
10/10

Overall:
FLCL will always hold a place dear to my heart. I'll vehemently recommend it to anyone with an open mind and an interest in anime. It's an all time classic that does more in 6 episodes than other shows do in 50. Did I mention it's only 6 episodes? It's less than 2 hours! Don't just take my word for how awesome this show is. Do yourself a favor and watch it yourself. Several times. There's a good chance you'll remember it forever.
10/10

(Note: This review was written quite a while ago, and FLCL is no longer quite my favorite, though it's still pretty high up there. I'll probably revise this review at some point.)

Here we go. My favorite anime series of all time. To this day it's probably not only one of the best-looking anime series I've ever seen (in its six episodes it packs in more iconic visual moments than most series do that run on many times its length), but it's also got one of the best soundtracks of all time, some of the sharpest and zaniest writing, and one of the all-time most awesome ... English dubs, ever.

And on top of all that, it's got real heart and intelligence hidden underneath its chaotic surface. The layers of allegory and metaphor here rival that of some of the best symbolic literature I've ever read, yet it cloaks itself so carefully in its satirical and surrealistic pigeonhole that it never really feels like it's beating you about the face with its subtexts. (It's too busy beating you about the head with other stuff, besides.) Easily one of the best coming-of-age stories to ever hit the small screen, and I can't really think of any other works, no matter the medium, that capture so perfectly the elation and pain of first love.

Not bad for an anime about a kid who begins birthing giant battle-bots from phalli that sprout out of his head after an alien disguised as a manic pixie dream girl runs him over with her Gundam-powered space-flight-capable Vespa and then whacks him upside the head with her lefty Rickenbacker, miright?

I'll start off this review by saying three words t sum it up: Best Anime Ever.

This anime has it all, from love to humor to symbols galore to action. Never in all my life have I ever had to re-watch something to understand it better, nor have I ever wanted to -- until now. You're first watch will leave you attached, yet utterly confused. After about 3 times through (since there's only 6 episodes, watching it many times is a cakewalk) you'll understand a lot of what is going on and will find hidden humor, foreshadowing, plot and more. My favorite anime, and in my ... opinion, the best anime ever.

It is about a young boy Naota's journey into man-hood, but ends up with ridiculous plot twists, story line, and so on and so forth. If you like funny animes or very very deep animes, this is an anime for you!

11/10!!!!!!!! I'm praying there'll be a second series or movie ( I doubt it) but I hope!

Recommended 110% a must watch! One of the most under-rated and under-populated animes ever.

There are anime that you watch because you want the stories to take you away to a place where your emotions can run wild, and when they bring you back you feel like a different person. Then, there are anime that you want to f@#k with your mind and make you roll on the ground with laughter. With that, this my review of FLCL.

Unless you do your homework, be prepared to watch it several times if you're looking for plot satisfaction. While the show itself is one of the funniest anime out there, its so confusing that you can't help but wonder what exactly ... its about. But in the same breath, who needs plot? FLCL is more entertaining than I could ask for, and plenty of fast paced action. For six episodes, this was a brilliantly constructed comedy/action anime. Story-wise, however, it neither explains itself nor does it really want to be. I found myself not caring about why Haruko was there, why thing were coming out of Takkun's head, or why Mamimi was such a whore. It didn't matter because it was awesomely entertaining and satisfying.

The art is amazing even in today's standards. The action sequences are amazingly choreographed and not dated in the slightest. You watch some anime that make 10 years ago seem like 20, but FLCL makes it seem like last year.

The soundtrack is simply awesome. The inserts are fantastic, and fuel the action in the show as well as cause you to lose yourself in whats happening (remember Canti on the abandoned school building). It is different from most soundtracks in that its all rock songs, and I personally dig the heck out of that. By music standards, one of the best OSTs you will ever hear in anime.

This series is something every anime fan must and needs to watch. It is something that you will compare to, refer to, and re-watch to laugh to. FLCL is a comedy anime that is almost unrivaled in the genre, so if you want to laugh and take a break from brain-mashing stories, pick this up.

