FLCL

Review

FLCL, or Furi-Kuri (or Fooly Cooly) is a 6-part OVA released in 2000. The name derives from the Japanese habit, especially among modern teenagers, of creating new Japanese words by combining the first syllables of English words, for instance, "Pokemon" from "Pocket Monsters.", "FLCL" doesn't actually stand for anything specific, however. It's used deliberately ambiguously throughout the show to connote sexual, exciting, and random things. In other words, sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

After the success of Evangelion, Hideaki Anno soon stopped producing anime to focus on live action filmmaking. Gainax turned to his protege, Tsurumaki, to head the company's next major anime project, and Tsurumaki joined scriptwriter Yoji Enokido to create the concept and storyline about a boy in a dull Japanese town whose road to maturity begins when a crazy woman riding a Vespa runs him over.

Style versus Substance

FLCL is a stylish, visual show, a frantically-paced rock and roll thrillride, but told in such an unconventional manner that it's sometimes difficult to establish even the most basic facts of the storyline (like who is Amarao and who does he work for?). Many viewers leave the show saying, "cool!" but scratching their heads.

But believe it or not, there's plenty of depth to FLCL. Like most Gainax shows, it's about a boy growing up and experiencing the turbulence of adolescence. Haruko represents sexual awakening in general, while the bizarre horns and robots that mysteriously pop out of Naota's forehead are the surprising desires first experienced by teenagers (literally, boners). These weird feelings are accompanied by a big, exciting mix of rock and roll, expensive clothes, guitars, baseball, trendy drinks, and, of course, Vespas. At the same time, Medical Mechanica, a big ugly company, looms in the distance, while the town's mayor is rocked with a public affair scandal. Adults, it seems, have problems of their own.

FLCL is unlike anything else, and correctly dubbed "the first anime of the 21st century."

Character Designs

Sadamoto's character designs are sublime, and fit perfectly within the show's overarching themes. Note Naota's obsession with brands (he wears expensive clothes, shoes, and a ridiculously expensive Gregory backpack), a subtle sign of his immaturity. Sadamoto also designed Canti, his first robot design. Just as the Evangelions broke the mold for giant robots, Canti is entirely unique and fits perfectly into the show: a silent, befuddled robot with a television for a head who does household chores and periodically saves the world. Also note that Ninamori was rocking Ugg boots years before Americans.

Music

The Pillows. First two soundtracks released in US by Geneon Entertainment. Any Pillows fans out there feel like writing this section?

References:

Links

Quadrophenic's Episode Summaries -- absolutely required reading (if you've seen all of FLCL). Clears up the who, what, when, where, and why of this thoroughly confusing show.

Deux Dei - the best overall fan site with extensive image galleries, commentary, etc

the DB Archives: FLCL - excellent image gallery

Over-analyzing FLCL

FLCL official site (English) - especially check out comments by the staff here

FLCL official site (JP)

Anime News Network: FLCL

FLCL.com.ar -fan site in Spanish & English.

Interviews

Akadot interviews Tsurumaki - excellent

PULP interviews Tsurumaki - interview by Carl Horn. More from Pulp on FLCL.

Tsurumaki talks FLCL at Fanime Con 2003

Tsurumaki talks FLCL at Otakon 2001