Written by: Kevin Berge
If this poster gives you the impression this series is about good-looking girls, motorcycles, and guitars, you're almost right except for all the other things. (Image Courtesy of: funimation.com)
Sometimes, a show is hampered by its perceived reputation. I had heard about FLCL for a long time, airing on Adult Swim at the same time as many great anime. However, I avoided it because of what I saw it as.
This was a show that had very little clearly defined concept. It was just the anime where a boy's sexual frustration was apparently channeled into a giant horn on his head. That's all I had to go on with FLCL.
With the surprise recent announcement of two sequels to this oddball series though, it seemed fitting to finally give this weird show a chance. It couldn't be any worse than the image in my head.
This was a show that had very little clearly defined concept. It was just the anime where a boy's sexual frustration was apparently channeled into a giant horn on his head. That's all I had to go on with FLCL.
With the surprise recent announcement of two sequels to this oddball series though, it seemed fitting to finally give this weird show a chance. It couldn't be any worse than the image in my head.
Basic Story Set-Up
12-year-old Naota Nandaba is just a young kid in a boring town trying to get by with his depressed friend Mamimi Samejima when he is run over by a Vespa scooter driven by an aggressive young woman Haruko Haruhara. The accident leaves Naota with a vicious bump on his forehead that resembles a horn.
The moment turns Naota's life upside down as Haruko repeatedly pushes her way into his life and that bump becomes a strange phenomenon that causes the once boring town to explode with insanity.
The moment turns Naota's life upside down as Haruko repeatedly pushes her way into his life and that bump becomes a strange phenomenon that causes the once boring town to explode with insanity.
How could you not fall in love with that face? (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Story Arc Analysis
***This is the one section of the review that will contain spoilers and expects the reader to have seen the anime. If you have not, skip ahead to the Impact and Art Style section.***
What is FLCL about? It can be hard to exactly pin it down because Naota is the main perspective, and he has no idea what is going on. Luckily, there's more than enough dialogue here to piece it all together.
When Haruko appears in the first episode, she has one mission: to save the space pirate Atomsk and take his power. Unfortunately, she does not fully understand the situation when she open a portal in Naota's brain to funnel through powerful beings.
The confusion comes from her misunderstanding that Atomsk is actually trapped inside Canti, a robot that comes out of Naota's head early on in the story. At the climax of the story, Atomsk is finally fully released from Canti and merges with Naota before escaping all together just out of Haruko's reach.
Even writing it out is confusing. This show is absurd but with a clear running logic. The violence is aggressive but never entirely real, and the emotions are on overdrive. The story of this anime is really those emotions, particularly Naota's inability to get over his young loves.
While Haruko manipulates Naota at every stage, he genuinely feels that is falling for her. There is so much overblown emotion that makes it easy to root for the pair, but Haruko clearly has little understanding of empathy and Naota is mainly just crushing on the good-looking girl who brought some excitement to his life.
This is a journey through an adolescent fling that is more implied in its sexuality than outright. What makes the show special is all the ways it does not simply stay at a surface level. All these characters have drives and desires that have far more meaning than the base desires that are overplayed.
What is FLCL about? It can be hard to exactly pin it down because Naota is the main perspective, and he has no idea what is going on. Luckily, there's more than enough dialogue here to piece it all together.
When Haruko appears in the first episode, she has one mission: to save the space pirate Atomsk and take his power. Unfortunately, she does not fully understand the situation when she open a portal in Naota's brain to funnel through powerful beings.
The confusion comes from her misunderstanding that Atomsk is actually trapped inside Canti, a robot that comes out of Naota's head early on in the story. At the climax of the story, Atomsk is finally fully released from Canti and merges with Naota before escaping all together just out of Haruko's reach.
Even writing it out is confusing. This show is absurd but with a clear running logic. The violence is aggressive but never entirely real, and the emotions are on overdrive. The story of this anime is really those emotions, particularly Naota's inability to get over his young loves.
While Haruko manipulates Naota at every stage, he genuinely feels that is falling for her. There is so much overblown emotion that makes it easy to root for the pair, but Haruko clearly has little understanding of empathy and Naota is mainly just crushing on the good-looking girl who brought some excitement to his life.
This is a journey through an adolescent fling that is more implied in its sexuality than outright. What makes the show special is all the ways it does not simply stay at a surface level. All these characters have drives and desires that have far more meaning than the base desires that are overplayed.