After noticing the plethora of mixed to negative reviews, I've decided to review one of my favorite series because apparently I care way to much about these things.

FLCL is perfectly coherent, it's characters are relatable, and it's themes are down to earth, but not any less meaningful because of it. This six episode OVA is about a boy, Naota, transitioning from adolescence to adulthood as he deals with a battery of sexual advances and hormonal imbalances from the main female characters. They all have their own arcs as well which helps to give variety to the shows themes and balances the series. FLCL's method of ... conveying it's themes is abnormal to say the least, which is going to turn a lot of people off and probably require multiple viewings. The information given explicitly is not all that's needed to really understand what's going on and if you didn't feel it's art and soundtrack were enough to warrant multiple viewers than I can't exactly blame you for writing it off as complete nonsense.

FLCL opens with Naota hanging out by a bridge spanning a canal with Mamimi, a 17 social reject who is troubled by her former boyfriend (and Naota's brother) ignoring her after moving to America to play baseball. She fills the gaping hole in her heart with her unwarranted sexual advances on Naota. Nothing serious, but she cuddles him while disallowing him from returning any affection. Theirs is a dysfunctional relationship that lacks proper communication and only serves Mamimi's desperate need for attention. Over the course of the first episode, puberty hits Naota like a 20 year old pink haired girl on a motorized scooter. He realizes his attraction to Mamimi and this seriously freaks her out. Her pet is transitioning into an adult, and if it becomes mature enough, it might cause it to realize that Mamimi is far more dependent on it than it is on her. "It" of course, referring to Naota, who Mamimi calls Takkun, a pet name for his brother (who she thinks is still dating her). Once Naota gets hit with the puberty bat, he sprouts an unsightly forehead boner which erupts into a giant robot battle in response to Mamimi's emotional turmoil after Naota informs her than she's been dumped in favor of a hot, blond American... it might be better if you watch the first episode before reading this because it's hard to explain. Oh well, it probbaly won't make sense either way. So, with that synopsis out of the way, we can get to why FLCL executes it's themes and character development so well through some very unusual methods.

FLCL is about maturity with an emphasis on sexual desires. Over the course of the show, Naota transitions for a surly and overly serious teenager to to a surly and overly serious teenager who wants to get it on with his brothers 17 year old ex girl friend (he's 12). Being 5 years apart as well as his brothers former love interest puts Mamimi in a fetishist but almost unattainable position. From the moment Naota starts hinting at his attraction to Mamimi to the scene where he drags her to a cafe for a date, which culminates in what resembles a rape scene (his forehead boner impacts the ground directly between her legs after her insistence that she doesn't want to go anywhere with him) their relationship is categorized by misunderstanding and manipulation on both ends. Mamimi wants a pet whom is dependent on her while Naota, in his coming of age, wants a relationship of some kind, but as a 12 year old, sucks at telling her that. Their distance is expressed in the cinematography and symbolism as much as the spoken lines, so we'll move onto that next.

SYMBOLISM, oh yeah...
Medical machina is a factory on a hill. All the adults are excited about it which probably means it has something to do with adulthood and maturity. There is an iconic scene where Naota and Mamimi stand on either side of the frame, the medical machina factory separating them. It symbolizes the difference in years and maturity between them. Much of Natoa's character arc is about him realizing that he needs to be a 12 year old and stop feigning maturity. Sometimes the most mature thing to do is to stop chasing your brothers ex girlfriend, hang out with friends his own age and just be a kid. Now how is this all symbolized? Let's give a few examples

There's the aforementioned medical machina shot, whit both characters separated by their age gap. perhaps the most ironic example is when Naota engages Haruko in an airsoft fight and encounters his fellow class mates, driving a car, working. That turns the whole maturity dynamic on its head. The 20 year old is playing with toy guns while the 12 year old class mates work like adults. Another example is spicy, sour, and mild foods. Naota initially refuses the sour drink offered to him by Mamimi. Later on, he accepts it, despite his apparent distaste for it. The same happens with spicy food. The irony of his feigned maturity is depicted in the plot as well. His embarrassment at having to play a cat in the school play, as well as his embarrassment of having a girl sleep over at his house, and of course, his inability to swig that bat (metaphorical for manning up). I feel this review will become unbearably dry if I'm simply listing examples of symbolism, but if you're the kind of person who enjoys themes and characterization conveyed subtly, FLCL may be perfect for you. I'll finish with this, the most important example of the theme of maturity is how Naota expects adults to behave. He often criticizes others for not being serious enough and that gives the best insight into this confused little boy's head.

