FLCL is exhausting, but in a good way. Storyline, audio, and animation - everything is relentlessly energetic and intense. A lot happens in just 6 episodes, so you'll want to watch with care. The soundtrack is incredible and filled with tracks by the now-popular (but at the time relatively unknown) band "The Pillows." The animation is among the most creative and experimental that I've seen: you won't find any impressive attention to detail or original character designs, but it really does play out like a work of art. As for the storyline, FLCL took some time to get into (and to understand), but this is typical of Gainax productions. By the second half you come to realize that, at heart, FLCL is a beautifully done coming-of-age story that happens to be funny as hell and full of alien robots.
As mentioned, a lot happens in 6 episodes, and although you'll get the gist of things, there are so many hidden jokes and references that the series has high re-watch value. Overall, I was impressed, though I didn't walk away feeling that I had just seen one of the greatest anime series of all time. Maybe it's just something about Gainax (see Neon Genesis Evangelion review), but I felt that FLCL was good but overrated. Animation and audio are certainly among the best I've encountered, but the story is nothing special and is slow to start (it took 2 episodes to really get into it, but there were only 4 left after that). The main plot with Haruko and Medical Mechanica is pretty basic and serves more than anything as a vehicle for developing and delivering the more interesting story of Naota's coming-of-age. I could easily see the Medical Mechanica plot being replaced with something better and, as a result, FLCL being something really great. As is, FLCL was impressive, but not worth as much praise as it gets.
Animation: 8.5/10
Audio: 8.5/10
Storyline: 7.2/10
Overall Score: 7.6/10 (Very Good)
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