FLCL

this is what dreams are made of.

FLCL is a 6-episode japanese anime production that impresses and entertains beyond explanation. those who find their way through it's layering of bizarre beauty will realize what it truly is: the greatest thing ever.

FLCL, also known as Fooly Cooly or Furi-Kuri in Japan, centers around Naota, a Japanese kid whose beloved older brother has recently moved to America to play baseball. As if that wasn't hard enough for him, he now finds his brother's shattered (and much older) girlfriend Mamimi latching onto him for support. In the midst of it all, Naota (or as Mamimi calls him, ta-kun) finds his already troubled life turned on its side as a strange girl named Haruko rides into town on a Vespa scooter and smacks him on the head with her trusty, electric-blue, motorized Rickenbacker bass guitar. From here, things spiral into a wonderful insanity.

If the plot seems odd so far, you will probably find yourself in a few seizures by the end. In the first episode, a TV-headed robot sprouts out of an anxiety-fueled horn that grown on Naota's head. After an amazing battle, this robot comes to live with Naota and does his laundry. Things like this happen every day in the world of FLCL.

Unfortunately, this may be a bit too much for some. But those who enjoy it will be thoroughly rewarded by the cleverly weird plot advancements and hilarious visual gags. And if you sift through it all, you'll find something even more amazing: a wonderful story of growing up that, despite it's giant robots, is moving and easy to relate to. Kids who want to be adults, adults who can't grow up. These heavy topics line this gorgeous show and add a stirring quality to it.

Besides the content of the show itself, the production of FLCL is absolutely mindblowing. Sickly slick animation coupled with an amazing musical backdrop provided by Japanese punk-rockers The Pillows proves to be a winning combination. The English dub is very impressive as well, especially for Haruko.

It is unfortunate that FLCL's 6 episodes are spread out onto three expensive DVDs, because it limits people's access to it. Thank god for Cartoon Network, which periodically plays FLCL on it's adult swim block. And while i'm not exactly advocating piracy, i would suggest going to whatever lengths you need to see FLCL.

FLCL has affected me more than any other movie or show i've ever seen, animated or otherwise. Those who lack the open mind to filter through the madness will find the show to be quirky if nothing else. But on every level, FLCL is a truly mind-blowing achievement.

Oh, and you may be wondering about the title. Fooly-Cooly? Yeah. No one else knows either.

FLCL

10/10

when you start to watch this anime, it won't be long before you go... "what the heck!?". of course, this is exactly what it wants you to do. there is no use trying to understand it, and there is no point you getting upset about it. if you don't like it, don't watch it. this is an anime which stretches your imagination, as well as the boundaries of animation. this is one of the most beautifully animated shows i have seen and without a doubt the most charming. the wonderful mix of characters and weird story, along with a cruel and wicked sense of humour and craziness makes for one outrageous anime which will not disappoint. a must view, just make sure to not give up on it, after a few viewings, you'll start to notice new things and realise what a true masterpiece this really is. you want something really different? fed up with all the usual rubbish? you can't get further from reality than FLCL.

When I first saw FLCL (Furi Kuri, Fooly Kooly) I didn't like it. But it grows on you. I check out a couple of epis at A-Kon, and thought, what is this? Robots coming out of people's heads? A girl on Vespa running a kid down, and clubbing him with a lefty Rickenbacker bass? WTF? I thought . .. Uh...Okay. Next! But after seeing it a few times, its really great! Plus, thanks to The Pillows, it has one of the best soundtracks in all of anime! Don't try and figure it out. Maybe you'll get it someday, but for now, just sit back and enjoy the weirdness!

I don't give out high grades to just anything, and I've watched an enormous amount of animation, both US, European and Asian. That being said, FLCL is the most interesting, eye-catching and exciting animation I've ever seen.

It's always difficult to capture a masterpiece in words. Instead of even attempting this, I'll just say what's already been said: The anime is incredibly hard to follow - some would say that it's full of infinitely deep philosophical implications, others would say it's just nuts. I for one have watched it many, many times, and can safely say that it IS coherent... but also very complex. It's like a lighthearted David Lynch anime.

The animation in itself is stunningly beautiful, both the visual- and sound-side. The vast amount of locations, characters, difficult angles and huge total-shots is more awesome than many top-level animated movies. As for the soundtrack, there has been released almost two hours of fabulous, original music for this series, despite that it is only 6x25=150 minutes long! That almost makes it a 6-episode music video, and still they pull it off.

There aren't any cons to this anime. It may be a bit much for the uninitiated or casual watcher, but just watching it, without really following it is a magnificent journey in it self. The voice acting, the character design, the setting, everything just comes together to form an anime unlike any you have seen before.

Fooly Cooly really hasn't aged in the last 20 or so years.

Its still just as surreal as the last time I saw it. On a recent watch, I was even able to see how it affected much of the anime to come in later years.

If you like existential series, you'll enjoy this as well.