Let's move on to something everyone can appreciate, and that's the incredible art and animation. FLCL utilizes the animated medium to its fullest with shots of Naota being extruded through Haruko's bike's vents, and the eye popping mecha battles that take place in every episode. The color palette is vibrant and beautiful without being too saturated, and the animation is fluid. There's several cool directing tricks as well, and you can clearly see the influence of Hideaki Anno and Hiroyuki Imaishi. These directors maximize the tone in every scene, from the claustrophobic experience in Naota's house where his family members literally enclose him in a box of their incessant questioning about his sex life to Canti's asymmetrical take off to the tune of "Hybrid rainbow". That's something else worth noting, the sound track.

FLCL's sound track is composed by the pillows, and it's worth listening to on its own, no matter how much you hate this show. From Runner's High to Bran New Love Song, the pillows inject a wide range of emotions into FLCL, melancholy, frenetic, empathetic, and hype as fuck.

To avoid stretching this out any longer I'll summarize the characters traits and developments and perhaps one of them will strike a chord with you.

Naota is obsessed with maturity but is ironically less mature than is similarly aged class mates. Mamimi has no friends other than Natoa, she's basically homeless, and her life sucks. She can either be an emotionally manipulative loser, or move on from Naota's brother and her need for a pet and make something of her life. Haruko is the embodiment of Naota's adolescent desires. I'm not making this up, she literally says this, and knowing this during rewatch gives a lot of context into what her place in the story is.

If you want something artistically beautiful that spends more time impressing you with its animation and uses symbolism and other abstract narrative methods, this is just the show for you. If you direct story telling that keeps you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns, this is going to be a nightmare. Either way, I wouldn't go into it trying to interpret it, just enjoy the ride.

This review isn’t going to be very objective, just my thoughts and experience with it.

FLCL came into my life at a pretty coincidental time. Middle school, not sure where my life is going, confused, angry at school, all this shit. I was your typical pubescent preteen. At the time the only real anime I watched was Naruto, and I never really wanted to watch anything else, I just wasn’t an anime fan. One of my friends in middle school were talking about anime, which was pretty much me feigning knowledge of the medium so he’d think I was cooler. He recommended I watch “Effel ... Seal”. I had no fucking idea what this dude was talking about, but searched it anyway and couldn’t find it. I went back to school the next day and he told me it was the letters “FLCL”. Oh, of course! Not unlike the show, the way I got into it was really weird.

I watched it all, a couple episodes a day. Wow. I really had no idea what I was getting into with this show. This was really only my second exposure to anime as a medium, and at 12 years old, I was blown away. I didn’t understand the show nearly as well as I do now with around three rewatches under my belt. I realized the meaning was there, and it was a metaphor for puberty, but not all of it was made apparent on my first viewing.

The characters, art, and music are so outstanding for this show, so I’ll tackle them quickly. Characters in the spotlight are multifaceted and interesting, while side characters still have enough to them to make them really funny and enjoyable to watch. Naota, Haruko and Kanti are my favorites for how versatile they are, and how much they change throughout the 6 episode experience, with Haruko being the standout of the three. She remains one of my favorite characters in anime, for her mystique, humor and occasional character breaks where she transcends the sort of facade she’s painted for herself. The art is so amazing for 2000. I own the bluray for the series, and it holds up amazingly well. Gainax was on their A game when animating this series. Last up is the music. Holy shit, the soundtrack is SO good. It’s mostly done by a band named The Pillows, now probably one of my favorite bands. There’s so much variety to their music, you’re bound to find something you like.

