This review isn't going to be laid out as I normally would because FLCL is FLCL.
FLCL is an early 2000's anime made by Studio Gainax of Neon Genesis Evangelion fame and Studio Production I.G. FLCL feels like a direct response to Evangelion as while Neon Genesis is a show that as the director of FLCL says ''With Evangelion there was this feeling that you had better be smart to understand it, or even just work on it''
FLCL is the complete opposite of the spectrum when it comes to enjoying media and creating media as a whole. Fooley Cooley is fun, confusing, and stupid. With FLCL there is never that expectation of you that understand what you're watching and the show even takes it fair share of funny jabs of arthouse pieces of media with its character Kamon but it isn't a turn your brain of off piece of show that just exists to look pretty, you can find meaning in FLCL and find themes that can connect to you however FLCL never cares if you do or don't. You don't have to find meaning in FLCL to like it or to absolutely adore it even. FLCL feels like it exists to say 'Its alright to enjoy things for the sake of enjoying it''. FLCL will never make you feel stupid while watching it because throughout its six episodes it wants the audience to have fun, it doesn't want to hurt you're head or force some deep media literacy meaning onto you, If you find meaning in FLCL that's wonderful but if you don't? that's completely alright because I feel personally half the time FLCL doesn't even understand itself so why should you? This show isn't made for you to feel smart, its made for you to enjoy it no matter the circumstances and personally its refreshing to see a show like FLCL.
I personally got my own themes out of FLCL, I got an overall theme of growing up, and that you can never truly grow up and even the 'grown ups' around you still have no clue what's going on exactly as a child would so it's okay to not understand everything that's going on in life however even if I got no meaning out of this show, I'd enjoy it the exact same way because its okay to feel stupid and its okay not to look into every piece of media as if it has deep metaphorical meaning. As Kazuya Tsurumaki said '' FLCL is the story of boy meets girl. For me it is also about how it’s ok to feel stupid.''
This show also has one of the single best soundtracks I've ever heard, Tracks like 'Advice' and 'RUNNERS HIGH' are just fantastic and the show would not be the same without the pillows making such outstanding music for it.
FLCL is a beautiful in more ways than one and I'm grateful and glad I checked it out. FOOLEY COOLEY FOOLEY COOLEY!
9/10
