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Year: 2000-2001
Genre: Action, Avant Garde, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Episodes: 6
Rating: 4 out of 5
Have you ever been bored or cynical of life? You looked around and noticed that no one vibed with you. The one person you idolized left to make it big in a new country. The city you live in is a complete bore. Many people probably have felt this way, but what would happen if you were struck by a guitar-wielding, vespa-driving girl who changes your world. FLCL, or Fooly Cooly, is an insane anime where the main character gets pulled into an intergalactic fight. Get ready for a wild and crazy ride.
Overview
FLCL revolves around the story of Naota Nandaba. Naota is a 12-year-old boy who is living with his widowed father and grandfather. He is quite cynical of the world as he believes nothing ever happens in the city he is living in. He idolizes his older brother, who is in the United States, playing baseball. Naota spends most of his time with his older brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Naota’s life suddenly changes when he is literally hit by a Vespa-riding, bass guitar-wielding, wild, insane, pink-haired girl named Haruko Haruhara. The encounter leaves Naota shaken with a large bump on his head. Thinking that Haruko is nothing but trouble and wanting peace and quiet, Haruko takes it upon herself to move in with his family. Naota soon finds out that he has been dragged into an alien-type battle for the rule of Earth. This is the last thing Naota wants in his life.
Review:
FLCL is one of the most insane, over-the-top, and funny anime I have seen. It is only six episodes long, but damn, does it pack a punch. Each episode is way over the top and enjoyable to watch. I sit here right now, trying to think what to write about this anime. It is iconic and so crazy that you will definitely laugh or have a look of straight confusion because your brain couldn’t handle or comprehend what it just watched. One second, I think I have the gist of the story, and then, nope, I need to think again.
The story is all over the place but is also straightforward. It is a coming-of-age story and revolves around Naota Nandaba. Naota is a downer who seems to be manipulated by his brother’s former girl or something. Naota’s life changes when he is straight-up hit by Vespa-riding maniac Haruko. When Haruko shows up, the anime goes into full drive of craziness. She is an electric bass guitar-wielding fool. Haruko finds out that Naota’s head injury that she caused created a freakin portal in which giant ass robots emerge. Most of the time, they come from Naota’s head. Haruko claims she is an alien investigator from the Galactic Space Police Brotherhood, which adds even more craziness to this crazy anime. Haruko is looking for a space-manipulating being called Atomsk.
Each episode shows Naota, with the help of Haruko, gaining confidence in himself. Now Haruko doesn’t nudge Naota but throws his ass off a cliff. Each episode shows that Naota is depressed and never wants to do anything. In one episode, he doesn’t want to play a cat and then has cat ears pop up. That episode ended in an epic battle. The final episode is great because it is a balls-to-the-wall action fest that will leave your mouth wide open but still wondering what the hell you watched.
For some odd reason, the sexual tension and comments are high. You never see anything, but Haruko brings out some deep sexual awareness in Naota’s father and grandfather. These scenes are started with some characters asking or stating Fooly Cooly. I guess all of us have had Fooly Cooly or whatever it means. It always happens in the show when someone is getting a sexual massage or making sexual sounds. It is crazy.
I will say that the animation is the highlight of this anime. The colors used, how the action was drawn, and the feel were top-notch. The animators did a fantastic job of showing the feelings of the characters. Since Naota was depressed, the scene was drawn with dull colors, and it seemed to always rain. The anime got considerably brighter when Haruko showed up with her bright pink hair and Vespa. It seemed like her presence brought light to Naota’s life. What I liked what that the animators revolved the show around Naota’s feelings. When he was around that one girl, it was made with dull colors. When he was at home, it showed dull colors when Haruko was flirting with his father. Yet, when he was alone, and the center of Haurko’s attention, the colors used were brighter. A master class on how colors and scenes should be made.
There are really only two characters that should be discussed: Haruko Haruhara and Naota Nandaba. Let’s get the show started with Haruko Haruhara. Haruko is the wild, crazy, mysterious pink-haired alien who comes into the life of Naota looking for an alien that she wants to seduce and subdue. This girl is an over-the-top, reckless sociopath who rides around on a Vespa and wields a guitar. Even though, towards the end, she is an antagonist, without her, the show would be a boring pile of crap. It is her erratic, insane behavior that makes this show because you never know what is about to happen with her.
Naota Nandaba is the male protagonist whose life changes when Haruko enters. He is slightly wise and observant for his age, which leads him to be an outcast and criticize many around him. This has led him to have a cynical view of the world but also try to have the appearance and obsession of appearing older than he actually is. He usually expresses himself through the thoughts of his head and seems to always downplay what is happening around him. It seems like he has a strange relationship with his father but idolizes his older brother. This has led him to hang out with his older brother’s ex-girlfriend. Ultimately, Naota finds his way and confidence, even if he is still slightly cynical.
FLCL is a crazy anime that everyone should watch. It is an excellent beginner anime because it is crazy and shows the insanity that some anime series have. The episode count is low enough that you can watch it over a weekend and move on to the next anime. Haruko and Naota are the only characters worth watching. Haruko is so insane that you won’t be able to take your eyes off her because you won’t know what she is about to do. Overall, give this anime a try and get your Fooly Cooly on.