I love this series so much, please give it a shot.

One of the most relatable, keenly-observed, and emotionally realistic depictions in anime of a boy's coming of age is also a story about how a space pirate who steals star systems is set free from interdimensional jail to stop giant irons from flattening the creases in planet Earth. This is not a contradiction.

FLCL is a lot of things. It's hilarious, running the gamut of humour from the opening slapstick of Haruko ramming into Naota with her moped, to the chaotic character-based humour of normal people trapped in absurd situations (Naota) and abnormally perverted people (Naota's dad and granddad) lapsing into gibberish as their overheated brains ... process the idea of an affair between Naota and and the lovely young woman who's invaded their house, to the constant surreal innuendo of Naota's repressed sexual impulses manifesting as phallic horns from his forehead. FLCL's refusal to conform to either reality or a consistent style allows it to turn into manga, South Park, and a John Woo movie whenever it feels like ramping up the ridiculousness of any given premise.

It's gorgeous, with some of the smoothest animation delivered by the medium before or since, offbeat but beautifully-drawn character designs, a wealth of sci-fi monsters and robots, and an unerring eye for the striking image - see Canti leaping onto the roof of the burned-out school and sending a spire of light into the air as the birds explode out of the building and fly up around him, or Naota silhouetted against the burning horizon, holding his guitar. The team puts in a hundred percent, enlivening the most standard scenes with a fresh approach: see a late-series scene where Naota's dad and grandad are interrogating him on his feelings about Haruko. It could have been drawn side-on from beginning to end, but the camera is an at extreme angle looking up from below them, to enhance how grotesque the perverted adults look as they tower over Naota and question him.

Nobody slacked off on FLCL; while it has its share of semi-still frames with overdubbed conversation as people sit and talk, this isn't done out of laziness, but to emphasise the drowsy summer haze that hangs over the city of Mabase, turning everything golden and shimmering, so that - despite how ridiculous it is - you kind of get why Naota keeps saying "Nothing amazing happens here. Only the ordinary", even as giant robots keep coming out of his head.

Despite how wacky FLCL is, it never loses the atmosphere that makes it feel so nostalgic and true to childhood summer memories, where the days seem to stretch out forever and you - much like Naota - can't wait to grow up, even as there's a sense of melancholy for the innocence you're leaving behind. Using the pillows for the soundtrack was an inspired choice. The songs complement it perfectly, from the threatening buzzsaw guitars of "Stalker" that underscore the sci-fi monsters to the brief moments of pure happiness that could scarcely be better echoed than by "Beautiful morning with you", or the plaintive strains of "One Life" under Naota's sobbing melancholy - and it all comes together with (maybe - who can really pick?) my personal favourite, "Blues Drive Monster", which makes the spectacular giant-robot climax even cooler than it was to begin with.

It is, of course, thrilling. While the action is always on the cartoonish side, being more for the sake of entertainment and allegory than to actually ascertain "who's stronger", it's always brilliantly choreographed, fast-paced, and full of spectacular animation which magnifies the awe-inspiring sense of impact - see the aftermath, almost like a nuclear strike, of episode 4's climax, where Naota has to bat a falling satellite back into space before it levels the city.

On the level of pure entertainment, it's perfect, an unadulterated sugar rush. But if it was no more than that, it would be notable but not a masterpiece. What elevates it is the way all of its special effects bombast is put in the service of developing character and exploring psychology - mostly Naota's, though it applies to Mamimi and Ninamori and even Haruko.

FLCL can come off as pretty opaque when you try to figure it out, because it's really not like almost any other anime. Rather than using conventional methods of exploring a character's feelings and motivations, such as putting them in a pressure-cooker situation till they blurt out confessions of how they feel, or having them pour out their hearts to conveniently-placed friends/relatives/agony aunts who exist to enable emotional exposition, FLCL tends to keep it a lot more subtle (which is an odd thing to say about an anime where giant horns sprouting from a boy's forehead represent his lust, but, wait), and use a lot of symbols and metaphors to clue you in.