Just consider FLCL Gundam with awesome guitars. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Impact and Art Style
Dense seems like the ideal word to describe FLCL. Almost every sentence in this anime has a direct and metaphorical meaning, making the most of its mere six episodes. The visuals are even more packed in with psychedelic imagery that never lets up. There's just too much to unpack to ever see it all in one sitting.
Luckily, the show is short enough that it makes repeat viewing easy. What starts out as a fairly ridiculous take on a coming-of-age tale opens up a host of metaphorical readings. In particular, the show seems to be content to question itself at every stage.
Naota has no idea who he is and wants to be at the start of the series, and he never really decides. He does not grow up. He just goes through the chaos. He loves and loves again, barely even processing all the violence that he's involved with.
He wants and wants and wants some more, and it makes for an interesting parallel with the other characters. Haruko is so singular in her desire that she cannot see anything else but that one goal. Mamimi is trapped in a depressed state of wanting nothing at all.
Each of these characters though are evolving and seeing the errors in their limited view. They may not change much over the course of the series, but they do ultimately reach a point where they can see that they need to change. It's a bombastic take on adolescence that is more concerned with being an image than a message.
None of this would work without the stellar art and direction of this series that just jumps off the screen. It is hard to follow it all, but it is just a delight to watch. The vibrancy of colors and action makes this series stand out strongly from shows it clearly is taking inspiration from.
Luckily, the show is short enough that it makes repeat viewing easy. What starts out as a fairly ridiculous take on a coming-of-age tale opens up a host of metaphorical readings. In particular, the show seems to be content to question itself at every stage.
Naota has no idea who he is and wants to be at the start of the series, and he never really decides. He does not grow up. He just goes through the chaos. He loves and loves again, barely even processing all the violence that he's involved with.
He wants and wants and wants some more, and it makes for an interesting parallel with the other characters. Haruko is so singular in her desire that she cannot see anything else but that one goal. Mamimi is trapped in a depressed state of wanting nothing at all.
Each of these characters though are evolving and seeing the errors in their limited view. They may not change much over the course of the series, but they do ultimately reach a point where they can see that they need to change. It's a bombastic take on adolescence that is more concerned with being an image than a message.
None of this would work without the stellar art and direction of this series that just jumps off the screen. It is hard to follow it all, but it is just a delight to watch. The vibrancy of colors and action makes this series stand out strongly from shows it clearly is taking inspiration from.
Sub vs. Dub
While the sub of FLCL is the more faithful representation of the show that better highlights its linguistic play, it is entirely incomprehensible on a first viewing. I could not possibly recommend anyone who does not know Japanese watch this series first in Japanese.
The English dub is fun and engaging all on its own even if it sometimes stumbles with its word play. The actors are all strongly committed to their weird roles, and it is a much easier viewing experience. Over time, as the show becomes easier to process though, it may be better to check out the sub.
Recommendation: Dub
The English dub is fun and engaging all on its own even if it sometimes stumbles with its word play. The actors are all strongly committed to their weird roles, and it is a much easier viewing experience. Over time, as the show becomes easier to process though, it may be better to check out the sub.
Recommendation: Dub
Really can't get much more direct with the phallic imagery. (Image Courtesy of: totallynecessary.blogspot.com)
Conclusion
I barely understood FLCL through the end of my first viewing, but it didn't stop me from enjoying every second. It's a wild and entertaining ride that does not let up. Even without interpretation, this is a series worth exploring for the pure adrenaline rush.
That said, it is great because there is more under the surface, and it is deep enough that it feels like there's multiple interpretations to be found in the show's messages. It is a raunchy phallic ride, but it is also a series about the importance of understanding ourselves and our desires.
Few anime are as short as this, but FLCL packs so much in that it hardly feels like there's only six episodes to digest. Few shows can do what this series does in six episodes over their 30+ episode runs. This is a prime example of less being more.
Those willing to give it a chance should find something special in FLCL even if it is nothing more than a pure entertaining ride.
That said, it is great because there is more under the surface, and it is deep enough that it feels like there's multiple interpretations to be found in the show's messages. It is a raunchy phallic ride, but it is also a series about the importance of understanding ourselves and our desires.
Few anime are as short as this, but FLCL packs so much in that it hardly feels like there's only six episodes to digest. Few shows can do what this series does in six episodes over their 30+ episode runs. This is a prime example of less being more.
Those willing to give it a chance should find something special in FLCL even if it is nothing more than a pure entertaining ride.