(note: this review might include minor spoilers, but will not ruin any of the actual plot. the show is less than three hours anyways, just go watch it!)
Growing up.
Everyone grows up.
At some point in their lives, everyone will go through the inevitable transition from childhood into adolescence, from adolescence from adulthood.
Okay, there are some cases in which people don’t live long enough to actually grow up- but generally speaking, the average person will live long enough to mature and change.
It’s a staple of being human.
Everyone does it. Everyone’s doing it.
What does this have to do with FLCL?
FLCL is a 2000 Original Video Animation produced by Studio Gainax and yadda yadda yadda… this stuff doesn’t really matter.
FLCL is just a three-hour long commercial for life. At its center there is one simple but powerful message: life is all about what you make it, so make it what you want.
As I was saying earlier, everyone grows up. This is a fact of life, but what makes this otherwise mundane truth so beautiful is the fact that no one grows up the same way.
There will always be parallels and such between different stories, yes- but there are never two situations that are exactly the same. You and I are so different, yet so similar, yet objectively as far apart from “the same” as possible.
Which leads me to the following assertion: since you grow up in your own way, make it be in a way you like. Grow up at the right pace, and enjoy it, you only live once.
In my opinion, FLCL is all about this philosophy- you’re always just a kid, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
So what exactly is FLCL about?
FLCL. Fooly Cooly. Furi Kuri, Furi Kura.
It doesn’t really mean anything on its own.
It means everything to some people, it means entirely different things to different people.
It’s not necessarily meant to be understood.
Just like growing up.
FLCL is the story of 12-year old Naota Nandaba, a kid who wants to be grown up. Instead of taking his time on his ride, he wants to grow up.
Like many others before him. You might find him relatable.
His older brother, Tasuku (never actually seen in the show) left to America to play professional baseball. To Naota, Tasuku represents the epitome of being an adult- he wants to be like Tasuku.
When Tasuku left for America, he dumped his girlfriend, Mamimi Samejima. Mamimi lives in denial and uses Naota as a replacement boyfriend.
One day (as in, literally the first five minutes), some crazy pink-haired alien bitch (allegedly) named Haruko Haruhara shows up out of nowhere and… uh…
At the center of this show, these three characters are symbolic of Naota’s growing up- representative of his situation. He has a crush on Mamimi, representing his desire to grow up, and a crush on Haruko, representing his childlike nature.
Wanting to grow up is childlike.
Anyways, here’s the kicker for FLCL:
FLCL is just a way of saying “growing up means different things,” and by extension you’ll feel differently about it.
This show gets up in your face by throwing whatever it wants to you and letting you pick up the pieces.
This is by far FLCL’s greatest selling point, in my opinion, and why I like it so much.
When I first watched it, I hated this show. I didn’t understand anything. It didn’t make sense.
Which kinda reflects my own personal opinions on growing up…I don’t really get it sometimes either.
If you want to understand what the hell’s going on, I’d suggest watching the show, then reading the light novel, then watching the show again. I’ll review the LN another time, but it basically breaks down every scene and gives it to you logically so that you can process the themes on your own, which is why when you rewatch FLCL after reading it you’ll be able to actually just appreciate the ride (if you didn’t the first time).
So what I’m getting at, is that you don’t have to like FLCL. And that’s okay.
FLCL fans can be a little… pretentious about this show… and for good reason, I’ll admit, but the glory of it all is that it means something unique to everyone.
So a little about what actually happens.
Haruko is on a quest to get something she wants… the power of the legendary Pirate King Atomsk. Her “bass guitar” is actually a space-time interference weapon which, upon contact with a person’s head, will open up their ability to use N.O. Channels (what this stands for is never explained). N.O. Channels can summon items from across the universe- in Naota’s case, he summons Canti, among other beings.
There’s also an evil megacorporation called Medical Mechanica which the adults love for convenience yet they have an ulterior goal… it’s a long story, and one that gets explained a little more in-depth in the light novel.
FLCL isn’t really a show where things get explained. It’s about the ride and how you feel about it.
So if not the plot, the experience. FLCL is about the experience. Something I didn’t realize at first.
FLCL’s animation is insane- everything is always moving, and there’s never a dull moment. If you have a short attention span, you’ll likely find yourself glued to the screen because there’s always something to look at. There are also many little easter eggs and references and such- there are a few South Park and Gundam references, notably.
The music on the other hand, though… the music is probably the second-best selling point of this series. The sub-section spacers I’ve added each have a link to a different song, go ahead and give them a listen.
FLCL’s music is done by the modern rock band [The Pillows.](/staff/100327/the-pillows ) They’re really damn good.
Imagine if an anime had its entire soundtrack made by your favorite band- it’s like this. The Pillows aren’t my favorite band, but their type of music is exactly my jam. Great background music in general, and overall just fit the vibe. Even if rock music isn’t really your thing, the fast-paced gritty sludge of the guitar just really makes this show feel nostalgic and like a good memory.
So for my closing notes, I’m going to get a little personal.
As I mentioned before, I originally hated this show. It flew over my head- although it’s meant to. That sort of thing just doesn't please everyone.
It’s okay if FLCL doesn’t make sense. Growing up doesn’t make sense.
But if you look into it… you kinda begin having fun. Hey, this is crazy. I can jam with something to get my mind off things.
I hate not knowing. I hate not being the smartest person in the room. But coming to terms with that is maturing, and you could say this show makes you accept that.
Once I realized that there was a deeper layer to it, I fell in love- but, of course, it’s okay if you don’t see that deeper layer.
As I mentioned, I hated this show at first. But after tons of research and reading the light novel, I began to appreciate it. You don’t have to think too much- you just have to think at all. Unless you don’t want to, which is completely valid!
This show, to me, is a bit of a comfort show. I hate the rough edges, but it’s relatable, it’s fun, and it’s something to do when I can’t handle other things. It’s like a parody of the real world, in a way. Naota always talks about how boring and inane his city is when there’s a multiversal conflict going on around him, literally stemming from his forehead. The nonchalant nature of his insight is funny to read through.
So.
Is FLCL perfect?
No.
It’s hard to understand.
It does whatever the hell it wants.
It might actually have a thing or two say about real life.
You might love what it tells you.
You might hate every second of it.
That’s what makes it so good.
It’s not necessarily an objectively good show- it’s about what it means to you personally! I think it’s amazing because it’s so open to interpretation. Maybe it’s secretly a sequel to Dragon Ball, who knows! It’s all about what you want it to be!
So if it means something different to everyone- why not define what that is on your own?
(TL;DR: it’s good if you want it to be, that’s why I think it’s good.)
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