(Unless you've seen FLCL, you'll be a little confused by this, and also spoiled on the plot, so read on with caution.)

Here are a few loosely-connected symbols and concepts which, in the impressionistic dream-logic of FLCL, explain what Naota's all about: his brother, Tasuku, who plays baseball; 'Tasukete', which means 'help me' or 'save me'; baseball bats; guitars; wanting to be an adult; adults who don't grow up; Mamimi, Tasuku's girlfriend; Naota's perverted dad; Haruko; and the Oedipus complex.

The first thing Naota says about Haruko is that she's "a stupid adult that's not mature enough to grow up". In episode three, he dismisses performing in a school play, because "school plays are for kids"; "You ARE a kid!", Ninamori retorts. Naota's dad is a grotesquely immature man-child who barely even attempts to take care of him. In episode 6, Naota's teacher visits the house and asks if his dad is worried that Naota's been abducted by their housekeeper. His dad doesn't care. But there was an older presence in his life that Naota looked up to to: his brother, Tasuku, who is gone now, leaving him all alone. Tasuku played baseball. Naota carries around a baseball bat and glove because he wants to be like his brother, but when push comes to shove, he won't swing it. Mamimi misses Tasuku, so she plays around unseriously with Naota, hugging and cuddling him; he knows she's using him as a substitute for his brother, and he resents it, but he has a crush on her, so it's painful but it still makes him a little happy.

Speaking of crushes, he has a major one on Haruko. Who does Haruko remind him of? When she swings the guitar into Canti in episode 1, he thinks to himself, shocked out of his affected adolescent detachment, that she looked like his brother - the only person he seems to respect and miss. What does Haruko do? She tries to make him swing the bat. Just carrying it around because it reminds him of Tasuku, wanting to be Tasuku, but being too afraid to swing the bat, is to be a child. Naota won't swing the bat. He's living in the amber haze of Mabase, trapped in childhood, desperately wanting to grow up, too scared of embarrassment and love and risk to do anything except sullenly tolerate Mamimi's caresses, run away from Ninamori's play, distance himself from Haruko, and refuse to swing the bat.

But Haruko said it. "Nothing can happen until you swing the bat."

Naota swings the bat - or at least, the guitar (which is rock and roll; it's even cooler than baseball; it's a penis; it's his self-worth; it's a whole bunch of things in one symbol) - and saves his town. In episode 2, he gets into trouble with the robots and says "Tasuk..." and you can't tell if he's saying "tasukete" ("save me") or calling for his brother. A symbol lights up Canti's face. It's a corrupted version of the Japanese symbol for - you guessed it, "Adult". But Tasuku's gone and Naota - just Takkun to Mamimi, who uses him as a substitute for his brother but treats him like a kid, and rejects him when he tries to ask her on a date - needs to be the adult himself.

So he grows up. "Never call me Takkun again. My name is Naota", he tells her (though only after being rejected makes the most explosive robot-penis yet come out of his head and turn into a city-destroying nightmare; because being rejected by your crush is the worst thing that can happen to you when you're a kid). Naota blatantly crushed on Haruko the whole time, but he'd just get embarrassed and mad about it when she teased him, or pretend not to care. When she turns up after going missing in episode 6, he cries for the first time, hugging her, asking where she went. Part of growing up is being honest with yourself.

Did I mention the Oedipus complex? Strictly speaking, Naota's mom isn't around (and he's even lonelier for it, poor kid), but the stand-in here is Haruko, who both Naota and his dad are obviously into. Naota resents it when Haruko gets close to his dad. Things come to a head in episode 5 when it looks like they're having sex at one point. His dad taunts Naota about it. Naota's holding a baseball bat - the symbol of Tasuku, adulthood, masculine power, and an extension of his dick (and its frustrated desires) all in one. What does he do? He smashes a TV (representing Canti, who has a TV for a head, gets kissed by Mamimi at one point - which Naota doesn't like - and is the portal for Atomsk, and thus Haruko's true goal the whole time), and a clock (representing time) flies off it and hits his dad in the head, killing him. So Naota kills his dad, the immature adult, with 1. a symbol of his penis and 2. a symbol of time over, 3. the girl they're sexually competing with each other for.

Is FLCL crass and sex-obsessed? Sure, but so are 14 year-old boys. It's not all that subtle about its symbolism and its networks of meaning - Tasuku/Tasukete is hilariously blatant - but it doesn't need to be. The anime may seem like it was written by throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, but it's a tight and coherent narrative of one kid growing up, expressed both through the haphazard and entertaining plot, and through the potent symbols that keep cropping up - baseball bats, guitars, adulthood, and young love.

And while a lot of it goes on inside Naota's head, it's by no means solipsistic. Mamimi and Ninamori each get a whole episode full of their own symbolic (and literal) narratives, which colour them in and make them equally interesting characters. We find out that Mamimi is alone, bullied, and uncared-for even as we also find out she might be an arsonist, but it's all because she misses the one person she really cared about - Tasuku - who saved her from their burning elementary school. The sequence in which Naota realises this in a furious connecting-the-dots cascade is FLCL at its best - it might be a whole minute of nothing but furiously flashing images and symbols, connecting Mamimi's lighter and cigarettes to her Firestarter video game, to the arson, to the burned elementary school, to Tasuku, to Canti, to Cantido-sama, and back.

Mamimi is very weird because she's very lonely, and avenging herself upon the town that doesn't give a shit about her using her new robot dog to eat everyone's cars isn't very satisfying even before it turns into a giant monster. Note that she calls her new pet Naota, replacing the old Takkun, whom she always treated like a pet in the first place. Mamimi's development is about making peace with Naota, not treating people selfishly because you want something from them, and embracing her own talents - as a photographer.

Ninamori doesn't get quite as neat an arc, but her little story of adolescent embarrassment and anger at her cheating dad and fear of a divorce, as well as her resentment of the secretary her dad has been cheating with, combine poignantly with her need to perform the story of the Marquis of Carabas so her parents can come watch and be happy. Revealingly, it's a story about a lie that becomes the truth - a cat, Puss in Boots, makes its owner into a nobleman by successfully pretending to be one before they switch places. And she wants Naota to play the cat; she wants him to be the one to save her.

Eventually, it works out for Ninamori's family situation. and she gets a moment in the sixth episode which beautifully illustrates FLCL's ability to depict complex, contradictory emotions. She finds Haruko and Naota asleep, together, on a bench in the street, covered by a sleeping bag and some cardboard. The older women who command Naota's affection have always inspired Ninamori's resentment, but here, she's no longer really angry or jealous. Her face reflects a complicated mixture of pity and disappointment, before she walks away, letting them be at peace.

Haruko's development is of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it nature, because we don't really understand her. Her enigmatic nature, by turns teasingly flirtatious and menacingly scary, is how a boy like Naota might see an intimidating older woman, only dialed up to 11 like everything else in FLCL. But it comes out like this: although she seems to have a certain fondness for Naota, everything Haruko does for him - mainly forcing him to grow up by making him swing the bat - is for her own selfish purposes, to develop his N.O. channel till it can summon Atomsk, whose power she wants to steal.

When Naota climbs out of Canti, claiming the power of Atomsk for himself and asserting his own individuality as a young man, she reveals the ferocious greed that's always been hidden by her whimsical facade, and attacks him - he could kill her, but he doesn't. He kisses her, and admits he's in love with her. And while it doesn't work out, and she does leave, she finally acknowledges that he's not just someone she can exploit and hurt for her own ends and drag around throughout space. He's still a kid. There's a fondness to her final farewell which suggests Naota managed to melt her cold heart a little.

That's FLCL; a phantasmagorical lightshow of fighting giant robots and ridiculous sexual innuendo hiding complex characterisation, strong development, some of the most credit-worthy use of "show, don't tell" as a narrative strategy, and a weirdly wonderful evocation of childhood. It's an anime that uses the near-infinite flexibility of the medium as it should be used, to tell a story in a way that nothing but an anime could.